On 20 June 2023, the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC) and the Forest Department Sarawak (FDS) planted trees together at Sabal Forest Reserve as one of the activities to mark SBC’s 25th Anniversary and also to support the Greening Sarawak Campaign, which aims to plant 35 million trees by 2025. The primary objectives of the event were to raise awareness about environmental rehabilitation and promote the importance of reforestation.
In the event, a group of 100 participants, including SBC and FDS staff, interns and Sabal communities, planted 1,000 saplings of valuable indigenous timber species. This initiative has not only contributed to biodiversity and ecosystem restoration but has also helped in achieving the broader goals of the 'Greening Malaysia Agenda Through 100 million Tree Planting Campaign' (2021-2025). With the cumulative number of trees planted in Sarawak now surpassing 20 million, this effort showed that the collective contributions can succeed in achieving greener and more sustainable Malaysia.
The tree planting event has also facilitated collaborative discussions between SBC and FDS which focused on exploring biotechnology-based research and development related to Sarawak's biological resources, particularly forest resources.
A delegation from the New Zealand High Commission Kuala Lumpur, led by its High Commissioner, Her Excellency Pam Dunn, paid a courtesy visit to SBC on 7 October 2022. She was accompanied by YBhg Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr. Hamid bin Bugo the former State Secretary of Sarawak and alumnus of University of Canterbury, New Zealand. Among the delegates are Mr Aidan Beckett, First Secretary and Mr Tan Zhong Yan, Policy and Public Affairs Advisor from the New Zealand High Commission KL and Mr Hasrin Othman, Trade Compliance Manager, Fonterra Brands (M) Sdn Bhd and Ms Esther Yap, CEO, Stellar Sparx International Sdn Bhd.
Ambassador of the United States of America, His Excellency Brian McFeeters paid an official visit to SBC on 7 October 2022. He was accompanied by Ms Susan Riggs, Deputy Economic Councillor, Ms Katherine LeRah Jernigan, Economic Officer, Ms Kylie Tumiatti, Economic Officer, Ms Wesha Ooi, Economic Assistant, Mr Gurdit Singh, Press Attaché and Embassy Spokesperson, Ms Dela Amira Ahmad, Online Media Specialist and Ms Fiona Teo, Information Specialist.
On 29 September 2022, Sabah Biodiversity Centre (SaBC) and Sabah Biodiversity Council Members held a technical visit to SBC to understand how SBC is implementing the Nagoya Protocol pertaining to Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) Agreement, protection of the indigenous communities’ rights and knowledge, Traditional Knowledge (TK) Documentation and biodiscoveries.
On 4 August 2022, Ms Kanni Wignaraja, UN Assistant Secretary General, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Director Regional of Asia and the Pacific arrived in Kuching, Sarawak on an official visit that included a visit to the Semadang Village here in Penrissen. Semadang is one of the project sites funded by UNDP-MOF’s Orang Asli/Orang Asal Micro-Grant Facility for Conservation and Livelihood (OAMGF).
We received a visit from the USDA US Embassy Kuala Lumpur led by Mr. Timothy Harrison, Agricultural Attaché, Mr. Abdul Ghani Wahab, Agricultural Specialist, USDA US Embassy Kuala Lumpur and Ms. Rowena Ngumbang, Marketing Specialist, USDA US Embassy Kuala Lumpur.
We toured the SBC’s facilities such as the Ethnobotanical Garden, the proof of concept Algae Cultivation Facility, Natural Product Library, Analytical Chemistry and Gallery.
They learned how SBC preserves traditional knowledge of the plants and projects associated with bio-related products with the indigenous communities of Sarawak.
During the visit, we exhibit some of the projects implemented by SBC in partnership with communities such as LitSara project, Biodiversity make Scents, essential oils and Sekiu Oil project.
We also discussed matters on the USDA’s Borlaug Fellowship Program which promotes food security and economic growth by providing training and collaborative research opportunities. The program helps foster science-based trade policies that improve international market access for U.S agriculture products.
- Working Visit of His Excellency Charles Hay MVO, British High Commissioner to Malaysia to Sarawak Biodiversity Centre, 21 July 2022
- Working Visit of His Excellency Lee Chi Beom, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Malaysia, to Sarawak Biodiversity Centre, 8th June 2022
- Benefit Sharing Agreement Signing Ceremony for LitSara® Project
- Embarking on research innovations between Diamond Gas Holdings Sdn. Bhd. and Sarawak Biodiversity Centre in sustainable and renewable energy production
