Sarawak’s Tropi contributes Malaysian expertise to Soil Biodiversity Observation Network project

Sagah (seated centre) flanked by Deputy Ministers of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee (seated left) and Datuk Francis Harden Hollis while others look on during a press conference at DUN Complex on Nov 27, 2023.

KUCHING, Nov 27: Sarawak Tropical Peat Research Institute (Tropi) is representing Malaysia in the Soil Biodiversity Observation Network (BON) Research Project in partnership with the University of Leipzig, Germany this year.

Sarawak Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD) Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn said the global initiative aims to track and assess soil biodiversity over 10 years, with 90 countries involved.

“We are proud to be the only scientific agency in Malaysia to be invited to participate in this research collaboration,” he said during his ministerial winding-up speech in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting here today.

Sagah further said Tropi has been invited to participate in the Living Lab for Wetland Forests (LiWeFor) project and the PeatlandN2O, with N20 read as nitrous oxide.

“It is an international collaboration with the University of Tartu in Estonia, the University of Helsinki in Finland and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology in Germany.

“These projects are funded by the prestigious European Research Council (ERC) and aim to gain a comprehensive understanding of methane and nitrous oxide emissions from global peatlands, that is, between temperate and tropical peatlands.

“These collaborations will not only advance our scientific research and body of knowledge on tropical peatland, but also add value in our implementation of sustainable development and management of peatlands,” he added.

Sagah also disclosed that Tropi’s chemistry laboratory has been accredited with ISO 17025, a globally recognised international standard for testing and calibration laboratories.

This accreditation, he said, would allow Tropi to open the doors for further international research collaborations and strengthens its research capacity and competency on the global stage.

“Establishing an ISO 17025-accredited chemistry laboratory is essential to support the Sarawak Environmental Bill. Such a laboratory that meets international standards plays a crucial role in improving the verification and validation of carbon credits.

“This will also ensure that Sarawak’s climate change efforts are based on sound science and reliable data to achieve our net-zero carbon emissions by 2050,” he emphasised. — DayakDaily