KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is embarking on research and development for medicinal and other prospects of its flora found in major forest conservation areas.

       The research and development will be jointly carried out by state-owned Yayasan Sabah Group, Sabah Forestry Department and Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) in Danum Valley, Maliau Basin, Imbak Canyon conservation areas as well as at forest rehabilitation areas of the state.

       The five-year joint research titled "Bio-Prospects for Research and Development of Wild Fungi, Wild Ginger and Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (TUB) in Sabah will begin from this month and will cost RM5mil.

       The research was made possible through funding by the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry and Sabah Forestry Department through funds provided under the 12th Malaysia Plan, according to a statement by Yayasan Sabah.

       Under the five-year period, two main project components will be researched - three indigenous species of wild fungi and one indigenous species of wild ginger that is known as Tuhau Etlingera coccinea under the Zingiberaceae family.

       Among others, the project's objectives were to identify wild fungi and wild ginger treasures from the conservation areas of Danum Valley, Maliau Basin, Imbak Canyon and the forest rehabilitation areas through comprehensive field census work. The project will also provide training to staff and students.

       The project also aims to develop a wild fungi and wild ginger research hub based at the Innoprise-Face Foundation Rainforest Rehabilitation Project (Infarpo) in Lahad Datu.

       Infarpo was initiated in July 1992 by Yayasan Sabah Group and the FACE (Forests Absorbing Carbon Dioxide Emissions) Foundation of The Netherlands (now known as Face the Future).

       Infarpo project in the Ulu Segama Forest Reserve, buffering the world-renowned Danum Valley Conservation Area in Lahad Datu, has successfully rehabilitated more than 11,824.5ha of degraded forest since its inception.

       The project sought to plant trees to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through a Memorandum of Understanding.

       Yayasan Sabah Group, Sabah Forestry Department and Universiti Malaysia Sabah hope the R&D would further encourage conservation and forest rehabilitation areas to also identify novel species and properties.