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.
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
🌿 World Wildlife Day 2026 🌿
This year’s theme: “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods” 🌱💚
At Elmina Living Collection Nursery, we are proud to highlight some incredible species that embody this theme:
𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘮 𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘮 – a versatile native of Malaysia, known for its skin-healing seed oil and traditional medicinal uses.
𝘚𝘺𝘻𝘺𝘨𝘪𝘶𝘮 𝘤𝘶𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘪 – Kerian, used traditionally for blood sugar regulation, digestive health, and more.
𝘈𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴 – the precious agarwood tree, valued for its therapeutic wood and resin, now endangered and under conservation focus.
Medicinal and aromatic plants are more than just remedies! They are a living heritage, supporting local communities, traditional knowledge, and biodiversity. Protecting them ensures health, culture, and sustainable livelihoods for generations to come.
At TRCRC, we continue to conserve these species, promote awareness, and empower communities through sustainable practices and environmental education. Every plant we nurture is a step towards a healthier planet.
Let’s celebrate wildlife, heritage, and nature today and every day. Wishing everyone a Happy World Wildlife Day 2026! 🌎💚
#worldwildlifeday2026
Forests, frontline rangers, and the fight for tigers 🐅.
⌛Starting tomorrow, TRCRC’s work in Malaysia’s Central Forest Spine will be featured in CNN’s Mission Tiger, hosted by Will Ripley.
The programme follows conservation efforts across Southeast Asia, from 🇹🇭 Thailand’s Western Forest Complex, where rangers patrol and monitor tiger populations, to 🇲🇾 Malaysia’s forest restoration work supporting habitat recovery for the Malayan tiger.
📺 Airing 21–23 Feb on CNN International.
📷 CNN International/PR Newswire
@wwfmy @asaroyaltigerreserve @pantheracats
#TRCRC #MissionTiger #CNN
🌿✨ TRCRC on National TV! ✨🌿
We are proud to share that Tropical Rainforest Conservation & Research Centre (TRCRC) will be featured in PANORAMA: Makmal Hidup Hijau Banding on TV1, a special documentary segment highlighting collaborative conservation efforts at Pulau Banding, Royal Belum, Perak.
This episode showcases the inspiring work led by Pulau Banding Foundation (PBF) in collaborative efforts with TRCRC and UMK TRaCe, focusing on forest restoration at the Gaharu Plot through the planting of diverse native tree species. More than just tree planting, the programme captures how restoration, research, and community engagement intersect to strengthen long-term forest resilience.
Audiences will experience how the forest itself becomes a dynamic learning space, bringing together students, researchers, NGOs, and members of Belum Forest Friends (BFF) to engage with nature firsthand.
Our sincere appreciation to PBF for counting us in the recordings, RTM, the Unit Majalah & Dokumentari TV and everyone behind PANORAMA for the opportunity to share our conservation journey with a national audience.
We are equally grateful to Pulau Banding Foundation (PBF) and UMK TRaCe for their continued collaboration in advancing forest restoration and environmental education at Pulau Banding. 🌿
📺 Catch the broadcast:
🗓 Sunday, 22 February 2026
⏰ 9:00 PM
📍 TV1
🔁 Re-run: Thursday, 26 February, 11:30 PM, TV1
Tune in and witness how forests can become living classrooms and how collective action helps protect Malaysia’s natural heritage for generations to come. 🌱✨
Images credit: RTM
#PanoramaRTM #TRCRC #RoyalBelum #ForestRestoration #MakmalHidupHijauBanding
In January, TRCRC team from TRLC-Banun joined the tree-climbing team from Jabatan Perhutanan Negeri Perak (@jabhutanperak) and officials from Kampung Chang and Air Ganda Nursery for a seed collection field trip at Bukit Tapah Forest Reserve, Bidor, Perak.
🌱 The primary objective of this collaboration is to strengthen TRCRC’s technical capacity in seed collection through practical learning and demonstration of tree-climbing techniques from the state agency, as well as mutual knowledge exchange among the nursery team. Through this expedition, the TRCRC team also acquired Dipterocarp and non-Dipterocarp seeds from additional seed sources in southern Perak.
🌸 The seed survey and expedition is part of the effort to survey the flowering and fruiting of the Dipterocarps during the dry season. We also found some other species fruiting around the region, make sure to swipe left to see more!
🌳✨We are honored to have experienced this event alongside the Perak State and District Forestry Office, and we look forward to more collaboration in the future!
🌿 On 11 February, the world marks the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, a day proclaimed by the United Nations to recognize the critical contributions of women in STEM and to champion equal opportunities in science and research. At TRCRC, science is at the heart of rainforest restoration and women are an integral part of this journey.
Across our nurseries and restoration sites, women contribute to every layer of conservation work. From seed collection, propagation and tree planting to site preparation and long-term tree census monitoring. They take part in biodiversity surveys through camera trapping and birdwatching, venture into the forest to identify native flora and fauna species as well as conduct soil sampling to better understand and protect our ecosystems.
Today, we celebrate the passion, expertise and perseverance of women and girls in science. May more young women feel inspired to step into the field, the lab and the forest. Your work matters, your voice matters, and the future of conservation is stronger because of you! 🪷🌱
Forests thrive when the right trees grow in the right place. 🌳
In Malaysia, indigenous communities have protected rainforest ecosystems for generations.
By using native trees and local knowledge, restoration planning supports sustainable livelihoods while restoring forests in ways that truly work. 💚
Stay tuned for our upcoming interviews with the Orang Asli restoration actors of Royal Belum.
#TRCRC
On January 2026, TRCRC staffs, together with dedicated volunteers, carried out a seed collection session at Rimbun Dahan, a privately protected landscape valued for its mature trees, rich biodiversity, and long-standing commitment to conservation.
Rimbun Dahan is a preferred site for seed collection due to its healthy forest structure and diverse native species, providing high-quality planting material for nursery propagation. This session focused on native tree species, with particular attention to ecologically rare and threatened (ERT) species as well as wild fruit trees, both vital for forest regeneration and wildlife support.
Species collected include:
• 𝘋𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘱𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢 (Kapur)
• 𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘢 𝘭𝘦𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘢 (Meranti tembaga)
• 𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘢 𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘢 (Balau Sengkawang Air)
• 𝘍𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘢 (Ara)
• 𝘍𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘴 𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘫𝘬𝘪𝘪 (Ara)
Seed collection is a crucial part of TRCRC’s ongoing conservation efforts, supporting nursery propagation, safeguarding genetic diversity, and strengthening reforestation and habitat restoration initiatives across degraded landscapes.
Every seed collected is a step toward healthier forests and a more resilient future 🌳💚
