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Presentation given by J. Henrot at the book launch, on 11 April 2013.
Presentation given by J. Henrot at the book launch, on 11 April 2013.
I am honored to share with you this morning some insights on the Flowering Plants Endemic to Brunei Darussalam. This map of the world is to remind us how globally rare these plants are. They are limited to the 5000 km2 occupied by Brunei on the surface of the earth. So UNIQUE. What a treasure and also what a responsibility to safeguard them for future generations.
I will try to answer the main questions you might have.WHY would we expect plants endemic to Brunei and WHY did we need this study to short-list them?HOW were the endemics short-listed?WHAT kind of plants are the endemics ? Are they trees, smaller plants ? How many are they? How can we be SURE that these plants are truly endemic to Brunei and not found somewhere else?WHERE are they found in Brunei ?They Bruneian endemics are rare at the world’s scale, are they also RARE within Brunei ?Are they SAFE or would their protection require urgent conservation measures?
WHY would we expect plants endemic to Brunei and and WHY did we need this study to short-list them?
WHY would we expect plants endemic to Brunei and and WHY did we need this study to short-list them?
Why would we expect plants endemic to Brunei ?First, because the island of Borneo itself has a very high level of endemic plants. Borneo has an estimated 15 000 species of higher plants with 37 % of them endemic to the island. Within Borneo, there are 3 areas of higher plant richness and Brunei lies within one of them, the NW Borneo hotspot or Riau pocket. This area in NW Borneo is different because it may have escaped most of the severe effects of the climatic changes in the Pleistocene. It is a region of active plant speciation. So we can expect Brunei to have a high biodiversity, but also, we can expect in Brunei plant species that have newly evolved and have not spread far beyond the place where they have evolved.
There are thus expectations but up to now there were only uncertainties about the number and the nature of the endemic plants. The complete checklist of the flowering plants of Brunei dates from 1995, it lists about 4000 species. In the checklist, some plants are labeled as endemic to Brunei. The information on endemic plants from the checklist was summarized in a chapter of the book ‘Forest and Trees of Brunei’ in 1999. A provisional number of 101 endemics was given. However without a list because, at the time, several plant species still required formal description. In 2003, in the Field guide to Forest Trees of BD, there is an allusion to 120 trees endemic to Brunei although with the warning that many might be found elsewhere in the region in the future. In 2010, I made an attempt to summarize the current knowledge on the plants endemic to Brunei and to list them. 74 plants were listed but in the process it was evident that drafting an accurate list would require much more efforts and that a comprehensive and methodological investigation was needed.
HOW were the endemics short-listed?
HOW were the endemics short-listed?
HOW was the list of Brunei endemics established?
The research flow is schematized here, I will quickly go through the steps.Since the publication of the 1995 checklist of the flowering plants of Brunei, hundreds of new plant species have been described for Borneo, some of them thought at the time of publication as only found in Brunei. Over time, there has also been new information regarding the distribution of some of these plants. · Part of the information relevant to the Brunei endemics is scattered in a very wide array of scientific journals. · Part of the information can be found in databases.· Part of the information is not published but is in the hands of botanists who specialize in given plant groups.
The first step was:- to carefully comb through the last 22 years of the relevant scientific literature- second to query the databases of herbaria and other specialized databases to make sure that there is no record of the candidate endemics outside of Brunei- third to establish correspondence with botanists who might hold some unpublished informationFrom that step, a preliminary short-list was established and each plant on that short-list was fully documented. The total documentation amounted to more than 800 pages The documentation was then circulated to the curators of herbaria in the region and to a wider group of expert botanists.After feed back from all parties, the final short-list of flowering plants endemic to Brunei was established for 2012, - along with the long-list of the taxa that in the process were removed from the short list.
The research flow is schematized here, I will quickly go through the steps.Since the publication of the 1995 checklist of the flowering plants of Brunei, hundreds of new plant species have been described for Borneo, some of them thought at the time of publication as only found in Brunei. Over time, there has also been new information regarding the distribution of some of these plants. · Part of the information relevant to the Brunei endemics is scattered in a very wide array of scientific journals. · Part of the information can be found in databases.· Part of the information is not published but is in the hands of botanists who specialize in given plant groups.
