Meet Our Grantees

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Prof. Farah Shafawati Binti Mohd Taib

THF Grants 2024 (Conservation)

Professor Farah Shafawati Binti Mohd Taib is a senior lecturer at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia with a PhD in Zoology from the same university. The focus of her research is on vertebrate ecology, mainly on birds and small mammals. Professor Farah has been studying wetlands for 5 years now, researching and publishing papers on mangrove habitats and urban lakes to analyse the association of land-use changes on birds and small mammals. 

Her passion and extensive background in wildlife and ecology have led her to become the fauna expert under the Tasik Chini Research Center. Professor Farah is also involved in STEM education, particularly on nature education and nature edu-tourism, and hopes that her research will result in the conservation and sustainable management of the country’s wetlands.

Bringing Back Our Rare Animals (BORA)

THF Grants 2024 (Conservation)

Bringing Back Our Rare Animals (BORA) is a nonprofit organisation that is dedicated to preventing the extinction of endangered species and enabling their recovery in the wild. BORA has launched many active programmes to strengthen the population of declining species and improve their health. They are also closely involved in ecosystem restoration, improving the habitat and food availability for endangered species in the wild to ensure their continued survival.

In 2021, BORA was the recipient of the Hornbill Award, an initiative by Climate Governance Malaysia. The funds received from the award were invested into building elephant pastures on degraded lands within the fringes of Tabin Wildlife Reserve to mitigate the longstanding human-elephant conflict. BORA remains actively engaged with partners and supporters to implement tailored programmes aimed at conserving and managing globally threatened large mammal species and their habitats in Malaysia.

University of Kent

Dr. Jessica Haysom

THF Grants 2024 (Research)

Dr. Jessica Haysom is a canopy ecologist and researcher with a PhD from the University of Kent, specialising in arboreal mammal communities in Borneo. A trained tree climber, Dr. Haysom’s love for arboreal wildlife and tropical rainforests has led her through dense canopies and challenging terrain in order to further advance the relatively new field of canopy camera-trapping and improve our understanding of arboreal mammal communities, which could serve as important guidelines for forest management and species conservation.

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu

Muhamad Fatihah Syafiq Bin Abd Rahman

THF Grants 2024 (Research)

Muhamad Fatihah Syafiq Bin Abd Rahman is a postgraduate student of Biodiversity and Conservation at the Institute for Tropical Biodiversity and Sustainable Development, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu. Syafiq’s research areas primarily focus on ecology, herpetology and biodiversity conservation. 

Syafiq has spent 6 months in 2022 conducting pilot surveys in Perlis’s karst ecosystem, and has been a part of a scientific expedition organised by the Forestry Department of Perlis in October 2022. Currently, Syafiq is focused on building upon and expanding prior research in Perlis’s karst ecosystem to understand and preserve the reptilian biodiversity there.

Universiti Putra Malaysia

Nursyamin Hanis Binti Zulkifli

THF Grants 2024 (Research)

Nursyamin Hanis Binti Zulkifli is a postgraduate student in the Department of Forest Management at Universiti Putra Malaysia. Nursyamin’s specialty lies in birds and frogs. With 4 years of expertise in mapping frog vocals and 2 years of experience in monitoring bird calls, her current study hopes to pilot the understanding of the importance of bird and frog biodiversity in durian production landscapes. Through her research, Nursyamin aims to highlight the significance of environmentally friendly management in durian orchards to humans, nature, and wildlife.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Dr. Ahmad Fitri Bin Zohari

THF Grants 2024 (Research)

Dr. Ahmad Fitri Bin Zohari is a lecturer for the Biology Programme in the Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. He holds a PhD in Botany from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and primarily focuses on plant taxonomy and forest ecology. 

Dr. Ahmad has many years of experience in studying botany across various landscapes in Malaysia. He has published many papers to date, been featured in many books and research journals, and has moderated a panel on the role of botanical gardens. His current research aims to document the botanical diversity in the Al-Sultan Abdullah Royal Tiger Reserve in order to identify areas for future plant research and support conservation efforts.

Independent Researcher

Chiam Kok Heng

THF Grants 2024 (Education)

An independent researcher with a burning passion for all things fern-related, Chiam Kok Heng is a graduate of Universiti Putra Malaysia with a degree in Horticultural Science. His love for ferns has led him to conduct ecological and aesthetical studies on ferns. Chiam has had experience collaborating with both Universiti Putra Malaysia and the World Wildlife Fund on the Collection of Fern Flora. 

In his free time, Chiam is an avid hiker, nature photographer and educator, having designed education programmes during his long tenure as a member of Friends of Penang Botanical Gardens, including the Floristic Fern project for students. He is also the founder of the Flora and Ferns Fan Page on Facebook, where he shares pictures and information on ferns. Chiam hopes to spread awareness and interest on fern flora through his passion and dedication.

