Diversity of Trees at Gunung Serambu, Bau District, Sarawak, Malaysia

An inventory on trees was undertaken in 12 plots of 20 × 20 m at Gunung Serambu, Bau District as part of a multidisciplinary study in 2012. Six plots were established at the upper elevation (≥500 m) of the mountain and another six along the lower elevation from the foothill (≤500 m). A total of 487 trees were enumerated consisting of 112 species from 80 genera and 43 families. Among them are three species of figs namely Ficus schwarzii, F. fistulosa, F. grossulariodes and a legume, Koompassia excelsa, which are categorized as protected in Sarawak based on Sarawak Protection Ordinance 1998. Another eight species (Vatica micrantha, Artocarpus primackii, Knema pallens, Chionanthus pubicalyx, Mangifera pajang, Diospyros piscicarpa, Lithocarpus hallieri and Xanthophyllum ecarinatum) are listed as Borneo endemic. Euphorbiaceae with 13 species and 10 genera was considered the most dominant family. The families that follow in order of decreasing dominance are Moraceae, Clusiaceae, Lauraceae and Anacardiaceae. Based on important value index (IVI), Durio zibethinus represents the most dominant species with IVI = 259.24 followed by Lansium domesticum with IVI = 242.84, while Blumeodendron tokbrai, a distant third, with IVI = 157.23. There were nine species, with IVI less than 5.0. Higher number of individuals and species were recorded at higher elevation than at the lower elevation, as shown by the Shannon index (H’) = 3.69 (≥500 m) and H’ = (400–500 m), respectively. Simpson index (Ds) also recorded the highest value, with Ds = 0.97 at elevation of ≥500 m. The distribution of individuals among species was more or less even in all plots with E > 0.9

Engagement with indigenous people preserves local knowledge and biodiversity alike

Indigenous peoples are important stewards of biodiversity, often living near and possessing intimate knowledge of ecosystems. As a result, species new to science may be long known to indigenous people. While the scientific endeavor has long benefitted from indigenous knowledge, it has usually not engaged with it on equal footing1,2. While Linnaean taxonomy offers a broad framework for global comparisons, it may lack the detailed local insights possessed by indigenous peoples. This study illustrates how meaningful engagement with indigenous knowledge — throughout the scientific process — can improve biodiversity science and promote conservation1,2, particularly in studies of crop wild relatives, an international priority3 for food security in the face of climate change4. Two species of fruit trees recognized as distinct by the Iban and Dusun peoples, but considered a single species in current Linnaean taxonomy, were confirmed as distinct taxa by molecular studies. They correspond to Artocarpus odoratissimus Blanco and Artocarpus mutabilis Becc., whose distinguishing characteristics were clarified by members of indigenous communities

Engagement with indigenous people preserves local knowledge and biodiversity alike

Indigenous peoples are important stewards of biodiversity, often living near and possessing intimate knowledge of ecosystems. As a result, species new to science may be long known to indigenous people. While the scientific endeavor has long benefitted from indigenous knowledge, it has usually not engaged with it on equal footing1,2. While Linnaean taxonomy offers a broad framework for global comparisons, it may lack the detailed local insights possessed by indigenous peoples. This study illustrates how meaningful engagement with indigenous knowledge ¿ throughout the scientific process ¿ can improve biodiversity science and promote conservation1,2, particularly in studies of crop wild relatives, an international priority3 for food security in the face of climate change4. Two species of fruit trees recognized as distinct by the Iban and Dusun peoples, but considered a single species in current Linnaean taxonomy, were confirmed as distinct taxa by molecular studies. They correspond to Artocarpus odoratissimus Blanco and Artocarpus mutabilis Becc., whose distinguishing characteristics were clarified by members of indigenous communities.This study was supported by the NSF (0919119, 1501373 and 1711391), Garden Club of America, American Society of Plant Taxonomists, Botanical Society of America, Systematics Research Fund, EU-SYNTHESYS (NL-TAF-6894, GB-TAF-2437), and the Garfield Weston Foundation