LESSONS FROM THE JUNGLE
Walking through our jungles has taught me more about the strength of our nation than any textbook ever has
THE intrinsic value of forests recently came to the fore of public dialogue when images of the burning Amazon forest shocked the world.
This situation was sadly met with gross apathy, hardly making international news until two weeks into the fires.
Our response (or lack of it) to this incredible loss spurred a reevaluation of both our understanding of the forest and our appreciation of it.
Closer to home, we too were experiencing huge tracts of forest being lost to fires, most recently in Kuala Baram, Sarawak.
As a wildlife biologist working in the primary forest of Tawau Hills Park, I’ve been privileged to call the forest my home.
For the past year, I have worked as a research manager on a project studying some of the most elusive carnivores in the jungles of Borneo, led by pioneering researchers, with the help of passionate locals who have grown alongside the forest all their lives.
This experience has been one of the most significant adventures in my life. The greatest gift this experience has offered me was a fresh understanding of our nation and its identity.
Yes, walking through our jungles on a daily basis has taught me more about the strength of our nation than any textbook ever has.
As we draw closer to the celebration of our nation’s formation on Sept 16, we reflect
on the arduous journey that got us here.
WE ARE MORE THAN THE STRENGTH OF OUR ECONOMY
As a conservation biologist, one of our key contributions to society is increasing our knowledge of the biological world. We do so by paying close attention to patterns and processes that weave lives into an enormous web.
For any scientist who has decided to do so in Borneo, our task is a gargantuan one. Unweaving the web of life is made extremely difficult by the wealth of biodiversity inhabiting our forests.
Conservation is our sole aim — to protect as much of this diversity as possible, even the ones that we have yet to discover.
While there is still much to unravel, we are learning quickly that the forest in Borneo is a global sink of biological diversity. This puts Malaysia in a unique position to create great impact.
Every Malaysian is poised to be a leader in global conservation, starting with the forest in our own backyard. Each Malaysian is born with a right and responsibility to protect the natural resources that have sheltered and fed the forefathers of this land for thousands of years.
Our capitalist economy confers value on commodities that provide value to our lives. While it is easy to measure our national strength by the size of our economy, it is important to acknowledge that the economy fails to account for commodities that offer values humans have yet to recognise.
Our forests have wealth unknown to us and it would be silly to squander it for a quick buck.
OUR GREATEST TREASURE LIES IN OUR DIVERSITY
One of the greatest thrills of my career as a conservation scientist is the opportunity to live in close proximity with communities in Sabah.
This would never have happened had I remained in Kuala Lumpur, where I grew up. I am of Indian descent and that fact was very apparent when I first moved here by the stares of amusement I received from many locals. Let’s face it. We are different in more ways than one.
On the surface, it seemed like we had little in common. To some, this may appear to be a stumbling block to forming a common identity.
Yet, my life in the forest has taught me that this is what makes us unique. This nation is a social experiment for all ages. We have willingly took on the challenge of building together a home that we can all feel safe and comfortable in.
Living among local Sabahan families has shown me how easy it is to look beyond our differences and find the same core values that underpin the way we engage as a community.
Malaysians are adept at embracing change and differences. Not surprisingly, being able to coexist amid so many differences is something our forest has been doing prolifically well for a millennia.
COLLABORATIONS STRENGTHEN US
I regard this fight to protect our natural history and conserve it as our modern-day battleground.
Instead of enemies in foreign lands, we look to the enemies in our growing culture of consumerism and commercialisation, which are quickly destroying nature.
In lieu of guns, bombs and swords, we arm ourselves with microscopes, radio-collars and social media. We have given up heavily-guarded forts and battle stations for scientific field stations that house teams of people who venture deep into the unknown daily.
Finally, just like the battles that made forming this nation possible, we seek the help and support of our friends from across the sea who share our common vision for a better world.
Malaysian conservation has benefited tremendously from a plethora of dedicated conservationists who have left their home nations to study and protect our nature.
We owe our understanding of some of our most precious wildlife (Bornean orangutan, Sumatran rhino, Sunda clouded leopard, Malayan tiger, etc.) to the scientists who pioneered such studies and have chosen to call Malaysia their home.
In Sabah alone, conservation research has taken huge strides forward, leaning on the expertise of our friends of diverse nationalities.
With their help, Malaysia is put in an even better position, with a growing number of young Malaysian conservationists, such as I, getting access to the best and brightest in the field.
Foreign collaborations empower us to strive for excellence in our endeavours and catapult us to becoming a leading authority on globally important issues.
As a young nation, conversations about our national identity are relevant and need greater attention. The most important thing I have learnt this past year is that Malaysia is truly full of surprises.
There is always more to explore, to learn, to experience and enjoy. Malaysia is truly a gift that keeps on giving if we take the time to unwrap its many layers.
To fellow Malaysians, if you have not already, I implore you to take the time to explore and discover our natural heritage. There, you will find a mystical beauty just waiting to be experienced. The writer, a recent winner of the Merdeka Award Grant for International Attachment 2019, is a wildlife biologist working as the research manager for the Bornean Carnivore Programme by the Wildlife Research and Conservation Unit at Oxford University