Johor:<Text>

Several important flora and fauna species have been recorded during the Biodiversity Exploration at the Central Forest Spine (CFS) Ecological Network in the Lenggor and Mersing Forest Reserves, underscoring the area's significance as one of the country's high-value biodiversity habitats. Johor Forestry director Mohd Syahrir Azrin Salleh said the five-day exploration, which began on Monday (May 18), recorded a diverse range of unique species, including carnivorous plants, wild orchids, herbs, aquatic plants, insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and wild mammals.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the species recorded included Nepenthes rafflesiana, Nepenthes gracilis, Scaphochlamys johorensis, Bulbophyllum macranthum, as well as the Great Argus, Rhinoceros Hornbill, Malayan Tapir, and sun bear. "These species serve as key indicators of a healthy tropical forest ecosystem and show that the Lenggor and Mersing Forest Reserves are still rich in biodiversity that must be protected," he told Bernama after officiating the closing ceremony of the exploration programme here recently.

The programme, organised by the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia in collaboration with the Johor State Forestry (JPNJ) and Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), brought together 78 biodiversity researchers and experts from universities, research institutions, government agencies, NGOs, and international organisations, including Copenhagen Zoo Malaysia. Mohd Syahrir Azrin said the findings reflect the government's continued commitment to strengthening biodiversity conservation and sustainable forest management, adding that the results of the study will be published in proceedings and a biodiversity documentation book to support the Central Forest Spine (CFS) Lenggor-Mersing Biodiversity Exploration Seminar, expected to be held next year.

Meanwhile, a Letter of Intent (LoI) on the CFS Living Lab at the Lenggor and Mersing Forest Reserves was signed between JPNJ and UTHM to enhance research, education, innovation, and capacity building in biodiversity and sustainable forest management. The event also saw the launch of the Sahabat CFS initiative, comprising nine villages in Kluang and Mersing, to strengthen the involvement of local communities in conserving the country's ecological network. "They serve as the government's eyes and ears in helping to safeguard the nation's forest heritage from encroachment and environmental damage," he said.

UTHM deputy dean for Research, Development and Publication, Associate Professor Dr Muhammad Abdul Latiff Abu Bakar, said CFS, which covers 6.71 million hectares, serves as an important ecological corridor for megafauna such as the Malayan tiger and Asian elephant. He said the exploration focused on 'Primary Linkage 1' within the Endau-Rompin landscape, which has been identified as one of the country's critical ecological corridors.