The Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) will collaborate with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) to conduct a research on the impact of climate change to amphibians.
SFC Chief Executive Officer Zolkipli Mohamad Aton said the collaboration would focus on assessing the correlation of environment on amphibians’ diversity pattern in Sarawak’s totally protected area.
“This project, funded by the National Conservation Trust Fund for Natural Resources, aims to identify environmental factors affecting amphibians and understand how short-term and long-term variations, including climate change, impact species, populations and assemblages,” he said at the launching ceremony of the 10th UNIMAS Bornean Frog Race at Sama Jaya Nature Reserve here, today.
Zolkipli said through this joint-research they hoped to gain valuable insight into the intricate relationships between the environment and the amphibian species in Sarawak’s protected areas.
He said the 10th Bornean Frog Race which had drawn about 90 participants, would also highlight frogs’ crucial role in the ecosystem.
“Frogs are important indicators of environmental health, and they provide a range of ecological services, such as controlling pests, pollinating plants and contributing to the food chain,” he said.
However, Zolkipli said many frog species are threatened by habitat loss, pollution, climate change and other factors.
“By studying and protecting frogs, we can gain valuable insights into the health of our ecosystem and the impacts of human activities,” he added.
Also present were UNIMAS Board Chairman, Tan Sri Sulong Matjeraie and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research and Innovation), Prof Dr Wan Hashim Wan Ibrahim.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency