TREE FLORA OF SABAH & SARAWAK VOLUME 4 LAUNCHED

Volume 4 of the Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak was officially launched by the Minister for Science, Technology and Environment, Datuk Seri Law Hieng Ding at his Ministry in Putrajaya on 21 August 2002.

The book is an output of a collaborative research project between the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), the Forestry Department of Sabah and the Forest Department of Sarawak. The project aims to provide detailed and up-to-date botanical and ecological information on the tree resources of Sabah and Sarawak and is an important reference for foresters, botanists and all those involved in the timber and wood-based industries. The Project also aims to develop plant taxonomists through the provision of training at all levels to staff assigned to assist in the preparation of manuscripts on the different tree families. All four Volumes of the Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak are available for sale from the Forest Department Sarawak at the cost of RM100.00 excluding packaging and postage.

The Project, which started in 1991, was initially supported by ITTO, the International Tropical Timber Organisation and subsequently by the Overseas Development Administration of the United Kingdom. Under the Eighth Malaysia Plan, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment has graciously supported the Project through a financial allocation of RM2.35 million. With this allocation, another four volumes of the Tree Flora of Sabah and Sarawak will be produced.

In a separate ceremony held in Kuching on 19 August 2002 in conjunction with the official opening of the new Administration Block of the Forest Training School, the Director-General of FRIM, Dato' Dr. Abdul Razak Mohd. Ali, the Deputy Director of Forestry Department Sabah, Mr. Herman Anjin and the Director of Forests Sarawak, Mr. Cheong Ek Choon penned their signatures on a new Agreement of Cooperation for the implementation of the Project.The old Agreement expired on 31 August 2002.