THE BIO BORNEO 2015 CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION, KOTA KINABALU SABAH 20 21 APRIL 2015 Brunei Darussalam Biological Resources: The National Investment For Future Economy & SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MODEL Presented by Mahmud Haji Yussof CEO, Brunei Darussalam Heart of Borneo Centre Head Of Biodiversity Research and Innovation Centre Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources Email: mahmudyussof@yahoo.com
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM S FOREST RESOURCES FOREST CLASSIFICATION % Total Land Area Protection forest 3 Conservation Forest 28 National Park 8 Recreation Forest 1 Additional Forested State Land (including Plantation Forest) 35 TOTAL 75%
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM S MARINE RESOURCES (MPA = 150,000 Ha)
HoB in Brunei Darussalam Forest types:- Montane Mixed Dipterocarp Peat Swamp Old Secondary Forest Secondary/shrubs /Bush 57.7% 58% [1.5% of HoB] [1.5% of HoB]
ROLE OF BIODIVERSITY The sustainable development and wise use of biodiversity resources and its components are vital. These will meet the crucial and continuous needs of the growing population of the country for food, healthy living conditions and good health. An intrinsic, complex and bio-diverse ecosystem has a high ecological value that provides a bank of genetic resources, derivatives, and habitats for highly diverse flora and fauna species. These are of economic, educational, scientific and environmental value, as well as having cultural, recreational and aesthetic value as attractions for nature and ecotourism activities.
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM MINISTRY OF DEVELOPMENT Department of Environment and Recreational Parks ACB MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY AND PRIMARY RESOURCES Biodiversity Research & Innovation Centre (BioRIC) [Heart of Borneo Centre] Wildlife Department Department of Forestry Department of Fisheries CBD CITES MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (University Brunei Darussalam)
Structure of BioRIC
Legal and Policy Framework Biodiversity means biological diversity, being the variability among living organisms from all sources, including plant materials, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part of, and the diversity within species, between species and ecosystems, and includes biological resources. Biological resources include genetic resources or materials of plant, animal or microbial origin or any other biotic components of the ecosystem, with actual or potential use or value for humanity FOREST ACT CAP 45 BIODIVERSITY ORDER, 2015 FISHERY LAW, CAP 61 WILD FLORA AND FAUNA ORDER, 2007 WILDLIFE ACT
BIODIVERSITY ORDER, 2015 - Provide legal foundation or back-bone on biodiversity related activities (research & commercialisation); - Capitalize R & D activities on biological resources; - Support National Economic Diversification; - Secure research investment; NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON MANAGING MICROBIAL DIVERSITY TO UNDERPIN A BIO-ECONOMY FOR BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
POLICY ON BIODIVERSITY VISION Excellence in Biological Resource (Biodiversity) Management Strategy for a better quality of life of people of Brunei Darussalam MISSION To discover and manage the vast natural biodiversity of Brunei Darussalam through Conservation, Research & Development, Promotion and Commercialization that will accelerate national economic diversification. To promote an effective biodiversity protection & conservation program through an integral holistic approach, establishment of network of protected areas & other sustainable terrestrial and aquatic uses.
POLICY ON BIODIVERSITY Strategic Objectives: Promote and implement the nation s biodiversity management strategies of multi-sectoral implications and objectives ensuring sustained social, economic and ecological benefits ; Encourage green and well-balanced multi-sectoral development through a wise and wide scope of biological resource utilization. Comprising of protection of the natural and healthy ecosystem services for socio-economic and sound environmental benefits; As the National Focal Point (NFP) of the related international conventions such as CBD, RAMSAR, International Wetland, ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) and CITES establish R & D networks and cooperation that can give an impact to the national economic growth and development ; Support all initiatives that can increase the awareness of all levels of society in the country on the importance of ecological and biodiversity and improve their knowledge, understanding and experience.
POLICY ON BIODIVERSITY GENERAL POLICY STATEMENT The Government of Brunei Darussalam will continue to commit itself to protect, conserve, develop and wisely manage its biodiversity including ecological processes, genetic and habitat diversity for the promotion of social, economic and well-being of the people in line with the national and global development agenda.
National database of the living cells, genomes of organisms, and information relating to heredity and the functions of biological systems Contains collections of culturable organisms Collections of forest microorganisms Centre for national & international networking (global information sharing) on Brunei s microbial diversity NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON MANAGING MICROBIAL DIVERSITY TO UNDERPIN A BIO-ECONOMY FOR BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
WAY FORWARD Focus Areas BIOPROSPECTING / ABS APPLIED SCIENCE BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION & PROTECTION ADAPTIVE AND APPLIED COMMERCIAL R & D COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL, REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS BIORIC BIODIVERSITY INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT Improvement Plan BIORIC RECRUITMENT & TRAINING DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Knowing the vast possibilities of harnessing the potentials of biodiversity for the benefits of our socio-economic well-being, our institution, policy & legal framework and collaboration need to be strengthened. THANK YOU
Abstract Situated within a mega diverse region, Brunei Darussalam is making its level best efforts to maintain its highly diverse biological resources for the country s socio-economic and environmental commitments. Restructuring of the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources will ensure the key management strategies of the national biological resources towards these endeavors. Institutional set up within the Ministry have been rearranged and, the national policy and legal framework are continued to be strengthened in order to accommodate the need to wisely utilize these resources through intensified joint R & D activities. Striving to support the economic growth through the development of bio-economy based on both terrestrial and marine biodiversity, R & D activities that give more impact on the economic potentials of the biological resources are being undertaken. Potential research investors both from local and foreign institutions are being facilitated and one of key roles of Brunei Heart of Borneo initiative is to provide collaborative platform. Key words: Highly diverse, wisely utilize, economic potentials and research investors.