ABSTRACT
Malaysia is fortunate and proud to possess one of the world’s richest biodiversity. Indeed, Malaysia is one of the world’s wealthiest countries of mega biodiversity, which has yet to be investigated and documented. Biological diversity can be considered at genetic, species and ecosystem levels of animals, plants and microorganisms. The megabiodiversity countries possess 60% of the world’s known species. In Malaysia alone, it is estimated that there are 185,000 species of fauna and 12,500 species of flowering plants. The world’s known plant species are close to a quarter million. Many of our plant species are endemic to tropical forests in this region especially in Sabah and Sarawak. Many species are yet to be found and named. Such diversity is an important and invaluable national asset to safeguard for both the present and future generations.
