Biodiversity—Findings from Tropical Forest Research

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 international development goals to be achieved by 2030 in order to solve global problems and transform our world. Goal 15 (Life on Land) is the goal related to this session’s theme “Biodiversity,” which is to “sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss.”

Biodiversity conservation of the tropical forests of Asia is an essential activity to achieve Goal 15, because this area is one of the global biodiversity hotspots, which is a geographic region possessing rich biodiversity but also threatened by the rapid loss of biodiversity. NIES has been conducting Asian tropical forest research based at Pasoh Forest Reserve since 1990, with Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) and University Putra Malaysia (UPM). Researches on biodiversity are an important part of these research activities.

In this session, speakers introduced the finding from the various kinds of biodiversity researches conducted in tropical forests in Malaysia to gain an idea on the integration of these findings for biodiversity conservation. In addition, they introduced the present situation of poaching and trafficking of protected species, that was mentioned as one of the Goal 15 targets and a major contributor to biodiversity loss in Asia.

The followings are the seven speakers of this session:

• Dr. Manabu Onuma, National Institute for Environmental Studies
• Ms. Phon Chooi Khim, Forest Research Institute Malaysia
• Dr. Yayoi Takeuchi, National Institute for Environmental Studies
• Dr. Yao Tze Leong, Forest Research Institute Malaysia
• Ms. Gan Pek Chuan, United Nations Development Programme
• Mr. Manesh Lacoul, Asian Institute of Technology
• Ms. Klairoong Poonpon, Wildlife and Plant Conservation

Speakers provided a wide range of topics on biodiversity based on their research activities. The topics included: methods for monitoring diversity of animal species in tropical forests; analysis of tropical forest canopies and their relationship to tree species diversity; the role soil type plays in the diversity of tree species; monitoring the population of Trogonoptera brookiana;* wildlife enforcement monitoring system in Africa and Asia; sustainable landscape management; and Thailand’s efforts against the trafficking of wildlife.

*Trogonoptera brookiana: a well-known species of butterfly living in Malaysia and famous for the characteristic of drinking water in clusters. Its population has been shrinking.

The session focused on Goal 15 of the SDGs. In the first half of the session, speakers delivered presentations on research activities related to biodiversity. The latter half covered practical issues of biodiversity conservation such as sustainable landscape management, wildlife enforcement monitoring system, and countermeasures against trafficking of wildlife. Participants actively took part in the discussion session, raising high expectations that the discussion will serve as a starting point of international cooperation for achieving Goal 15.

The next report will cover the “Environmental Monitoring,” the final session. Monitoring the balance of greenhouse gases will give evidence to implement appropriate mitigation actions. In the session, various approaches for monitoring will be introduced.

Written by Yuri Sugimoto (Research Project Collaboration Division) and Shuichi Ashina (International Coordination Office, Planning Department)
Photos by Seiji Narita (Public Relations Office, Planning Department)