Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity

The sandy coast- line of Brunei provides suitable nesting sites for marine turtles. Of the seven known species in the world, the hawksbill, green turtle, olive ridley and giant leatherback are recorded as nesting or frequenting Brunei shores [ ] 68 Improving the scientific knowledge base Brunei has worked successfully on enhancing local knowledge and creating a scientific base for manag- ing the country’s natural resources and environment. A number of field expeditions to include flora and fauna identification have been continuously implemented to update existing bio- diversity information. Joint collabo- rations between the government and international academic institutions are ongoing in developing local ex- pertise in environmental and natural resource management. The recent establishment of the Brunei Tropical Biodiversity Centre and the Brunei Agro Technology Park has facilitated research and innovation in support of biodiversity conservation and management. The country’s existing forestry laws, rules and regulations have highlight- ed the importance of sustainable and multiple use of forest and associated resources. The country is also fully committed to achieving Sustainable Forest Management and is now in the process of certification to ensure that forestry activities are within accept- able norms and standards. The Belait Peatswamp Biodiversity Action Plan will implement reforesta- tion in degraded forest areas with sago planting at Kuala Balai. The plan also calls for the development of a centre of excellence in peatland research, which is supported by the Ministry of Indus- try and Primary Resources (MIPR). Brunei Darussalam has opened its doors to greater collaboration in order to conduct biodiversity research in the country. International academic and research institutions are welcome to enter into agreement with relevant government agen- cies in exploring and studying the rich biological composition of the country’s natural environment. The recent establishment of the Brunei Tropical Biodiversity Centre serves as a structural venue to facilitate studies and related researches. The government has long recog- nized the importance of strengthen- ing the institutional capacities for bi- ological diversity management. It has acknowledged the importance of close coordination and a holistic approach to resource management that places the relevant sectors such as forestry, agriculture, fisheries, tourism and industry under one umbrella organi- zation. This organization, the MIPR, is continuously strengthening its structure to respond to the challenges of natural resource management. B runei Darussalam has a diverse ecosystem and is considered among the countries with a high forest cover. The natural vegetation is tropical evergreen rain forests. The Global Forest Resource Assessment 2010 has estimated Brunei forest cover to be around 75 per cent, composed primarily of old growth forests. The country has seven distinguishable forest types: mangrove, beach-type, freshwater swamp, peat swamp, ‘kerangas’, mixed-dipterocarp and montane. The forest landscapes are evident from their floral composition, forest formations, soil conditions and micro-environment. The national forest reserves constitute 41 per cent of the country’s total land area and are protected by law. The forest structures and composition remain intact and are of national importance in terms of biological composition, uniqueness of landscape, production, recreation, and other special uses. Marine turtle Brunei Darussalam Roberto Lopez on Unsplash