TAWAU: Around 100 Ficus (fig) seedlings have been planted in a High Conservation Value (HCV) area at Hillco Plantation to create a future food source for wild orangutans and hornbills as part of ongoing efforts to improve biodiversity within Sabah’s agricultural landscapes.
The annual tree-planting initiative was carried out by the Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC) together with 19 undergraduate and master’s students from Cardiff University. Once mature, the Ficus trees are expected to provide a reliable, year-round food source for the region’s wild orangutan and hornbill populations.
The second annual planting also served as a tribute to two champions of global biodiversity conservation: the late Professor Michael Bruford, a renowned molecular ecologist and conservation geneticist from Cardiff University, and the late Peter Riger, the long-serving Conservation Director of Houston Zoo.
“These incredible men, who left us too early, were two of the biggest supporters of DGFC since its infancy,” said DGFC Director and Cardiff University professor Dr Benoit Goossens.
To improve the seedlings’ chances of survival, the team utilised innovative planting techniques to mitigate local environmental challenges. Seedlings were planted halfway up existing trees to keep them above seasonal floodwaters. Each sapling was also enclosed in protective wire mesh to prevent macaques from pulling them down.
Joining the event were conservationists Dr Junaidi Payne, author of Mammals of Borneo with more than 50 years of conservation experience in Sabah, and Dr Zainal Zahari Zainuddin, a pioneer in Sumatran rhinoceros conservation. Dr Zainal also manages the specialised nursery where the Ficus seedlings were propagated. Both lead the organisation Bringing Back Our Rare Animals (BORA).
Goossens said the initiative forms part of a long-term partnership to make agricultural landscapes more hospitable to native wildlife. He also thanked Felda Global Ventures (FGV) and Hillco Estate for their continued collaboration, particularly Hillco Estate Senior Manager Peter Soibun and FGV Head of Services Mark Martin.
“Every seedling planted during this event marks a tangible step towards creating a safer and more resilient habitat for Borneo’s endangered wildlife,” he said.
