As many as 200 tree species can be found within 1 hectare of Malaysian rainforests.
~ Turner, 2001a
Dipterocarps have a unique biology and a slow reproductive cycle. Seeds are produced during mast fruiting events which occur every 5-7 years, and the seeds are ‘recalcitrant’ – their high-water content makes them unsuitable for storage (e.g. in a seed bank), and thus must be germinated. Recalcitrant seeds rescued from forest fragments can be planted out with seeds from different parents to create a living collection of trees that can reproduce perpetually. Seeds from the living collection could then serve future reforestation projects.
The loss of biodiversity is one of the greatest environmental challenges the world faces. In Malaysia logging, agriculture, palm oil and development have all contributed to increased forest fragmentation and species loss. Approximately 80% of Malaysian rainforests are dominated by the Dipterocarpaceae family of trees, of which 93 species are considered threatened in Malaysia.
At Tropical Rainforest Conservation & Research Centre, we aim to play our part in protecting Malaysia's rare, threatened and endangered plant species. We believe in taking action and working on the ground in order to tackle biodiversity loss – one of the most pressing issues facing today’s society. Our conservation and landscape-level initiatives promote sustainable development and management practices.
🌏 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔: 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫, 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐭™ 🌏
Power is restoring what we’ve lost.
And it starts from the ground up.
From germination beds nurturing the first signs of life, to hands in the soil planting trees for the future. Every step is part of something bigger.
Here in TRCRC, restoration is a long-term commitment that begins with seeds, grows through proper care, and thrives through collective effort. Because forests aren’t built overnight, and neither is impact.
This is what 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳 looks like:
🌱 Choosing to restore degraded forests
🌳 Showing up to plant native trees
🤝 Working together to protect what matters
And this is how we protect 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘵.
💬 What will you do for the planet today?
Be part of the journey! Do follow, volunteer, and support us at TRCRC.
#EarthDay2026 #OurPowerOurPlanet #ForestRestoration #RestoreOurEarth #ClimateAction
As part of our ongoing business plan consultation and validation under the Seed to Tree (STT) Project, we continued our collaboration with the community of Kampung Kemensah.
Nestled at the foothills of Bukit Pao and enveloped by forest landscapes, alongside existing recreational attractions, the session explored how nursery and seedling initiatives can be thoughtfully integrated to enhance local eco-tourism opportunities.
Together with the TRCRC team and representatives from Alliance Bioversity-CIAT, RESCU, and MOAMI, the discussion was both lively and insightful. We look forward to seeing these ideas take shape and to strengthening sustainable and community-driven enterprises in Kg Kemensah. 🌱
#SeedToTree #BusinessPlan #CommunityEngagement #TRCRC #SustainableLivelihoods
Last week, we had the pleasure of welcoming the @pwc_malaysia team to our ERKC site for a corporate visit. 🌱
It was a valuable opportunity to share more about our work and efforts in biodiversity conservation and community engagement. During the visit, we toured our Elmina Living Collection Nursery and restoration sites, where we shared insights on site history, restoration design, and our approach to managing invasive species while supporting ecosystem recovery along the Subang River.
This exchange was especially meaningful as both organisations are part of UK-supported climate initiatives; TRCRC through the ASEAN-UK Green Transition Fund (via the Seed to Tree project), and PwC through the UK Climate Finance Accelerator.
Visits like these help give the public a deeper understanding of restoration work on the ground, one tree at a time. Thank you, PwC, for spending the morning with us. We look forward to continuing to build a more sustainable future together. 🌿
For any visit or consultation enquiries, please contact ask@trcrc.org.
#trcrc #ClimateInitiatives #ASEAN corporatetraining erkc
Back in January 2026, TRCRC ran a field survey to identify new seed sources of important species. 📝
We engaged IPLC field guides from the Jahai and Temiar communities for a localised understanding in identification; as well as Cikgu Abu for a scientific perspective. 🌳
This learning opportunity was made possible under the Seed to Tree project funded by the ASEAN-UK Green Transition Fund and implemented by TRCRC in partnership with @bioversityciat .
#TRCRC #SeedToTree #ASEANUKGTF #ASEANUK
Last weekend, under our Seed to Tree (STT) Project, we co-hosted a Business Plan Workshop with Resource Stewardship Consultants Sdn Bhd (RESCU) alongside Dr. Teckwyn, Oi Ching, and their team, engaging local communities in Banun, Gerik.
A total of 21 Orang Asli representatives from Kg Damai, Kg Pengkalan Desa Permai, Kg Raba, Kg Semelor, and Kg Desa Ria participated. The workshop focused on hands-on training and real-case consultation in seed collection, nursery management and running their own businesses, helping build practical skills and experience for sustainable livelihoods. 🌱
#trcrc #seedtotree #businessplan #PracticalTraining #rescu
[REGISTRATION IS CLOSED]
Calling Out for Volunteers!
𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗦𝗨𝗦 & 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚
Hi everyone!
We’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to join our Tree Census & Monitoring Activity.
What you will do:
🌱 Help count and identify trees
📏 Measure tree growth
📝 Record health and survival data
🌿 Support ongoing forest restoration work
🗓️ 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: 13th, 14th and 15th April 2026
⏰ 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 8:30am - 4:30 pm
📌 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Subang River Restoration Plots, City of Elmina
📌 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁: Elmina Rainforest Knowledge Centre
🔗 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: https://forms.gle/47GrughudBeE876t8 @ Scan QR above to register
𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙨 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚. 𝙅𝙤𝙞𝙣 𝙪𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠!
As we are counting down to the final hours before registration closes for the Youth Conservation Trainee Programme (YCTP) 2026, here’s a glimpse of our past cohorts at TRCRC 💚
From hands-on conservation work to building meaningful connections, it’s all about growing your impact and your network. We’d love to see some of you join us in the future! 👀✨
Got questions? Drop them our way anytime!
This programme is made possible with the support of @yayasansimedarbyofficial
#YayasanSimeDarby #TropicalRainforestConservationandResearchCentre #TRCRC #YouthConservationTraineeProgramme2026
TRCRC mourns the passing of Biruté Mary Galdikas (1946–2026), a distinguished anthropologist and one of the world’s foremost voices in orangutan conservation.
We are deeply honoured to have shared a moment with her during the Workshop on Conservation of Dipterocarpaceae in Borneo in 2019, a project supported by the National Geographic Society. Her presence was a powerful reminder of the importance of cross disciplinary collaboration in conservation.
Thank you for your unwavering courage, knowledge, and dedication.
Rest in peace, Dr. Biruté.
Credits to
Image 1 : Orangutan Foundation International
Image 2 : The Global Trees Campaign
