Organized data on Malaysian plants: what should be done before it is too late

Stone B.C., . (1984) Organized data on Malaysian plants: what should be done before it is too late. [Proceedings Paper]

Drastic and widespread accelerating changes in the natural landscapes of Malaysia are treating to reduce irreversibly or to eliminate numerous plant species found only in our region. Studies of our native plant species and our indigenous vegetation however are still at the beginning stages. The inventory studies which in many developed countries were often completed as long as 50 to 100 years ago are in Malaysia and our neighbouring countries shockingly incomplete. Subsequent studies of all kinds ranging from ecological to phytochemical need to be carried out but for every study completed to date there are hundreds of equal importance which cannot be started due to lack of manpower facilities or support. Extinctions of species in our flora have already occurred others are now in process and still more are certain to happen in the near future. This amounts not only to loss of information but of opportunities for agricultural horticultural forestry medical urban and suburban design chemical pharmaceutical and other commercial purposes as well as to science. It amounts to a loss of choice a lowering in future standards of living and forfeiture of the environmental functions of native vegetation which are provided free. To reduce as much as possible the nagative effects botanists must aggregate currently available data on flora and vegetation. It is suggested that computerized data retrieval would maximise the benifits of such data. Moreover it is important that biologists join together to provide an accelerated pace in basic biological research on the indigenous plants and increase the role of scientific influence in the decision-making processes of development.

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Abstract

Drastic and widespread accelerating changes in the natural landscapes of Malaysia are treating to reduce irreversibly or to eliminate numerous plant species found only in our region. Studies of our native plant species and our indigenous vegetation however are still at the beginning stages. The inventory studies which in many developed countries were often completed as long as 50 to 100 years ago are in Malaysia and our neighbouring countries shockingly incomplete. Subsequent studies of all kinds ranging from ecological to phytochemical need to be carried out but for every study completed to date there are hundreds of equal importance which cannot be started due to lack of manpower facilities or support. Extinctions of species in our flora have already occurred others are now in process and still more are certain to happen in the near future. This amounts not only to loss of information but of opportunities for agricultural horticultural forestry medical urban and suburban design chemical pharmaceutical and other commercial purposes as well as to science. It amounts to a loss of choice a lowering in future standards of living and forfeiture of the environmental functions of native vegetation which are provided free. To reduce as much as possible the nagative effects botanists must aggregate currently available data on flora and vegetation. It is suggested that computerized data retrieval would maximise the benifits of such data. Moreover it is important that biologists join together to provide an accelerated pace in basic biological research on the indigenous plants and increase the role of scientific influence in the decision-making processes of development.

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Item Type:	Proceedings Paper
Additional Information:	Available at Perpustakaan Sultan Abdul Samad Universiti Putra Malaysia 43400 UPM Serdang Selangor Malaysia. mal QH320 M3S612 1982
AGROVOC Term:	DATA COLLECTION
AGROVOC Term:	PLANT RESOURCES
AGROVOC Term:	PLANT POPULATION
AGROVOC Term:	PLANTS
AGROVOC Term:	VEGETATION
AGROVOC Term:	FLORA
AGROVOC Term:	SURVEYS
AGROVOC Term:	MALAYSIA
Geographical Term:	MALAYSIA
Depositing User:	Ms. Norfaezah Khomsan
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 05:27
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/15966

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