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu

Dr. Melissa Beata Martin

THF Grants 2024 (Education)

Dr. Melissa Beata Martin is a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Science and Marine Environment at Universiti Malaysia Terengganu with a PhD in Fisheries Study from the University of Tasmania. She primarily focuses on researching the taxonomy and phylogeny on parasitic isopods from fishes. Dr. Martin is associated with many natural history museums, and aims to bridge the gap between the fundamentals of taxonomy and citizen science to better conserve the biodiversity of marine organisms.

Dr. Martin’s involvement in this area of marine conservation and education dates back to 2019, when she and her team initiated an elective course for undergraduates that emphasised taxonomic work. Her passion and enthusiasm for marine conservation has led to many successful student exhibitions and garnered much interest from various sponsors and beneficiaries. Through her efforts, Dr. Martin hopes to inspire and create a lasting impact on marine conservation education.

MERCY Malaysia

THF Grants 2024 (Sustainability)

MERCY Malaysia is an international non-profit organisation founded in 1999. MERCY is focused on providing medical relief, sustainable health-related development, and risk-reduction activities for vulnerable communities, in both crisis and non-crisis situations. MERCY centres on finding sustainable solutions for disaster mitigation and prevention, as well as carrying out sustainable medical initiatives. MERCY Malaysia’s impactful work is guided by a commitment to compassion, efficiency, and sustainability, making significant strides in improving lives and fostering resilience in the face of adversity.

Forest House

THF Grants 2024 (Training)

Established in 2004, Forest House is a conservation-oriented landscaping and civil works contractor. With a strong commitment to preserving biodiversity and promoting eco-friendly practices, Forest House has made a name for themselves in the field of sustainable development. The company’s dedication to environmental conservation has been recognised through prestigious awards, including the “Green Business Award” for Outstanding Sustainability Practices and the “Eco-Friendly Enterprise Award” from the Malaysian Environmental Association. Forest House hopes that their innovative approach will not only enhance the health of ecosystems but also set a standard for responsible business practices.

Universiti Putra Malaysia

Dr. Mohd Aswad Bin Ramlan

THF Grants 2024 (Training)

Dr. Mohd Aswad Bin Ramlan is a senior lecturer at Universiti Putra Malaysia with a PhD from the Department of Community Sustainability in Sustainable Tourism and Protected Area Management Program at Michigan State University. Dr. Aswad has a strong interest in outdoor activities in general, particularly nature guiding and interpretation, and believes that his passion may be put to use in promoting awareness of the better use of natural resources.

Dr. Aswad is also a strong advocate for inclusive and accessible outdoor recreation opportunities for diverse individuals and communities. He has initiated an Inclusive Recreation programme to involve the disabled in extreme recreational activities in 2024. Dr. Aswad aspires to promote the benefits of outdoor recreation to everyone through his work.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah / Seratu Aatai

Dr. Nurzhafarina binti Othman

Conservation Grant 2022

Dr. Nurzhafarina Binti Othman founded Seratu Aatai with a purpose of raising awareness on Bornean pygmy elephant conservation. She is a PhD holder in Bioscience from Cardiff University, Wales, United Kingdom and is currently a senior lecturer in Universiti Malaysia Sabah. She has published up to 6 books up to date. 

The current issue that is escalating is Human-Elephant Conflict and retaliation killings. As a passionate conservationist, Dr. Nurzhafarina’s work focuses on improving the local community’s capacity in order to accept peaceful cohabitation with elephants. She is keen to overcome this issue to successfully increase the level of protection of these elephants.  

The MareCet Research Organisation

MareCet – Whales On-The-Wheels

Conservation Grant 2022

MareCet is the first non-profit organisation dedicated to research and conservation of marine mammals in Malaysia such as dolphins, porpoises, whales and dugong. It was founded by Dr. Louisa Shobhini Ponnampalam, a cetacean ecologist and Fairul Izmal Jamal Hisne. The team work at project sites in Perak, Johor and Langkawi. After years of research and data gathering, MareCet is now on a new educational venture Whales On-The-Wheels (WoW) Mobile Marine Education Tour with the goal to bring marine mammal conservation to coastal communities / communities far from the sea.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Liew Thor Seng

Research Grant 2022

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Liew Thor Seng, is a researcher with a PhD from Leiden University, Netherlands and he is currently a senior lecturer at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS). Dr. Liew is specialised in insects and molluscs. He has published up to 20 papers to date. His latest research is on land snails and slugs of Malaysia. 

