KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Forestry Department is organising a scientific expedition to the western part of the Maliau Range at the Ulu Tungud Forest Reserve in Central Sabah, in collaboration with TSH (Forestry) Sdn Bhd and the Global Environment Centre (GEC), on Aug 9-20.

Partly funded by the Keindaren Nature Conservation Fund (KNCF) of Japan, the expedition is expected to be participated by some 50 people, with researcher from the Forest Research Centre, of the Forestry Department, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and other related agencies, as well as individuals.

The Maliau Range is located at the eastern part of the Ulu Tungud Forest Reserve, predominantly covered by ultramafic forests.
The ultramafic soil is reddish brown with a coarse texture, derived from ultrabasic rock, with high concentrations of magnesium and iron but poor in other soil nutrient. They support highly specialised forms of unique plants that are adapted to such a low nutrient environment, such as pitcher plants and orchids.

The Ulu Tungud Forest Reserve, also known as FMU No.4, covers about 123,000 hectares of largely logged-over forests just norht of Telupid. In 1907, the Sabah Government signed an agreement with TSH Resources Bhd, giving the company 100-year tenure to manage the Ulu Tungud Forest Reserve.

The objectives of the Malau Range Expedition (Phase 11) are to:

• Conduct biodiversity surveys on rare and endemic plant species, including mosses at the Maliau Range:
• Carry out bidoversity inventories on fauna, particularly those that are not surveyed in Phase I, such as mammals, amphibians, reptiles, birds and invertebrates;
• Conduct further biodiversity und ecological studies on fishes;
• Assess the post fire recovery of ultramafic forest at the Maliau Range;
• Survey the non-wood forest products, such as wild fruits and vegetables, medicinal and ornamental plants; and
• Document the traditional knowledge among the local people within the Maliau Range region.

Research finds from the expedition will be presented in a seminar to be held in March, next year.