o_19ko2dt161ng2j4e1tgnoqv1s45a.pdf

STATUS OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY IN MALAYSIA &
THREAT ASSESSMENT OF PLANT SPECIES IN MALAYSIA
LEE et al (2007)
CONSERVATION STRATEGIES OF SHOREA
LUMUTENSIS (DIPTEROCARPACEAE) IN
PENINSULAR MALAYSIA
1,4
S. L. Lee, 1 K. K. S. Ng, 1 L. G. Saw, 1 C. T. Lee, 1 M. Norwati, 2 N. Tani,
2
Y. Tsumura & 3 J. Koskela
ABSTRACT
To conserve a rare plant, conservation programs must be guided by the biological attributes of
the species. Shorea lumutensis is a rare and endemic dipterocarp in Peninsular Malaysia. A
comprehensive research study was initiated to assess the population ecology and population
genetics of S. lumutensis to elucidate specific ecological and genetic requirements and
subsequently to recommend conservation strategies. This paper is apparently the first attempt
at applying both the ecological and genetic approaches into conservation management of a rare
dipterocarp. This paper also attempts to link the gaps between conservation research and
conservation management in a realistic approach. It is our hope that this study will serve as a
model for the other studies related to conservation of rare dipterocarps.
INTRODUCTION
In Peninsular Malaysia, the family Dipterocarpaceae comprises 155 species (Ashton 1982). In
the past, conservation of the dipterocarps was not an important issue as the family was seen as
common and none of the species were presumably threatened. However, a recent study by Saw
& Sam (2000) indicates that over 57% of the species have distribution patterns restricted to
specific zones. There are also 30 species that are endemic to Peninsular Malaysia, and out of
these, 12 species are considered rare. Many rare plants are endangered in part because their
populations are small. Small and isolated populations are inherently more vulnerable to natural
catastrophes, demographic and environmental stochasticity (Shaffer 1981, Lande 1998,
Holsinger 2000). They are also threatened by genetic stochasticity such as loss of genetic diversity
by drift and inbreeding (Keller & Waller 2002). In addition, plants with narrow habitat specificity
and limited dispersal potential are at particular risk for global extinction, as landscapes become
mosaics due to anthropogenic activities.
1
Forest Research Institute Malaysia, Kepong, 52109 Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
2
Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8687, Japan
3
International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, Regional Office for Europe, Via dei Tre Denari 472/a, 00057 Maccarese
(fiumicino), Rome, Italy
4
Correspondence: Soon Leong LEE, leesl@frim.gov.my
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