As an undergraduate student, Dr. Liew had found his interest when he was studying the diversity of land snails. After years of experience, he starts to admire the snails and the beauty of it and that is when he decided to take on his own research and pursue his studies. According to Dr. Liew, the thing that drives him into this field is discovering the hidden biodiversity and unravelling the mysteries of land snails ecology and evolution. 

School of Biological Sciences (USM)

Benjamin Galea

Conservation Grant 2022

Benjamin Galea has a Masters degree in Conservation Biology and Primate Behaviour from University of Kent. Growing up in Malta, an archipelago in the central Mediterranean, Benjamin only learned about primates through books during his teenage years. Intrigued by their athletic abilities and behaviours, and more importantly their crucial contributions to forest health and the continuous plight that they face, he was determined to contribute to their protection and preservation.  

Through years of intensive self-teaching and learning, Benjamin earned the opportunity to pursue his first research project assessing the impacts of transportation and service corridors on primates at a global scale. The success of this project springboarded him into the world of primatology, which has led him to his current involvement on the conservation of small apes in Malaysia with the Malaysian Primatological Society.

WWF Malaysia - Sarawak

Samantha Ambie

Conservation Grant 2022

Samantha Ambie is a marine conservation officer from World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) – Malaysia. Her interest in marine mammals started during her final year project for her degree study. Her admiration for these charismatic and intelligent mammals further inspired her to pursue her master’s in Aquatic Science in Universiti Malaysia Sarawak and has led her to a career path with WWF – Malaysia. Samantha is one of the key researchers involved in mitigating the incidental catch of marine mammals in the Rajang-Belawai-Paloh Delta of Sarawak.

Malaysian Nature Society (Penang Branch)

Dr. Kam Suan Pheng

Conservation Grant 2022

Dr. Kam Suan Pheng holds a PhD in Agronomy-Soil Science from Cornell University. She has more than 35 years of experience in research and teaching at Universiti Sains Malaysia, the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines, and the WorldFish Center, Penang. She led a 3-year pilot project to set up the Penang Geographical Information Systems (PEGIS). For 11 years, she was the honorary secretary for Malaysian Nature Society Penang Branch and more recently she serves as the resource person for floods and river awareness under Penang Forum. She is also the co-founder of Penang Hills Watch and an advisor to JEDI (Network for Ecology and Climate).

Baku Enterprise

Conservation Grant 2022

Mohd Sanusi bin Mohamed, the founder of Baku Enterprise believes in the potential of forest nurseries to contribute to the food supply of wild animals in their natural habitats. An alumnus of Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, his research into Malayan Tapir diet at the Krau Wildlife Reserve (now Tengku Hassanal Wildlife Reserve) in Pahang inspired the concept of nurturing wild fruit trees to reforest wildlife corridors. Mohd Sanusi works to involve his local community and indigenous populations of Jahut and Che Wong as nursery managers to improve their livelihoods. His ultimate goal is to firmly establish tree nurseries in both Malay and Orang Asli villages with the potential to produce a wide variety of native tree species.

Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI)

Dr. Marshall Kana Samuel

Research Grant 2022

Dr. Marshall Kana Samuel is a senior research officer with a PhD in Environmental Geochemistry from University of Nottingham. Currently, she is associated with the Malaysian Agricultural Research & Development Institute (MARDI) specialising in soil sciences. Marshall has published 14 papers to date on rewetting peatland and its impact on carbon emission. Marshall had a vision since a child that she wanted to be the reason for a great change. Growing up wanting to be a scientist that could bring a solution to a problem in society had brought her to where she is now. As she believes, “Life without ambition is like a gun without a target”.

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu

Dr. Rohani Shahrudin

Research Grant 2022

Dr. Rohani Shahrudin is a senior lecturer in University Malaysia Terengganu. She holds a PhD in plant ecology from University of Groningen, Netherlands. During her study, she has gained a deeper appreciation of the plants diversity in Malaysia, especially the non-tree species which has led her to her current study on the biology and ecology of kercut (Lepironia articulata) in Terengganu. This study will help provide guidance to the local community on enhancing the production and harvest of kercut sustainably. As a passionate educator, Dr. Rohani hopes to inspire interest in her students to study the diverse plant species in Malaysia and understand their role and importance to the ecosystem and the people. 

Independent Researcher

 Dr. Loo Yen Yi

Research Grant 2022

Dr. Loo Yen Yi is an ornithologist and young independent researcher with a rich background in the field and an interest in studying the behaviour, biology, and ecology of animals. Dr. Loo’s forte in bioacoustic research presents new opportunities to understand habitat fragmentation and provide ways to reduce habitat destruction. Dr. Loo aims to bridge the gap in planetary health knowledge by immersing participants in bioacoustics to learn and explore nature.