The first step was:- to carefully comb through the last 22 years of the relevant scientific literature- second to query the databases of herbaria and other specialized databases to make sure that there is no record of the candidate endemics outside of Brunei- third to establish correspondence with botanists who might hold some unpublished informationFrom that step, a preliminary short-list was established and each plant on that short-list was fully documented. The total documentation amounted to more than 800 pages The documentation was then circulated to the curators of herbaria in the region and to a wider group of expert botanists.After feed back from all parties, the final short-list of flowering plants endemic to Brunei was established for 2012, - along with the long-list of the taxa that in the process were removed from the short list.
This is thus the list of the flowering plants that in 2012 we can claim are only known from Brunei.Why do I stress 2012 ? Because the list is by no means final. It is certain that new species found in Brunei will be described in the years to come and some of them might be endemic to Brunei. We cannot expect the shortlist to ever be final.
If we take as extreme example the family Araceae: it is estimated that only half of the species of Araceae in the forests of Borneo have been described. None of the species pictured here, from the Teraja area, are yet formally described.
For the genus Homalomena, we know that at the Brunei National Herbarium there are collections of 16 species new to science among which 5 most likely endemic to Brunei and not yet described to this day.
For the genus Homalomena, we know that at the Brunei National Herbarium there are collections of 16 species new to science among which 5 most likely endemic to Brunei and not yet described to this day.
WHAT kind of plants are the endemics? How many are they?
WHAT kind of plants are the endemics? How many are they?
There are 65 flowering plants on the list of endemics. I have sorted them here into categories that you can recognize. The majority of the endemics are herbaceous plants. There are here 30 under herbs, but some of the climbers and the orchids are also herbaceous plants.There are 2 bamboos, 3 non rattan palms, 2 rattans, 3 shrubs, 3 treelets and 7 trees.
In terms of plant families, by far the best represented family is Begoniaceae, there are 15 endemic Begonias. It is not surprising because in the genus Begonia, in general, the level of endemicity is very high. Many species are known from an extremely localised area, sometimes limited to just one waterfall. The family Araceae is also well represented and we already know that more species endemic to Brunei are waiting to be described in that family. There are then 4 families with 5 endemics in each. For the Arecaceae, the palm family, it was not really expected but Gesneriaceae, the Orchids and the Ginger family, are also known for their capacity to produce local endemics.The rest of the endemics is distributed in a variety of plant families.For the sake of those of you particularly interested in trees, I have placed a small tree on families with trees or treelets.
Let’s have a look at some of the endemics now. I am not going to show you the 15 species of Begonia but just 3 to give you an idea of the diversity.Begonia awongii is rather large, to 1.5 m tall. It is found only in Temburong. Begonia laccophora, on the other hand is very small, with leaves no bigger than 3 cm and red below. It is also found only from Temburong. There are 4 subspecies of Begonia bruneiana, this ssp has been found so far only in the Tutong district.
From the Araceae family, I’ll show 3 of the 8 endemic species, including their habitat. Schismatoglottis hottae has velvety leaves and white underneath. It grows on wet sandstone cliffs and is known from only 2 locations, in the Teraja area and in Ulu Ingei. Like the previous species, Homalomena terajaensis grows on wet sandstone cliffs. As the name terajaensis indicates, it is found only in the Teraja area. It is a small herb, only about 10 cm tall. Schismatoglottis cyria, on the other hand, is very large, up to 1.5 m tall. It has been collected only once, in Temburong, growing on a cliff by the side of the river.
I’ll show you also a few palms and the 2 bamboos.
