SIMUNJAN – The Simunjan Forest Reserve (FR) Scientific Expedition 2025, scheduled from 16 to 25 August, aims to unite researchers, students, government agencies, private sector representatives and local communities to document the rich biodiversity of the district’s peat swamp forest.
Advertisement
Jointly organised by the Sarawak Forest Department (FDS) and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), the expedition seeks to assess ecological conditions, including soil and water quality, while cataloguing endangered, endemic and keystone species. The data collected will support long-term monitoring, sustainable forest management, ecotourism development, and the establishment of research centres in the future.
Simunjan State Assemblyman Awla Dris said the district is not only an economic hub for sectors like oil palm, agriculture, and inland fisheries but also home to the 37,350-acre peat swamp forest, officially gazetted in 1959. He highlighted the forest’s ecological importance, including carbon absorption, flood mitigation, hydrological balance, habitat for migratory birds and aquatic life, which collectively support the local economy.
“Beyond its scientific value, this expedition will provide critical insights for ecosystem monitoring, climate change impact assessment, policy formulation and raising public awareness of the forest’s uniqueness and fragility,” he said during the launch at Kelka Kampung Hall on Saturday.
Advertisement
The study will examine the interactions of flora and fauna with peat soil, water flow, and carbon cycles, forming the foundation of habitat stability. All findings will be compiled into a scientific database covering botany, zoology, entomology, ecology, and soil science, offering a valuable resource for policymakers, researchers, and students.
Awla emphasised that Simunjan can continue to grow economically without compromising environmental sustainability, and called on all stakeholders to collaborate in preserving the peat swamp forest as an irreplaceable natural heritage for future generations.
