Saving Rare Plants From Extinction

TIMBER may be one of Malaysia’s major exports, but not all trees are meant to end up as logs.

Conservation botanist Lillian Chua is currently with a project that seeks to identify the rare members of this plant family in the hope of protecting the critical ones as part of conservation efforts as a whole.

“Earlier, I was focused on the pitcher plants, one of the endemic species in Peninsular Malaysia. Now I am focused on a more economic plant – timber,” says Chua, adding that one reason few people study rare plants is because one has to search for them.

“While timber is an impact tree with commercial value, and has been studied for the past 60 to 70 years, yet I am still discovering new facts about such plants,” she says.

There are more than 160 species of trees that can be classified as timber in Peninsular Malaysia, but at least 50 per cent are rare. Even then, only the rare species that are threatened would be properly conserved.

Says Chua: “Based on our limited resources, we need to prioritise and identify what is worth saving and what is at risk of being lost. My project identifies the status of the forest in which these species thrive and then recommend to the forestry department on the actions required to safeguard them. We map the area, note the size of the trees as well as the flowering and fruiting intensity to generate data to understand how these plants perform biologically, whether in the past, present or future.”

Chua’s project has identified four to five species that are in a single locality, which means that if that location is converted for development, all those species would be lost.

“We could either request to convert that area to protect the species, or we rescue the plants to safer locations,” she said.

“But we also need to remember that the big trees actually shelter a whole ecological system under their leafy canopy. The inhabitants are the smaller plants, animals and insects that enjoy the unique symbiosis relationship in that location. Thus, when you develop the area, the eco- system breaks down.

So many species, so little time

How to qualify for the job

A basic science degree in related areas like forestry, conservation biology or ecology to show that you have the fundamental knowledge of botany.

Skills needed/personality traits

The tools of the trade can be acquired with on-the-job training, but you must have an interest in research and a passion for the issues we advocate.

You must have initiative, possess an inquiring mind which is always asking the question “why” and then be the one to take the next step of finding out the answers.

You need an analytical mind, and to be systematic and highly organised. Be methodical while having the ability to see the entire picture, so that you don’t miss the forest for the trees.

Work routine

My normal work routine involves management of the project, strategic planning, giving technical assistance to stakeholders like the Forestry Department, and providing support for my field- collection team. I do a lot of lab work and data analysis, and then study the results, the specimen and data derived. But it is not just a desk-bound job as I do go out on location.

What keeps you going?

I find this to be very exciting and humbling work. And what drives my passion is the still so little knowledge in this field. Every time we discover a species that was documented as possibly extinct, or an entirely new species that has yet to be identified – it never fails to renew my passion.

I am also constantly learning new skills pertaining to the job, like employing the remote-sensing electronic technique to do mapping, and studying the principles of genetic diversity.

Occupational hazards

Beware of trees falling down, lightning strikes, being chased by tigers, getting bitten by poisonous snakes and losing your balance along dangerous slopes – all these are possible during the course of your work. You just take the necessary precautions and, so far, I have had more fun than fear.

Fun aside, the job still involves a lot of work, and you can become both physically and mentally exhausted.

Career prospects

There is a lot of work to be done and we need the manpower, people who are interested with some basic knowledge of botany. From botany, you can take up biotech, you can take up plant taxonomy or conservation or horticulture or move on into breeding programmes.

Any personal advice?

There is a huge field for exploration out there if you want to explore the Malaysian plant kingdom. We have so many rare plants just waiting to be discovered, and that’s truly mind-boggling.

Career: Conservation botanist

Name: Lillian Chua

Education: BSc (Botany) from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

MSc (Horticulture) from University of London

PhD (Conservation Biology) from University of Bath Current position: Senior Research Officer,

Tropical Forest Biodiversity Centre, FRIM

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