A driven and active individual, applied and received a grant from The Habitat Foundation while awaiting her doctorship from the University of Auckland. Dr. Loo received an offer from the Sunway Centre for Planetary Health during her grant project with THF, where she now works as a full-time researcher.

Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS

Prof. Dr. Shamsul Rahman Mohamed Kutty

Research Grant 2022

Prof. Dr. Shamsul Rahman Mohamed Kutty, a lecturer from Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS with a PhD in Environmental Engineering from the University of Memphis, is a strong advocate of sustainable tourism and environmental solutions. His specialisation lies in water quality, wastewater treatment, and environmental management systems. 

Dr. Shamsul is passionate about education and providing solutions that are both sustainable and environmentally friendly. He aims to improve the water quality of Tasik Temenggor, turning it into an eco-friendly recreational spot.

Department of Recreation & Ecotourism (UPM)

Dr. Mohd Hafizal Bin Ismail

Sustainable Tourism Grant 2022

Dr. Mohd Hafizal Bin Ismail, is a senior lecturer with a PhD in Heritage Tourism and Management from University of Portsmouth, England. He is currently the Head of Department of Recreation and Ecotourism under the Faculty of Forestry and Environment in Universiti Putra Malaysia. He published 6 papers in total on outdoor education that were focused in Malaysia. 

Dr. Hafizal is keen on his current research on the potential of Sungai Linggi crocodile sanctuary as one of the high-impact ecotourism destinations in Malaysia. He is working with the local community to develop ecotourism products that are sustainable and beneficial to the people. Strongly believing in the role of the local community in preserving the natural environment, he trains the local community to conduct wildlife-based tourism along the river and help protect this important riverine habitat.

Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM)

Dr. Huda Farhana Binti Mohamad Muslim

Sustainable Tourism Grant 2022

Dr. Huda Farhana Binti Mohamad Muslim is a PhD holder in Tourism Science from Tokyo Metropolitan University, Japan. She is currently a senior research officer at Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM). She works closely with local communities and organises training and programmes for community-based ecotourism in Malaysia. 

With more than 5 years of experience working with the local community in Kampung Janda Baik, Pahang, Dr. Huda realises the need to educate the children in the village to preserve nature around them, understanding that there is already a natural bond between the children and their natural environment.

Malaysian Nature Society

Yeap Chin Aik

Conservation Grant 2021

Yeap Chin Aik, a senior conservation officer and also the project manager for the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) Hornbill Conservation Project. Yeap Chin Aik has been with MNS for more than 20 years. He is also a Steering Committee Member of the IUCN SSG Hornbill Specialist Group and Chair of the Habitat Sub-Group of the Helmeted Hornbill Working Group. He is currently pursuing his PhD in hornbill ecology at University Putra Malaysia (UPM).

He has written several scientific papers and is one of the main compilers of Important Bird Areas in Malaysia: Key Sites for Conservation. Yeap Chin Aik began birdwatching in his early teens and that was when he followed his passion and interest in this field. He is now working on developing a community nursery that stocks hornbill and other wildlife resource plants and trees with the Orang Asli from Kampung Chuweh in the Belum-Temengor forest complex in Perak.

As a passionate experienced conservationist, Yeap Chin Aik believes that the key component to lasting impact on this conservation project is broadening approaches to enhance local participation like the Orang Asli.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Choong Chee Yen

Research Grant 2021

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Choong Chee Yen is a lecturer at University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) with a PhD in Plant Genetics and Molecular Systematics from The Reading University. He is also one of the leading experts on Odonata in Malaysia. Dr. Choong is a recipient of a 2021 Habitat Foundation Research grant to study the Odonata of the proposed Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve.

Despite that, Dr. Choong has a great interest in research on the biodiversity, taxonomy, and biology of dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata) and also in photography. As a macrophotographer, Dr. Choong was drawn into the details of the Odonata and is mesmerized by their colours. His growing love for dragonflies and damselflies has driven his passion as a scientist to document the species diversity and he has since then dedicated himself to this field. With his deep passion for dragonflies and damselflies since 2005, Dr. Choong has described seven new Odonata species.

Recently, Dr. Choong is working on the Diversity of Dragonflies and Needle Dragonflies (Odonata) in Rompin State Park, Pahang in Kebangsaan Program CSR Coopcare Koperasi Prihatin Sejuta Pokok. He hopes to raise awareness among Malaysian to learn and love more about Odonata and the biology in Malaysia can be achieved through his work on Odonata.