Pinanga yassinii has been found only in Ulu Ingei. Livistona exigua as well. It is unusally small for its genus. So small, that the specimen sent to the RBG at Kew for identification sat there for 20 years in a wrong folder, under Licuala, before being recognized and described as a new species of Livistona.The rattan Calamus maiadum is found in Ulu Ingei and in the Teraja area. It is recognizable by its long brown hair.This other endemic rattan, Calamus temburongii, is only found in Temburong where it is locally common. The bamboo Temburongia simplex is really special.When it was discovered, it was recognized that it was not a new species but a new genus, which is a level higher in the plant hierarchy and much rarer. It means that it is quite different from the closest related plant. Temburongia simplex grows along the Temburong and Belalong rivers.The bamboo Schizostachyum khoonmengii grows in the same area but it is twice as high and much thicker than Temburongia.
Pinanga yassinii has been found only in Ulu Ingei. Livistona exigua as well. It is unusally small for its genus. So small, that the specimen sent to the RBG at Kew for identification sat there for 20 years in a wrong folder, under Licuala, before being recognized and described as a new species of Livistona.The rattan Calamus maiadum is found in Ulu Ingei and in the Teraja area. It is recognizable by its long brown hair.This other endemic rattan, Calamus temburongii, is only found in Temburong where it is locally common. The bamboo Temburongia simplex is really special.When it was discovered, it was recognized that it was not a new species but a new genus, which is a level higher in the plant hierarchy and much rarer. It means that it is quite different from the closest related plant. Temburongia simplex grows along the Temburong and Belalong rivers.The bamboo Schizostachyum khoonmengii grows in the same area but it is twice as high and much thicker than Temburongia.
How can we be SURE that these plants are truly endemic to Brunei and not found somewhere else?
How can we be SURE that these plants are truly endemic to Brunei and not found somewhere else?
Now that we have acquainted ourselves with some of the endemics, let’s address THE question: Are we sure that the plants only known from Brunei in 2012 are truly ‘endemic to Brunei and therefore absent from elsewhere? We cannot be sure. But we can ask the question: how likely is it to find one of the endemics outside Brunei in the future?
There is skepticism about the existence of plants limited geographically to Brunei. The skepticism about the endemics stems from the fact that Brunei has a small land area 5000 km2, it has no floristic boundary with its neighbors and the region where it is found is not fully botanically explored.
There is skepticism about the existence of plants limited geographically to Brunei. The skepticism about the endemics stems from the fact that Brunei has a small land area 5000 km2, it has no floristic boundary with its neighbors and the region where it is found is not fully botanically explored.
Before going into the topic, let s look at what is an endemic. Plant can be geographically limited to an area as a result of different processes.There are 3 types of endemics.NEO-ENDEMICS are the result of ‘recent’ speciation. An actively evolving group gives rise to a distinct species that remains localized because of either habitat specialization or restricted propagation. Begonias could be a good example of typical neoendemics.Neo-endemics with very limited distribution would be true ‘Brunei endemics’.PALEO-ENDEMICS are relict species; they had formerly a larger distribution but underwent extinction throughout much of their range in geological times, leaving isolated populations in suitable habitats. With paleo-endemics, there is a probability to find other population(s), possibly even far away, across the border.ANTHROPOGENIC ENDEMICS are the result of human activity. Their restricted distribution is due to habitat destruction or over-harvesting. Brunei could well be a refuge for species threatened with extinction in the region.What ‘fuels’ neo- & paleo- endemism are boundaries that isolate populations and prevent plant dispersion. Endemism is most common on islands or in areas with sharp natural limits like mountain chains, but, on a large scale, the limit of suitable habitat or just ‘distance’, for species with little dispersion capacity, is a boundary.
As seen on this map, Borneo is a patchwork of floristic regions. Brunei is part of the region in dark green, called ‘Lowland rain forest of Sabah and Sarawak’ and it has a tip in the ‘Montane rain forest’ region in yellow, which is also shared with Sarawak and Sabah.
Let’s look at the map of botanical collections made in Borneo. A darkened cell on this map indicates that at least 1 collection was made in that cell, one collection is nothing since there are potentially hundreds of species per cell. Brunei itself has a fair coverage of botanical collections but it is clear indeed that in its surroundings some of the cells remain completely unexplored.
