Launching of book on “Ethnobotany of the Iban and the Kelabit”

 A book entitled “Ethnobotany of the Iban and the Kelabit” written by Dr. Hanne Christensen was officially launched by the Chief Minister of Sarawak, YAB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud at the State Legislative Assembly building in Petra Jaya on 4 November 2002. 

Among the dignitaries present to witness the launching were Deputy Chief Minister, YB Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr. George Chan Hong Nam, DUN Speaker YB Dato Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar, Ministers, Assistant Ministers, State Assemblymen, and Heads of Government Departments. 

The book is a joint publication of the Forest Department of Sarawak, NEPCon, Denmark and the University of Aarhus, Denmark. It is based on the monograph part of Dr. Christensen’s Ph. D. thesis from 1997 entitled “The potential of wild plants for cultivation – an ethnobotanical survey of the wild flora used by the longhouse communities in Sarawak and evaluation of their agronomic potential for agroforestry-based farming systems.” Dr. Christensen, in a study conducted with the approval of the State Government and supervised by the Forest Department, documented 2,164 uses of 1,144 species of plants in two remote communities, an Iban community at Nanga Sumpa, a lowland area in the Sri Aman Division and a Kelabit community at Pa Dalih in the Kelabit Highlands during her visits to Sarawak from 1992 to 1995.  The book covers the total ethnobotanical knowledge accumulated within single communities for the two ethnic groups living in different parts of the State. 

The book launching was preceded by welcoming remarks from the Director of Forests, Datu Cheong Ek Choon and a speech by the author of the book, Dr. Hanne Christensen. At the launching, the Chief Minister appealed for further research on the ethnobotany of other races in Sarawak. There is a danger that the rich heritage of the people of Sarawak and their knowledge on the use of plants may disappear in the process of modernisation. He values the work of Dr. Christensen and congratulated her on her effort in documenting the rich cultural heritage of the Iban and the Kelabit. 

The book is available for sale at the price of RM100.00 (Ringgit Malaysia One Hundred) (excluding packing and postage) per copy at the Forest Department Headquarters (Tel: 082 319201) or the Forest Research Centre (Tel: 082-615888). The Forest Department also accepts orders for the book by email.