Independent Researcher

Rexy Prakash Chacko

Research Grant 2021

Rexy Prakash Chacko wears many hats for nature despite being an electronic engineer by profession. This Penang-born environmentalist is an avid hiker, a sustainable development advocate, and a self-taught orchid researcher. His passion and curiosity has therefore inspired him to do more outside his everyday profession. At present, Rexy has authored and co-authored a total of four books focusing on nature-related topics, two of which are on hiking and trail maintenance and one on orchids which eventually brings him to The Habitat Foundation – the Orchids of Penang Hill. His study on orchid has extended results beyond expectation as he highlighted new areas inside Penang Hill that are having higher orchid diversity!

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia

Dr. Shamsul Khamis

Research Grant 2021

Dr. Shamul Khamis is a senior researcher and lecturer at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) with vast experience in teaching and research for Plant Science and Biodiversity Conservation. A highly-regarded botanist with a specialised focus in plant taxonomy, flora diversity, and ethnobotanical studies in UKM, he has more than 60 papers published to date. His expertise is vital in recognising the forest productivity and biological diversity of an area with significant emphasises on the preservation and conservation of our natural ecosystems.

Universiti Sains Malaysia

Dr. Nurul’Ain Elias

Research Grant 2021

Dr. Nurul’Ain Elias is an animal ecologist and lecturer at Universiti Sains Malaysia with a PhD in Zoology from Texas Tech University. An expert in biological sciences, Dr. Ain specialises in population ecology as well as wildlife and terrestrial biodiversity and conservation.
Dr. Ain first encountered bats during her undergraduate programme. Since then, she has been deeply involved in the research of bats, having studied them for over 20 years now. Her research on bats is part of a long-term bat monitoring programme conducted by the Southeast Asian Bat Conservation and Research Unit (SEABCRU). Through her passion and dedication, Dr. Ain hopes to demonstrate the role and importance of bats in various ecosystems.

University of Nottingham Malaysia

Prof. Chistopher Gibbins

Research Grant 2021

Professor Chistopher Gibbins is a hydro-ecologist and the Head of the School of Environmental and Geographical Sciences at the University of Nottingham Malaysia. His post-doctoral research focused on environmental flow projects for rivers in Northern England.  Prof. Gibbins’ areas of expertise include river ecology, human impacts on river ecosystems, environmental flows and river restoration science.

His extensive background in freshwater ecology and assessing the human impact on riverine ecosystems has led him to investigate the microplastic contamination in Malaysian rivers. Prof. Gibbins’ hopes that his research will help in understanding the impact of microplastic contamination in our rivers and subsequently contribute to the decision-making of conserving local river ecosystems.

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu

Nurfatin Najihah Binti Hamzah

Research Grant 2021

Nurfatin Najihah Binti Hamzah is a co-founder of Youths United For Earth (YUFE), a youth-led project featuring young Malaysian environmentalists, and has been involved in biodiversity and conservation efforts as well as volunteer work for many years. A proactive and driven individual, Nurfatin has spearheaded many projects, earning herself the 2019 Roots & Shoots Malaysia Award and the 2019 York Gold Award in recognition of her contributions and achievements.

Riding on her diverse experience in both conservation and community work, Nurfatin has integrated her expertise in both areas into researching the Orang Asli’s forest stewardship for her Masters programme. Expanding on prior research, she seeks to understand the connection between the Orang Asli and the ecosystem by studying how indigenous communities use their local ecological knowledge to manage cultural ecosystem services.

HUGS Project

Muhamadlaili Bin Basir

Sustainable Tourism Grant 2021

Muhamadlaili Bin Basir is an independent conservationist, a community and conservation-based tourism activist and also the founder and the principal of Helping Unfortunate Groups and Society (HUGS) Project Management. HUGS project is a non-profit movement committed to promote tourism around community, conservation and culture by having multitudinous conservation and humanity design. This project has connected volunteers and contributors with organisations involved in a long initiative which provides the opportunity to make a positive impact in conservation while contributing to the welfare of the local community. Laili Basir and his team are determined to enhance the local capacity for Sustainable Cave Tourism in Merapoh, Pahang that could aid in the prediction of future climatic change and help us to rediscover and improve our ability to predict what lies ahead from now.

Fuze Ecoteer

Sustainable Tourism Grant 2021

Fuze Ecoteer (FE) is a social enterprise tourism operator founded by Daniel Quilter in 2011 and is based in Perhentian Island. It works with the local community to be involved in sea turtles conservation, marine conservation and even rainforest research and wildlife rescue with collaboration with the Marine Parks, Department of Fisheries (DoF), Reef Check Malaysia (RCM) and dive centres in Perhentian Island. Currently, FE trains youths in marine conservation skills to create self-sustaining rapid response conservation unit. The FE project seeks to emulate the Cintai Tioman project but adapted to the situation in the Perhentian Islands. It is also part of a larger project which will involve FE and RCM developing the management plan for the Perhentian Islands Marine Park with a focus on community and stakeholder consultations and ultimately their future involvement. The conservation unit will be self-sustaining through donations from dive centres and resorts.