Let’s look at the map of botanical collections made in Borneo. A darkened cell on this map indicates that at least 1 collection was made in that cell, one collection is nothing since there are potentially hundreds of species per cell. Brunei itself has a fair coverage of botanical collections but it is clear indeed that in its surroundings some of the cells remain completely unexplored.
Brunei might not have floristic boundaries but it has other kinds of boundaries.It has some natural boundaries. To the North, it has 160 kms of coastline. To the South of the Belait district and at the East of the Tutong district, the border is in a large part a watershed ridge.
Brunei has also anthropogenic boundaries. The vegetation border between Brunei and Sarawak is, in part, clearly defined, with forests on the Brunei side and oil palm plantations or logged forests on the other.
Brunei has also anthropogenic boundaries. The vegetation border between Brunei and Sarawak is, in part, clearly defined, with forests on the Brunei side and oil palm plantations or logged forests on the other.
Roads lead, intentionally or not, to logging or forest degradation. The road map of Borneo of 2000 is therefore indicative of the state of the forests. In 2012, there is even less area spared by the heavy road network. The situation in 2000 was already such that, outside Brunei, the remains of the floristic regions Brunei shares with Sarawak and Sabah were overwhelmingly islands of forests confined to the protected areas (in green on the map). If they are not endemic to Brunei in their own right, the plants listed as ‘currently only known from Brunei’ might well be or become anthropogenic endemics.An often-stated sentiment among botanists is that Brunei will be, in the near future, a critical refuge for many of the species that are growing naturally in the region.
If Brunei has borders, natural or anthropogenic, Brunei has also neighbors.The closest forest areas neighboring Brunei are Gunung Mulu National Park and Lambir Hills National Park.There are many plants known from Brunei and only one other location, in either Mulu or Lambir.
It is the case for this small Araceae. (Hapaline celatrix). For 19 years, it was known from only one site in Temburong and believed to be endemic to Brunei.Then in 2007, a second population was found in Sarawak, on the slope of Gunung Mulu.
It is the case for this small Araceae. (Hapaline celatrix). For 19 years, it was known from only one site in Temburong and believed to be endemic to Brunei.Then in 2007, a second population was found in Sarawak, on the slope of Gunung Mulu.
The treelet Polyalthia charitipoda is known only from one localized area in Teraja and from one other collection on Bukit Lambir. It would therefore not come as a surprise if some of the species currently thought as endemic to Brunei are at one point also found in Lambir or Mulu.
Surprises can happen. Some species are found only in Brunei and in one other quite distant location. It is the case for this liana (Connarus peltatus)that has been collected only from 2 localities, Ulu Ingei in Brunei and Bukit Sadok in Sarawak, at a distance of 430 km.
Surprises can happen. Some species are found only in Brunei and in one other quite distant location. It is the case for this liana (Connarus peltatus)that has been collected only from 2 localities, Ulu Ingei in Brunei and Bukit Sadok in Sarawak, at a distance of 430 km.
More impressively, one population of peculiar Hoya was found in the Belait district in 2010, it turned out not to be a new species but instead a species thought up to then as endemic to Singapore and gone extinct in 1894. Even more surprising, in 2012, another population of the same specieswas found in Johor, Mainland Malaysia, 1200 km away from Brunei.This illustrates our lack of knowledge on the distribution of some plants. Are they rare species that have gone unnoticed and therefore uncollected or are they species that have a disjunct distribution, possibly paleo-endemics ?
Endemism is more common among herbs than trees, especially in plant families with relatively poor dispersal. On the list of endemics, we saw that herbaceous plants dominate. Also plant families in which a high level of local endemism is expected. Like 5 of the top 6 – Begoniaceae, Araceae , Gesneriaceae, Orchidaceae, Zingiberaceae. There is some confidence that the endemics from these families would remain as ‘endemic to Brunei’ in the future.
