Research Summary
Over recent decades, Borneo's once pristine rainforests have been degraded by intensive, industrial-scale logging and clearance to make way for plantations. This has threatened the island's rainforest ecosystems and the many plant and animal species they support. The situation is worsened by the lack of scientific knowledge about the ability of the forests to regenerate - especially their resilience to climate change.
With the help of Earthwatch volunteers, Dr. Glen Reynolds and his team aim to better understand biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in these forests and measure the impacts of climate change through rainfall and soil moisture analysis.
It is vital that well researched forest restoration programs are implemented to ensure the long-term survival of these unique rainforests. Dr. Reynolds hopes that this research will provide the science to underpin highly effective restoration.
Meet the Scientists
Dr. Glen Reynolds
Royal Society SE Asia Rainforest Research Programme
Since 2000, Dr. Reynolds has been the program manager and senior scientist of the Royal Society SE Asia Rainforest Research Programme. He is based in the Danum Valley Field Centre, the leading tropical forest research centre in South East Asia. Dr. Reynolds is a post doctoral research fellow of the Department of Geography, University of Wales, Swansea and an Honorary Research Fellow of the NERC Centre for Population Biology. His main research interests include forest rehabilitation and its impacts on ecosystem functioning and biodiversity. When he’s not hard at work, he enjoys running, hiking, and cooking. Although Dr. Reynolds will be present on all teams he will not always be present for their entire duration.
Vani Annammala
University of Malaysia, Sabah
Kogila Vani Annammala earned her BSc (Hons) - in Environmental Science majoring in Water Quality from University Malaysia Sabah, her final year project was funded by the Malaysian Government to study the groundwater quality. She completed her MSc in 2008 which focused on hydrocarbon contamination in the tropical coastal waters of Sabah. She is currently undertaking her PhD jointly supervised by Dr Kawi Bidin (University of Malaysia Sabah) and Professor Rory Walsh (Swansea University), which focuses on erosion rates and sediment fingerprinting using tracers and radionuclide fallouts to identify sediment sources along the Segama River. She is a nature lover and loves meditating, cooking, artworks and enjoys outdoor games.
Volunteers will assist Vani to collect data for her PhD on local erosion and soil moisture levels within the forest. Vani will also be the main point of contact for volunteers during their time at Malua.
Dzaeman Dzulkifli
Zurich University
Dzaeman is a graduate Zoologist from Queen Mary University, London. His primary area of interest is marine and fresh water systems. While at University he studied the bioturbation and sediment erosion caused by Polychaete worms in Indonesian Mangroves (2007). He has recently begun his Ph.D at the University of Zurich studying tropical rainforest restoration, particularly looking at the growth rates Dipterocarp trees which dominates these forests and the impacts forest management schemes have on insect communities. Volunteers will be working with Research Assistants to help Dzaeman collect data for his PhD on a vast number of dipteroarp seedlings which have been planted in the last two years. Dzaeman is a keen photographer and enjoys many outdoor activities including mountain biking, hiking, rockclimbing and travelling.
Yeong Kok Loong
University of Malaysia, Sabah (UMS)
Yeong Kok Loong (known as 'Benny'), is from Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia. He graduated with his master’s of science in forestry from University of Malaysia, Sabah (UMS), where he was funded by a university scholarship. He began his Ph.D. in January 2010 at UMS, jointly supervised by Assc. Prof. John Tay and Prof. Jane Hill.
His research aims to investigate the dynamics of dipterocarp seedlings in forest fragments within the oil palm plantations in Sabah. This research will address ecological concepts related to forest regeneration and ecosystem functioning, as well as providing information and practical advice to the plantation managers. Benny will be assisted by the participants and research assistants for his projects. During his leisure time he likes to read, swim, and get involved in outdoor activities.