Kelab Alami Mukim Tg. Kupang

Sustainable Tourism Grant 2021

Kelab Alami is a community environmental education club that has evolved into a social enterprise focusing on educational research and involving the whole kampung. This club was founded by Shalan Jum’at and environmental researcher, Dr. Serina binti Abdul Rahman. Up to today, the club is still run by the youths themselves, focusing on preserving their kampung’s rich heritage and history by documenting stories and knowledge of the older generation. Kelab Alami is currently focused in community empowerment for marine habitat conservation and artisanal fisheries management, using ecotourism, citizen science and environment education to garner new sources of income for the struggling fishing community of Mukim Tanjung Kupang, Johor. This club also helps enable the local community to participate in and benefit from the development and urbanisation.

OwaHalimun

Rahayu Oktaviani

Sustainable Tourism Grant 2021

Rahayu Oktaviani, a primatologist, co-founder of Yayasan Konservasi Ekosistem Alam Nusantara (KIARA), and also lead researcher at the Javan Gibbon Research and Conservation Project (now known as OwaHalimun). With Rahayu’s development of KIARA in 2020, her main focus is now on research, conservation, education, and also in engagement programmes. She is actively  playing a role in the community engagement programme that concentrates on the local communities situated in the Citalahab Central Village. Currently, Rahayu is working towards empowering women via a programme called Ambu Halimun – whereby “Ambu” means mother or lady in the native language. Working closely with this group of women, Rahayu wishes to not only develop a sustainable livelihood but to also increase the capacity and confidence of the unheard voices of these amazing women!

Tropical Rainforest Research & Conservation Centre (TRCRC)

Conservation Grant 2019/2020

Tropical Rainforest Conservation & Research Centre (TRCRC) is a non-profit organisation committed to conserving rare, endangered, and threatened tropical rainforest tree species. TRCRC is a sister organisation of Landskap Malaysia and a non-governmental organisation. It was established in 2012 with the motive to restore rainforests and address the critical rate of biodiversity loss in Malaysia.

Currently, TRCRC is establishing a range of living collection centres. Their current efforts include collecting, propagating and planting rare and endangered plant species on established sites with the future hope of producing seeds and planting materials for future rainforest restoration projects. TRCRC hopes to reconnect forest fragments through the reforestation of degraded patches by using native trees sourced from nurseries and seedlings from rescued threatened plants.

Malaysian Nature Society (Pahang Branch)

Noor Jehan Binti Abu Bakar

Conservation Grant 2019/2020

Noor Jehan binti Abu Bakar, a lawyer cum environmental advocate is the chairman of Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) Pahang branch. MNS is the oldest and one of the well known environmental non-profit, non-governmental organisations in Malaysia. MNS was first established with the launch of the Malayan Nature Journal in 1940. 

Jehan is always captivated with the current rate of environmental degradation in Malaysia, therefore, she wants to take action on it to make a change. She and the members of MNS Pahang branch are currently working on community-based mangrove restoration and sustainable tourism at Cherating and Chendor, Pahang.

Kota Damansara Community Forest (KDCF) Society

Conservation Grant 2019/2020

Kota Damansara Community Forest (KDCF) Society was established in 2011 to represent the community of concerned citizens and organisations that campaigned for its protection. KDCF is a remnant of lowland dipterocarp forest over 800 acres that was gazetted for protection in 2010. KDCF Society works closely with the Selangor Forestry Department through programmes to inspire people to connect with nature through recreation, nature appreciation, and voluntarism.

Urban Biodiversity Initiative (UBI)

Conservation Grant 2019/2020

UBI is an independent social enterprise for urban ecology research, conservation and environmental education based at Rimba Ilmu Botanic Garden, Universiti Malaya (UM). It started as the Rimba Project, a living lab for campus sustainability and urban biodiversity conservation but has now become the extension of the project. UBI is passionate about cultivating an appreciation for native plants which are a common part of the typical Malaysian landscape.

UBI started when Thary Gazi Goh and Benjamin Ong met as undergraduates of the Ecology and Biodiversity programme in Universiti Malaya. With over a decade of experience and education, they are excited about guiding a new generation of Backyard Explorers and implement projects that promote the rewilding of urban landscapes through education and community engagement.