Confidence is not certainty. In the family Gesneriaceae, for ex., the genera Cyrtandra and Henckelia are particularly remarkable for their capacity to produce local endemics. There were 6 Cyrtandra and 3 Henckelia thought as endemic to Brunei when the species were described.Of the Cyrtandra: 2 were later found in Mulu. This species (glomeruliflora) became synomym of this other one (poulsenii). Thus of the 6 Cyrtandra, only 3 remained. The Henckelia have all be moved to the genus Loxocarpus. One has now been found in Sarawak. This one (diffusa) has been fused with another species (violoides) that is found in Sarawak en Sabah. Thus of the 3 Henckelia, only 1 remains, under the name of Loxocarpus. Therefore, even in a plant family where we expect local endemics, there is no certainty that the species that are now on the list of endemicsremain endemic to Brunei in the future.
In conclusion: How likely is it to find one of the 65 plants listed as ‘only known from Brunei’ somewhere else in the future ?I would answer that, by now, you know now nearly as much as I do.For most of the plants on the list, there is a good probability that they are truly endemics, either neo endemics, paleo or anthropogenic endemics but there is no certainty.What is certain though is that in the future, the list of the flowering plants only known from Brunei WILL change, in size and in content. New species will be added, some species might be removed if found elsewhere and some species might change name or become merged with another.
WHERE are they found in Brunei ? They are rare at the world’s scale, are they also RARE within Brunei ?
WHERE are they found in Brunei ? They are rare at the world’s scale, are they also RARE within Brunei ?
Are the endemics rare within Brunei? Where are they located, in which habitat? The plants endemic to Brunei are not only rare at the world scale but most appear also limited geographically within Brunei. Most of them are known from just a few sites: 27 are known from one location only and 57 are known from 3 sites or less.
Often the known sites are located within the same district: Temburong, Belait or Tutong, more rarely endemics are found in 2 districts or in the 3 districts. Typically also, the known sites are located rather close to each other. The two distribution maps on the right are representative of the distribution of the Brunei endemics. Very few of the endemics have a wider distribution in the country, it is difficult to believe that, with distributions like these, they would be truly restricted to Brunei: either they existed in the past across the border and are now anthropogenic endemics or they might be found across the border in the future.
Among the species with a wider distribution, there is this fan palm, and this Begonia.
Among the species with a wider distribution, there is this fan palm, and this Begonia.
There is no hard data about the local abundance of the endemics but sometimes qualitative indications on the plant collection labels. A few of the endemics seem to have been assessed as locally common.
Another information that can be drawn from the plant collection labels is the type of forest and the specific habitat in which the plants were found. In terms of forest types, most of the endemics are found in the Mixed Dipterocarp Forest, which is the most common forest type in Brunei. Another quarter is found either in kerangas Forest or hill Dipterocarp Forest whereas the second most common forest type in Brunei is peatswamp. There is actually only one endemic species from the peatswamp and it is an epiphyte.
Another information that can be drawn from the plant collection labels is the type of forest and the specific habitat in which the plants were found. In terms of forest types, most of the endemics are found in the Mixed Dipterocarp Forest, which is the most common forest type in Brunei. Another quarter is found either in kerangas Forest or hill Dipterocarp Forest whereas the second most common forest type in Brunei is peatswamp. There is actually only one endemic species from the peatswamp and it is an epiphyte.
In terms of habitat specificity, there is an interesting distinct pattern: 13 % of the endemics were collected on ridges, especially in Kerangas F. and 51 % were collected from particularly wet places along streams and river banks, on wet rock surfaces, on mud walls or in the vicinity of waterfalls.
Within Brunei, some areas appear particularly rich in endemics. On this map, the number of endemics per 20 km2 grid cell is color-coded. A red cell indicates the presence of 20-25 endemics, a pink one 10-19 and a yellow one 4-9.Three ‘hotspots’ of endemics appear clearly: · one in Temburong, centered on the Kuala Belalong Field Studies C, with the highest density of endemic plants · one in the Teraja area in the Belait district, · one in the Southern tip of the Belait district, in the vicinity of Bukit Batu Patam.
