ID :
198707
Tue, 08/02/2011 - 12:19
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/198707
The shortlink copeid
MOSTI PLANS TO FUND RESEARCH PROGRAMMES IN DANUM VALLEY
LAHAD DATU (Sabah, Malaysia), Aug 2 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) plans to fund research programmes involving the study of micro-organisms and insects under tropical forest regime in the Danum Valley, near here.
The research is currently undertaken by Yayasan Sabah in collaboration with global research institutions, under the Royal Society’s South-East Asia Rainforest Rehabilitation Research Programme (SEARRP).
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Dr Maximus Ongkili said the study, conducted as part of research programmes on biodiversity in the Danum Valley, was important as the conservation area was globally known for its natural assets and research facilities.
"The role of insects and micro-organisms in the tropical forest ecosystem is crucial to maintain sustainability of biodiversity and for natural resource renewal.
"Insects and micro-organisms also have a huge potential for medical
biotechnology such as sources of enzymes and anti-toxins for known ailments and for manufacturing pharmaceutical products," he said.
Ongkili said a tripartite memorandum of understanding would be signed between the Royal Society, Yayasan Sabah and National Biotechnology Institute of MOSTI after specific terms were finalised.
Covering 43,800 hectares, the area is one of the largest, most important and best protected expanses of pristine lowland forest in Southeast Asia.
Ongkili made a working visit to Danum Valley on Sunday and Monday to visit the Danum Valley Field Centre, which is one of the leading tropical rainforest research centres in the world, as well as to the Meteorological Department’s Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) station, which is one of only two stations in the world located in a tropical forest.
The GAW station, which includes a 100m sampling tower, provides a major facility for climate and atmospheric research in Danum Valley as well as a platform for collaborative research between Malaysian and international scientists.
The station is equipped with a range of monitoring instruments and an automatic station. The measurement programme at the station includes surface ozone, greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide, precipitation chemistry, aerosols, reactive gases, solar radiation and meteorological parameters.
The research is currently undertaken by Yayasan Sabah in collaboration with global research institutions, under the Royal Society’s South-East Asia Rainforest Rehabilitation Research Programme (SEARRP).
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Dr Maximus Ongkili said the study, conducted as part of research programmes on biodiversity in the Danum Valley, was important as the conservation area was globally known for its natural assets and research facilities.
"The role of insects and micro-organisms in the tropical forest ecosystem is crucial to maintain sustainability of biodiversity and for natural resource renewal.
"Insects and micro-organisms also have a huge potential for medical
biotechnology such as sources of enzymes and anti-toxins for known ailments and for manufacturing pharmaceutical products," he said.
Ongkili said a tripartite memorandum of understanding would be signed between the Royal Society, Yayasan Sabah and National Biotechnology Institute of MOSTI after specific terms were finalised.
Covering 43,800 hectares, the area is one of the largest, most important and best protected expanses of pristine lowland forest in Southeast Asia.
Ongkili made a working visit to Danum Valley on Sunday and Monday to visit the Danum Valley Field Centre, which is one of the leading tropical rainforest research centres in the world, as well as to the Meteorological Department’s Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) station, which is one of only two stations in the world located in a tropical forest.
The GAW station, which includes a 100m sampling tower, provides a major facility for climate and atmospheric research in Danum Valley as well as a platform for collaborative research between Malaysian and international scientists.
The station is equipped with a range of monitoring instruments and an automatic station. The measurement programme at the station includes surface ozone, greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide, precipitation chemistry, aerosols, reactive gases, solar radiation and meteorological parameters.
