The Malaysian Rainforest

A traveler explores Danum Valley’s tropical rainforest from a canopy walkway in Bornean Sabah, Malaysia.

Photograph by Khaichuin Sim, Getty Images taken from National Geographic article on To see Malaysia’s elusive wildlife, take a walk in the trees - Charukesi Ramadurai

Malaysia is renowned for its extraordinarily complex tropical rainforest ecosystems, a result of its tropical maritime climate and rich diversity of geographical and climatic features. Covering approximately 33 million hectares—comparable in size to the British Isles—Malaysia is blessed with a wealth of plant and animal species. Approximately 59% of its land area remains forested, despite recent losses due to agricultural expansion and unsustainable timber extraction. This essay examines the richness of Malaysia’s indigenous forest genetic resources, highlighting their diversity, current status, and the ongoing conservation efforts.

Malaysia’s flora is extraordinarily diverse, with estimates suggesting around 12,500 species of seed plants, including both angiosperms and gymnosperms. Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, collectively known as Malaya, harbor about 7,900 species across 1,500 genera (Whitmore, 1973). Meanwhile, Borneo, encompassing parts of East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak), Brunei, and Kalimantan, is believed to host approximately 9,000 species (Merrill, 1921).

The endemic flora of these regions is particularly noteworthy. In Malaya, Ng et al. (1990) reported that 746 out of 2,830 tree species (approximately 26.4%) are endemic. Kiew (1990a) suggests that herbaceous plant endemism is even higher, with genera like Sonerila, Argostemma, Didymocarpus, and Begonia exhibiting endemism rates between 87% and 96%. Borneo’s endemism is similarly high; Van Steenis (1950) identified it as having the highest number of endemic genera in Southeast Asia. Lamb (1990) estimated that around 40% of Borneo’s orchids are endemic, with Borneo accounting for roughly 10% of the world’s orchid species. Additionally, the Flora Malesiana project indicates that a substantial proportion of Bornean Dipterocarpaceae species are endemic, with 36% of 41 Dipterocarpus species, 52% of 42 Hopea species, 65% of 35 Vatica species, and 64% of 127 Shorea species being endemic (Ashton, 1982). The endemism is even more pronounced in the Ericaceae family, with 82% of 34 Rhododendron species, 92% of 41 Diplycosia species, and 92% of 39 Vaccinium species being endemic (Sleumer, 1966).

As of 1990, Malaysia retained about 19.4 million hectares of natural forest cover, equating to roughly 59% of the country’s total land area (Anon., 1991). This forest cover is predominantly located in East Malaysia, with Sarawak having approximately 70% of its land area under natural forest. Conversely, Peninsular Malaysia, which is more developed and densely populated, had around 47% forest cover in the same year (see Table 4).

The Permanent Forest Estate (PFE) includes approximately 12.5 million hectares of forest land designated for forestry activities, as outlined by the National Forestry Policy. This area comprises 9.09 million hectares of productive forest managed for sustainable timber production and 3.65 million hectares of protection forest, crucial for environmental protection, such as water catchment areas and wildlife conservation. Additionally, Malaysia's forested areas include national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and state forests (see Table 3 and Table 4).

Under Malaysia's existing legal framework, species within National and State Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries are fully protected from human interference. The country’s total protected area encompasses around 1.1 million hectares of National/State Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries. Taman Negara, the largest park, covers 437,340 hectares of primary forest, representing a significant portion of Malaysia’s diverse forest ecosystems.

Further protection is afforded to Virgin Jungle Reserves and wildlife conservation areas within the PFE, totaling about 249,000 hectares. Additional proposed conservation areas, including State Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries in Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia, amount to approximately 907,000 hectares (see Table 5). If these proposed areas are incorporated, the total area of strictly protected primary forest would reach about 2,178,000 hectares, or 6.6% of Malaysia’s total land area.

Despite the extensive protected areas, gaps remain in the conservation coverage. Limestone hill forests, for example, are not legally protected in most cases, posing a threat due to quarrying activities. Similarly, the heath forests of Sarawak, peat swamp vegetation in the Binio basin, and the Bungoh range are among the areas requiring urgent attention (Bruenig, 1991). Mangrove swamps and peat swamp forests, critical habitats currently lacking sufficient protection, also face threats from agricultural conversion and logging. Ong and Gong (1991) suggested that 30,000 hectares of mangrove swamps be conserved within National Parks to safeguard these unique ecosystems. Furthermore, a new park in northern Peninsular Malaysia, such as the Belum Forest Reserve, is needed to protect its rich but under-explored flora.

The existing system of protected areas alone is insufficient for conserving the full range of ecosystems, species, and genetic diversity. The PFE’s extensive forest areas contain significant genetic resources that need protection, even as some areas are used for timber production. Effective forest management can balance timber extraction with the conservation of genetic resources through appropriate management practices and rigorous monitoring.

Documenting and assessing these genetic resources is crucial, as current checklists of flora in protected areas are incomplete. For instance, Beaman and Beaman (1990) compiled a checklist for Mount Kinabalu National Park, but broader taxonomic research is still needed. Ensuring that forest management integrates genetic conservation concerns will be vital for maintaining Malaysia’s rich biodiversity.

Malaysia's forest resources remain relatively intact, but are increasingly threatened by unsustainable practices and land-use changes. Given the country’s development needs, achieving total protection is neither feasible nor practical. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop management plans that reconcile conservation with sustainable use. Sustainable forest management practices are essential for preserving Malaysia's unique ecosystems, species, and genetic resources, ensuring that conservation efforts align with current and future needs.

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Article prepared by: Nur Anis Elias, MBIOS R&D Associate 23/24

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