The hotspot at the vicinity of the KBFSC will surprise nobody. Not only the area is rich in plants and habitats but also it has received a lot of attention from botanists. It is probably the best surveyed area in the whole country. It would therefore be interesting to find out what extensive surveys in less visited parts of Temburong would reveal in terms of endemics. The Teraja area is also really rich in habitats, it is quite accessible, frequently visited and known for its plant diversity. The Ulu Ingei hotspot is remarkable because it has been little surveyed but every botanical investigation in the area has led to the discovery of endemic species.
The hotspot at the vicinity of the KBFSC will surprise nobody. Not only the area is rich in plants and habitats but also it has received a lot of attention from botanists. It is probably the best surveyed area in the whole country. It would therefore be interesting to find out what extensive surveys in less visited parts of Temburong would reveal in terms of endemics. The Teraja area is also really rich in habitats, it is quite accessible, frequently visited and known for its plant diversity. The Ulu Ingei hotspot is remarkable because it has been little surveyed but every botanical investigation in the area has led to the discovery of endemic species.
Are they SAFE or would their protection require urgent conservation measures?
Are they SAFE or would their protection require urgent conservation measures?
Are the endemics safe? We now move into the conservation issues. There are 2 threats to the endemics in Brunei: habitat loss and removal from the wild which is also called poaching when it is illegal. Is habitat loss a concern? For a quick overview, the collection sites of the endemics were plotted on the map of protected areas of Brunei.One dot here may represent several endemics in the same area. Many of the known sites of the endemics are located within protected forests. In the Ulu Temburong National Park, in the Sungei Ingei Conservation Forest and the Bukit Batu Patam Protection Forest.In the Bukit Bedawan PF,In the Benutan catchment PF,in the Bukit Sawat CFNone in Ulu Mendaram CF where peatswamp dominate.Then we have the Bukit Teraja PF. Let’s zoom into the area.
This is a sketch of the Bkt Teraja PF and the Ulu Mendaram conservation Forest with in-between, in blue, the extension that has been recently penciled for gazetting. The picture by itself shows how critical the extension is for the conservation of some of the endemic plants: 10 of the endemics are found in the extension and 4 of them are found nowhere else in Brunei than in the extension.
For each endemic, I have assessed if the known sites lie in a currently protected area, not in a protected area or in the Teraja extension: 35 of the endemics have all sites in protected areas, 20 have at least one site in a protected area and 10 have no sites in a currently protected area. To evaluate the risk to extinction of the endemics in Brunei and the need for conservation measures, I have suggested a very pragmatic assessment based on the number of sites and their location within or outside a protected area.Two conservation categories, specifically for use in Brunei :
The category Lower Risk – Conservation dependent for the 55 endemics with all or at least 1 population in a protected area. Lower risk because the risk to extinction within a protected area should be limited and ‘conservation-dependent’ because the conservation of the endemics is linked to the conservation of the forest in which they are found.
Then the category Critically Endangered for the endemics without population in a protected area. Critically Endangered because these endemics incur a high risk of habitat loss and additionally, for some, a high risk of poaching.
The category Lower Risk – Conservation dependent for the 55 endemics with all or at least 1 population in a protected area. Lower risk because the risk to extinction within a protected area should be limited and ‘conservation-dependent’ because the conservation of the endemics is linked to the conservation of the forest in which they are found.
Then the category Critically Endangered for the endemics without population in a protected area. Critically Endangered because these endemics incur a high risk of habitat loss and additionally, for some, a high risk of poaching.
Technically, there are 10 endemics in the category ‘critically endangered’ but we can assume that the 4 which are only found in the Teraja extension will be soon in a protected area.There remain thus 6 endemics under concern. Let’s have a look at them:
This one is a medium size tree (Horsfieldia disticha) which was last collected 52 years ago in the Andulau FR This is also a medium-size tree. (Xanthophyllum petiolatum) collected once, 55 years ago, also from the Andulau FRThis is a woody climber, Erycibe villosa which was only collected once, 21 years ago, also from the Andulau FR. Does it tell us something about the Andulau FR in the past or in the present ? The 3 remaining species share several characteristics: · they are highly ornamental, · they are known from only one site, · and they originate from areas undergoing rapid changes.
