SANDAKAN: Pitcher plants are Sabah’s natural heritage and should be given priority in research and conservation, said Chief Conservator of Forests, Datuk Frederick Kugan.
He said research undertaken by Sabah Forestry Department focused on biodiversity preservation, understanding threats, and developing conservation strategies.
He said the Forest Biodiversity and Conservation Programme under the Forest Research Centre (FRC) in Sepilok, headed by John Sugau, had been spearheading plant research and conservation in Sabah, with the Sandakan (SAN) Herbarium as a significant scientific reference collection, led by Dr Joan Pereira.
Alviana Damit is the key FRC researcher, working on pitcher plants, collaborating with various local and international experts on this subject.