Mass flowering: Research findings important for forest conservation and restoration

KUALA LUMPUR, July 30 -- Research findings on the mass flowering phenomenon as well as activities and strategies carried out by organisations are vital to ensure the collection of seeds for the production of planting materials for forest conservation and restoration.

According to Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), many of Malaysia’s dipterocarp forests are undergoing mass flowering at the moment, with a “mosaic” of colours observed in the canopy of many rainforests and it is a unique phenomenon that usually occurs intermittently but sometimes it may see intervals of many years.

FRIM director-general Dr Ismail Parlan said with the input gained from the research, various agencies involved in forest conservation and restoration are able to discuss and form a network for future collaborations.

“I hope the findings obtained through the various studies presented during this webinar would shed some light on the issues and challenges as well as opportunities related to making plant materials available for forest restoration and conservation projects,” he said. 

Ismail said this in his opening speech at a webinar on “Mass Flowering of the Malaysian Rainforest: Capitalising on the Event for Mass Production of Planting Materials” held today. 

The session was the second series of webinars in conjunction with Greening Malaysia: The 100 Million Tree-Planting Campaign 2021-2025 which was launched in January, with nearly 1,200 participants from several countries including Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Japan and Australia. 

Co-organised by the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry (KeTSA), FRIM and The Habitat Foundation, the session disclosed interesting research findings on mass flowering as well as strategies and activities undertaken by various agencies and organisations. 

Meanwhile, FRIM head of Seed Technology Laboratory, Forestry Biotechnology Division Nashatul Zaimah Noor Azman in her session said the mass fruiting season is expected following the mass flowering, and therefore with the abundance of seeds available, many planting and conservation programmes can be implemented.

However, she noted that prior to that, the collected seeds have to be tested to ensure only the good, healthy and high germination percentages of seeds are used.

-- BERNAMA