Ekspedisi Saintifik Kepelbagaian Biologi Kawasan Pemuliharaan Murum (MCA) telah dilaksanakan pada 19 hingga 25 Mei 2025 di ladang Sarawak Oil Palms Berhad (SOP), Murum, Belaga, Sarawak.
Ekspedisi ini melibatkan kerjasama Sarawak Oil Palms Berhad (SOP), Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation (MPOGCF) yang bertindak sebagai penganjur diikuti kumpulan penyelidik daripada Universiti Malayia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) dan Universiti Putra Malaysia Kampus Bintulu (UPMKB).
Fokus ekspedisi tertumpu kepada inventori biodiversiti flora dan fauna serta penilaian pendekatan pemuliharaan.
Kajian saintifik yang dijalankan merangkumi pelbagai kumpulan taksonomi utama seperti fauna akuatik diterajui oleh Dr Jongkar Grinang (UNIMAS), diikuti mamalia (terutamanya kelawar) oleh Prof. Dr. Azlan Jayasilan (UNIMAS), burung (avian) oleh Puan Bettycopa Amit dari MPOB, herpetofauna (amfibia dan reptilia) oleh Prof Dr Indraneil Das dan flora hutan oleh Dr. Ong Kian Huat bersama pasukan UPMKB.
Pelbagai kaedah persampelan seperti perangkap kabut, harpa, menyauk dan transek tumbuhan digunakan oleh para penyelidik bagi menghasilkan data awal yang penting bagi merangka strategi pemuliharaan yang lebih holistik dan lestari.
Walaupun berdepan cabaran logistik, keluasan kawasan dan cuaca yang tidak menentu, ekspedisi ini membuktikan komitmen SOP dan MPOGCF dalam mengekalkan kepelbagaian biodiversiti tempatan.
Sorotan lawatan juga melibatkan kawasan air terjun di Estet Menawan 3 yang berpotensi tinggi untuk menjadi ekopelancongan, kepelbagaian habitat akuatik, tapak Kawasan Pemuliharaan Nilai Tinggi (HCV) yang berperanan sebagai habitat spesies terancam dan koridor hidupan liar, serta tompok hutan yang menjadi refugia sementara dan laluan ekologi antara kawasan hutan bersebelahan.
Penemuan ini menyerlahkan keperluan kepada pengurusan koridor biodiversiti dan pemulihan habitat secara bersepadu, sejajar dengan tema “Unveiling Murum’s Wonders, Conserving Its Future” dalam usaha memastikan kelestarian kawasan Murum untuk generasi akan datang.
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The Murum Conservation Area Biodiversity Scientific Expedition took place from 19 to 25 May 2025 at Sarawak Oil Palms Berhad (SOP) estate in Murum, Belaga, Sarawak.
The expedition was a collaborative effort led by Sarawak Oil Palms Berhad (SOP) and the Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation (MPOGCF), with participation from research teams representing Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), and Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Campus (UPMKB).
The main objective of the expedition was to conduct a comprehensive biodiversity inventory of both flora and fauna, while also evaluating current conservation approaches.
The scientific studies covered a wide range of major taxonomic groups: aquatic fauna led by Dr. Jongkar Grinang (UNIMAS), mammals (specifically bats) under Prof. Dr. Azlan Jayasilan (UNIMAS), avian species led by Puan Bettycopa Amit (MPOB), herpetofauna (amphibians and reptiles) under Prof Dr Indraneil Das and forest flora led by Dr. Ong Kian Huat and his team from UPMKB.
A variety of sampling methods were implemented such as installation of mist nets, harp traps, dip netting, and vegetation transects were employed to gather essential baseline data. These findings will play a critical role in shaping more holistic and sustainable conservation strategies for the area.
Despite the challenges posed by logistics, vast terrain, and unpredictable weather, the expedition demonstrated the strong commitment of SOP and MPOGCF to preserving local biodiversity.
Highlights of the field visit included the Menawan 3 Estate waterfall area, identified as having strong potential for ecotourism, as well as diverse aquatic habitats, High Conservation Value (HCV) sites serving as refuge for threatened species and as wildlife corridors, and forest patches acting as temporary refugia and ecological pathways between adjacent forest areas.
The discoveries underscore the importance of integrated biodiversity corridor management and habitat restoration, perfectly aligning with the expedition’s theme: “Unveiling Murum’s Wonders, Conserving Its Future.” This collective effort aims to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Murum region for generations to come.