GreenSmiths

Christina Lind-Hunter

Conservation Grant 2019/2020

Christina Lind-Hunter is the co-founder of Youth Environmental Changemakers, known as ‘GreenSmiths’. She is a PhD holder from the School of Education, University of Nottingham, Malaysia. Chrissy has worked over 13 years in leadership development and education. Through her involvement with Teach for Malaysia as the Associate Director for leadership, design and research, she has been on the frontline of addressing education inequity by placing high-potential leaders into underprivileged schools. 

GreenSmiths is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that co-designs eco-engineering expeditions with partners and young people, working towards the vision of a future where empowered young people build a sustainable planet for all life on earth. GreenSmiths engages with 7-24 year old youth in northwestern Malaysia by facilitating in-school programs (primary and secondary schools) and project-based rainforest expeditions (16-24 years old).

Shorebirds Peninsular Malaysia Project

Dr. Nur Munira Azman

Conservation Grant 2019/2020

Dr. Nur Munira Azman is the founder and project leader of Shorebirds Peninsular Malaysia Project. Her interest on shorebirds sparked when she married Mohd Nasir Azizan who is a bird photographer specialising in shorebirds. He taught her how to identify shorebird species and that is when she found her passion in studying such amazing creatures. 

SPMP was commenced by Dr. Nur Munira and her team from the School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia in 2017 focusing on the monitoring of migratory shorebirds along Teluk Air Tawar-Kuala Muda coast of mainland Penang which is an Important Bird Area (IBA). The team has recorded almost 60 species of shorebirds and waterbirds on the mudflat areas. The recent finding is the endangered Black-faced Spoonbill that was found in December 2021. It was the first record for Penang state and the second record for Peninsular Malaysia.

Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI)

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Che Zalina Zulkifli

Conservation Grant 2019/2020

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Che Zalina Zulkifli is a Professor in the Computing Department of Sultan Idris (UPSI) Education University, Malaysia. She had over 23 years of professional teaching experience as a lecturer and active researcher in the Electronics & Electrical Engineering, IOT, Embedded System, and Wireless Sensor Network. Her research projects have been collaborated with multinational companies which contribute to a network that leads to new ideas and concrete research projects. She has up to 87 publications to date. 

She designed the Economical Food Waste Composter (EFWC) to provide an efficient option to accelerate the transformation of food waste into compost atop Penang Hill. The EFWC has already been successfully trialled in selected schools and restaurants in Seberang Perai and George Town. It has received favourable reviews because of the ease of use and the cost-effective nature of the machines.

Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE)

Kate Allberry

Research Grant 2019/2020

Kate Allberry is a conservationist who is currently a PhD candidate in Biodiversity Management at the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE), University of Kent, Canterbury, England. She is also an ambassador for WildTeam Bangladesh. Her study is of using forensic techniques to better understand how environmental change influences the movement of Malaysia’s apex predators in wildlife corridors. This has taken her deep into the forests of the Belum-Temengor Forest Complex in Perak and the Kenyir region in Terengganu.

Kate works closely with local field biologists and the National Wildlife Forensics Laboratory of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia (PERHILITAN) where she and other conservation geneticists analyse samples collected in the field. Kate evaluates the genetic diversity of tigers, leopards and clouded leopards in Peninsular Malaysia to assess how effectively designated forest corridors are facilitating gene flow and movement between small populations. This is expected to yield fresh insights into the conservation status of our wild carnivores and indicate strategic interventions needed to keep these populations connected. 

Faculty of Forestry and Environment (UPM)

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Puan Chong Leong

Research Grant 2019/2020

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Puan Chong Leong of the Faculty of Forestry and Environment at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) is a highly regarded expert on Malaysian owls. He has a PhD in wildlife ecology from University of Queensland, Australia. 

Dr. Puan has had a great interest and passion for wildlife and nature since childhood. He started having interest in Malaysian birds when he met his postgraduate supervisor during degree in forestry science. Dr. Puan hopes biodiversity conservation and economic development can reach a balance, where people will no longer see biodiversity as merely a resource to be exploited. He believes that humans and wildlife can live harmoniously and conserving wildlife and natural areas can generate income to support the livelihoods of people.

Universiti Malaysia Terengganu

Siti Khadijah Binti Ahmad

Research Grant 2019/2020

Siti Khadijah Binti Ahmad is a Master student from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) and  also a Guest Experience Ranger (GER) in The Habitat Penang Hill. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Biodiversity Conservation and Management from UMT. 

Currently, Khadijah is studying the diversity and ecological characteristics of freshwater crabs in Penang. Freshwater crabs had caught her attention as they are mysterious nocturnal animals and there are a lot of endemic species at Penang Hill itself. She aims to create a baseline data of freshwater crabs existing in Penang especially on their ecological data and gain a better understanding about the threats that are faced by the crabs to create a conservation plan.

