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.
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
👏👏👏
On March 24, a peer-reviewed open letter in Plants, People, Planet—signed by 258 conservation and restoration experts—calls on funders, policymakers, investors and philanthropists to require independent, site-based biodiversity certification as a condition of financing restoration projects. The letter identifies The Global Biodiversity Standard (TGBS) as an existing operational solution for credible, site-based biodiversity verification.
At TRCRC, this matters deeply. We see every day that restoration cannot be judged by hectares pledged or trees planted alone. What matters is whether ecosystems are genuinely recovering, whether biodiversity is improving, and whether restoration is being done with scientific rigour, local knowledge, and long-term accountability. 🌱
As a TGBS hub partner, we are proud to be part of a growing movement pushing for higher standards in restoration practice and stronger evidence for biodiversity outcomes. This publication is an important signal that the sector is ready to move beyond ambition alone and toward credible verification of impact.
As David Bartholomew, CEO of TGBS, says:
“𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘣𝘺 𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘪𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘥, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥.”
Read the letter here: https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ppp3.70169
#biodiversity #restoration #naturebasedsolutions #tgbs #restorationmalaysia #trcrc
As we’re getting closer to the applicant screening phase for the Youth Conservation Trainee Programme (YCTP) 2026, we’ve been hearing all your thoughts, questions and maybe even a few worries too 👀 So we’ve put together some FAQs to help you understand the programme better and (hopefully) make your decision a whole lot easier!
Got more questions? Don’t be shy, drop them our way! We’re here for it 🌳
This programme is made possible with the support of @yayasansimedarbyofficial
#YayasanSimeDarby #YouthConservationTraineeProgramme2026 #YCTP2026 #TropicalRainforestConservationAndResearchCentre #TRCRC
🌿 𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙨. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙗𝙞𝙤𝙙𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙮, 𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 🌱
This March 21, International Day of Forests, the theme “𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗲𝘀” is a reminder that what happens to forests happens to us too.
At TRCRC, our work spans across restoration, seed collection, research and conservation training. Beyond that, we are building resilience to make sure tropical rainforests are still standing and still giving, for generations to come.
The forests we protect today are the economies and livelihoods that thrive tomorrow.
As we reflect on the value of forests and what they sustain, we also take this opportunity to wish everyone who celebrate a blessed
𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘁 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗶 𝗥𝗮𝘆𝗮 𝗔𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗹𝗳𝗶𝘁𝗿𝗶, 𝗠𝗮𝗮𝗳 𝗭𝗮𝗵𝗶𝗿 𝗱𝗮𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻 🕌🎉✨
Last month, our team member Nabilah Huda spent a week at the Millennium Seed Bank (MSB) in @wakehurst_kew , where seeds from around the world are conserved for the future.
From 8–13 February 2026, she along with seven international participants joined an intensive, hands-on training, supported by a bursary from @kewgardens .
The experience went beyond techniques. It was about exchanging knowledge across countries and contexts. From seed collection to lab processing, the training covered key aspects of seed conservation, including storage, viability monitoring, data management, and seed bank operations, guided by MSB Partnership experts.
We’re grateful for this opportunity, which strengthened technical skills and brought valuable insights home to support our conservation work. It’s a reminder that conserving plant diversity is a shared global effort, one that depends on collaboration, curiosity, and care. 🌱
#trcrc #conservation #seedbank #knowledgesharing #wakehurst
🌿 Are you passionate about conservation and eager to gain real hands-on experience? This is your chance to learn, explore, and make a difference with us! 🌱
We’re excited to welcome youth who are curious about nature, conservation work, and protecting our environment. Get ready for engaging activities, meaningful field experiences, and the opportunity to learn alongside other passionate young conservationists.
📅 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗱: 𝟵 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 – 𝟯𝟭 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲.
⚠️ 𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘴𝘭𝘰𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭.
Only 𝟭𝟬 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 will be selected, so be sure to secure your spot early!
We can’t wait to meet the next generation of conservation leaders. See you in the program! 🌱
For any inquiries, contact us via:
Email: erkc@trcrc.org
Whatsapp: +60 11 4057 9742
This programme is made possible with the support of @yayasansimedarbyofficial
At TRCRC, we don’t just plant trees—we conserve rare local species. Our Tropical Rainforest Living Collections (TRLC) act as botanical reservoirs to prevent extinction and restore our nation’s biodiversity.
Our core impact zones:
📍 TRLC Merisuli (Sabah): A sanctuary for endangered Bornean tree species.
📍 TRLC Banun (Perak): Protecting critical wildlife corridors with the help of local communities.
📍 Elmina Rainforest Knowledge Centre (Shah Alam): Pioneering urban biodiversity and conservation education.
Through our Seed to Tree (STT) initiative, we integrate technology, collect and nurture these species to ensure every forest we restore is resilient and traceable. 📱🌳the STT project is funded by the UK Mission to ASEAN and implemented by TRCRC in partnership with @bioversityciat .
Join us in safeguarding the giants of our rainforests. Stay tuned for our call for volunteers! 👀
#TRCRC #SeedToTree #ASEANUKGTF #ASEANUK #ThrivingPartnership
