PETALING JAYA: Amid multiple threats to the survival of plant species in Malaysia, the country is facing a lack of experts to work on biodiversity, says Malaysian Ecological Association president Prof Dr Ahmad Ismail.
There is an inadequate number of experts in this field, he said.
He said this problem is rooted in the lack of funds to support research and development of new talents in the field of biodiversity.
“When we don't have enough people and money, it would also be difficult to do research, especially biodiversity work mostly in the field,” he said.
Prof Ahmad added that while regional estimates report about 8,300 vascular plant species in Peninsular Malaysia and around 12,000 in Sabah and Sarawak, the national total is estimated at 15,000 due to significant species overlap across regions.
“For example, Mount Kinabalu in Sabah alone has recorded over 5,000 plant species, with 40% being endemic.
“This is about the richness of plants in Malaysia. But those are mostly old data that were studied by foreign scientists.
"If we ratio plant species with our local botanists, the number is very low,” he said, urging for more to be done in recruiting young talents in biodiversity conservation.
He also pointed out that while laws exist to protect Malaysia's natural resources, the lack of research and experts is concerning, especially given the country's uniquely diverse plant life.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, from 1998 until 2025, a total of 193 plant species in Malaysia were categorised as critically endangered, 423 as endangered and 841 as vulnerable.
The Malaysia Biodiversity Information System (MyBIS) database showed that at least 138 plant species in Peninsular Malaysia were identified as critically endangered, vulnerable or endangered.
Among the critically endangered plant species are mersawa merah (anisoptera megistocarpa), berus mata buaya (bruguiera hainesii), keruing pipit (dipterocarpus fagineus) and merawan mata kuching merah (hopea ferruginea).
Endangered species include bearded paphiopedilum (paphiopedilum barbatum), keladan (dryobalanops oblongifolia) and keruing bukit (dipterocarpus costatus).
In the vulnerable category are chengal (neobalanocarpus heimii), agarwood (aquilaria malaccensis) and meranti pa’ang (shorea bracteolata).
MyBIS is a one-stop repository database system, which provides and facilitates access to information on biodiversity studies and management in Malaysia under the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry.
The data collection in MyBIS involved experts and research officers from government agencies, non-governmental organisations, research institutes and universities.
Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) president Meenakshi Raman said that deforestation and uncontrolled conversion of areas for commercial development continue to threaten the survival of plant species in Malaysia.
She warned that if the forests are not protected, the important plant species will be gone forever.
“We have a National Biodiversity Policy and national biodiversity action plans but they mean nothing if they are not implemented with legal effectiveness and protection.
“States have the power to designate areas and forests to protect species but they often sacrifice them for timber, plantations and other commodities on the grounds that these are for income,” she said.