This orchid was collected in Temburong, close to Bangar township. This Hoya was collected at the border of the peat swamp near road developments in Belait. This is also an Hoya, it grows in the white sands in Tutong. It has recently been found back, 23 years after its first collection, in a site with disturbed vegetation and prone to bush fires, in other words, a site at risk and with no conservation value in itself.
This one is a medium size tree (Horsfieldia disticha) which was last collected 52 years ago in the Andulau FR This is also a medium-size tree. (Xanthophyllum petiolatum) collected once, 55 years ago, also from the Andulau FRThis is a woody climber, Erycibe villosa which was only collected once, 21 years ago, also from the Andulau FR. Does it tell us something about the Andulau FR in the past or in the present ? The 3 remaining species share several characteristics: · they are highly ornamental, · they are known from only one site, · and they originate from areas undergoing rapid changes.
This orchid was collected in Temburong, close to Bangar township. This Hoya was collected at the border of the peat swamp near road developments in Belait. This is also an Hoya, it grows in the white sands in Tutong. It has recently been found back, 23 years after its first collection, in a site with disturbed vegetation and prone to bush fires, in other words, a site at risk and with no conservation value in itself.
When in-situ conservation is not an option, cultivation ex-situ can be an alternative. The last 3 endemics would be perfect candidates for ex-situ conservation. I would like to stress that conservation ex situ is a very sad alternative. It conserves the species, the plant in the pot, instead of its peculiar environment. Botanists know that where you find one rare plant, you are quite likely to find another species of rare plant. You might even feel that the environment has something different. We have seen that they are hotspots of endemics in the country. Plants are only the tip of the iceberg in terms of biodiversity, the environment would contain billions of bacteria and fungi, which might also be peculiar species and possibly of high economical value. You can imagine, that especially for attractive plants, removal from the wild could become an issue. There are collectors ready to pay high prices for rare plants. Some plants are more at risk than others: the Begonias, the orchids, the Hoyas, the gingers. You will therefore understand that it is important not to publicize the exact locations where the endemics are found.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion: Ø There are 65 plants listed in 2012 as ‘only known from Brunei’ Ø The list of flowering plants endemic to Brunei WILL change over timeØ Most of the endemics are rare in Brunei Ø Most of the endemics are safe in Brunei· 55 have at least 1 site in a protected area and their risk to extinction may be considered as Lower Risk-Conservation dependent · 6 have no site in a protected area and are Critically Endangered The recommendations for the conservation of the flowering plants endemic to Brunei are :Ø to maintain and strengthen the conservation management of the existing protected areas.Ø for species in sites at risk where conservation in situ is not achievable: propagation ex-situ can be consideredØ for the endemics, removal from the wild should be controlled by law and it is therefore advisable to place the endemics in the Brunei Wild Life Protection Act or in a similar act Ø environmental impact assessments are designed to flag issues of conservation concern and this includes the presence of endemic plants, therefore environmental impact assessments should be implemented for all activities modifying the landscape. Ø the documentation on the endemics should be continued: in terms of changes to the list but also new known sites for the endemics should be carefully recorded
To have a glimpse at some of these rare plants, I invite you to look at the running slide show in the lobby.Above the distribution maps of the plants, you will see colored squares that refer to the sites and if they located in a protected area or not. This herb from the ginger family is known from one site in the Ulu Temburong National Park a protected area, as indicated by the green square.This other herb from the ginger family is exclusively known from the Teraja extension as indicated in blue.This shrub is known from 6 sites in Temburong, 4 within the Ulu Temburong National Park and 2 from outside, indicated in red.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
There is a very long list of individuals and institutions to acknowledge for their contribution in this project:individuals within the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources in Brunei, a very large body of fellow botanists and, of course, the Korea Forest Service, for the funding. It would take a second talk to give everybody the credit they deserve so, instead, I will leave this slide in the background during the questions.I thank YOU, my audience today, very warmly for your attention and I hope you have gained insight into the Flowering Plants Endemic to Brunei Darussalam.
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