A joint research effort is under way to determine how activities such as logging impact wildlife in the state’s forests.
The study, focusing on sustainably-managed forests or forest management units (FMUs), is being jointly undertaken by the Sabah Forestry Department and the renowned Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW) of Germany.
Department director Datuk Sam Mannan said the research was crucial in the sustainable management of the forests that were habitats to diverse wildlife, some of which are endangered.
“We know that there are orang utan or elephants living in our forests, but our knowledge about other highly-threatened wildlife species such as the endangered otter civet is very limited.
“With their research, the IZW showed us that these species are in our forests and how to find them,” he said at the signing of a memorandum of understanding for the continued joint research effort in Sandakan.
He said earlier IZW studies in the state’s forests had resulted in the Sunda clouded leopard being captured on film for the first time last year and the rediscovery of the hairy-nosed otter, previously thought extinct, in Sabah.
IZW director Heribert Hofer said the biological richness of Sabah’s forests was a great treasure and a heritage of worldwide importance.
“It is therefore an important responsibility to manage these forests in a sustainable way.
“Therefore, up-to-date scientific research and wildlife surveys are important to understand the needs of threatened species.
“Knowing and appreciating the diversity of these forests will help protect their richness for the benefit of all,” he added.