Macaca Nemestrina Project

Dr. Nadine Ruppert

Research Grant 2019/2020

Dr. Nadine Rupert is a wildlife researcher, a conservation biologist, and a senior lecturer in zoology at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). She is the current vice-president (2020-2024) of the Malaysian Primatological Society (MPS). She obtained her PhD in mammalogy from USM. Dr. Nadine is currently leading the Macaca Nemestrina Project and supervising other primate projects in USM. She is also a member of the IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group – Asia and Section for Small Apes. Her areas of expertises focuses on primates conservation, human-wildlife interactions, and plant-animal interaction in Malaysia. She has up to 64 publications up to date. 

Dr. Nadine is keen in exploring the role of primates in anthropogenically shaped landscapes and ways to conserve them. The Macaca Nemestrina Project (MNeP) was established to explore the role of Pig-tailed Macaques in seed dispersal and forest regeneration and the potential implications for mitigating human-wildlife conflict. Dr. Nadine hopes to create awareness about the impending and accelerating threats to biodiversity in the Tropics and beyond. She believes that through her work with local and indigenous communities, she could empower the public to take conservation actions.

Universiti Sains Malaysia

Dr. Rosnida Tajuddin

Research Grant 2019/2020

Dr. Rosnida Tajuddin, lecturer of School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, is a mycologist with a PhD in mycorrhizal symbiosis from University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom. Her sphere of interest involves the community and distribution of macrofungi and ectomycorrhizal fungi in Malaysia rainforests and their nutrient transport system. She has joined multiple scientific expeditions in cataloguing the macrofungi distributions in Malaysia rainforests with local and international scientists and NGOs. She is involved in writing “Garis Panduan Pengurusan Keracunan Cendawan” together with Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia, which is on the final stage of publication.

Dr. Rosnida is always keen to spread awareness of the fungi function and spark interest of the public to become citizen mycologists by encouraging them to send pictures to her for identification and fact-checking. By doing this, it has helped her to keep monitoring the presence of fungi in specific regions. She believes society is one of the best resources that could help with fungi monitoring and also indirectly with fungi conservation.

Universiti Sains Malaysia

Dr. Faradina Merican Mohd. Sidik Merican

Research Grant 2019/2020

Dr. Faradina Merican Mohd. Sidik Merican is an algal taxonomist, ecologist and phycologist with a focus on the diversity and ecology of microalgae, particularly the poorly-known microscopic cyanobacteria (blue-green algae). She currently works as a senior lecturer at the School of Biological Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia. Dr. Faradina obtained a PhD in Environmental Science from University of Canterbury, New Zealand and has published more than 25 scientific researches to date. 

Dr. Faradina was amongst the first Malaysian scientists in Universiti Sains Malaysia to participate in an Antarctic expedition to study algae (2004/2005). She aims to highlight the importance of microbial conservation for the environment. She hopes to make the existence of microalgae known to a wider audience so that they too can appreciate the beauty of the microscopic world.

HNE Eberswalde

Clemens Johann Fischer

Research Grant 2019/2020

Clemens Johann Fischer is an experienced arborist who is currently enrolled in forest management studies at Hochschule für nachhaltige Entwicklung (HNE) Eberswalde, Germany. He has a Bachelor’s degree in International Forest Ecosystem Management. Clemens carried out an internship with The Habitat Foundation (THF) for a few months at the end of 2019 attempting to understand the inner-workings of the forest canopy on Penang Hill.

In addition to being able to focus on his study area which is to gain a better understanding of the structure of the tropical forest canopy, he has also offered to help develop our phenological monitoring programme, strengthen skills in canopy research among the team, and assist with producing imagery of the rainforest.

Langur Project Penang

Dr. Jo Leen Yap

Conservation Grant 2018

Dr. Jo Leen Yap is a primatologist, wildlife researcher, environmental educator and the founder of Langur Project Penang (LPP). She holds a PhD from Universiti Sains Malaysia majoring in zoology. 

LPP is a research project studying the ecology and behaviour of Dusky Langurs (Trachypithecus obscurus) in Penang with the aim to motivate and inspire local community involvement in primate conservation and nature education. This project helps to educate the public to understand the challenges facing Penang’s captivating dusky langurs. LPP was featured in the BBC Earth documentary “Primates”. LPP is currently monitoring a pilot project involving the installation of an arboreal bridge for langurs to cross a busy road in Teluk Bahang.

Jo Leen has the vision to further bridge the gap between primate conservation and community engagement in Malaysia. With her enthusiasm, positive and creative mindset, Jo Leen is always on-the-go, thinking for the dusky langurs, for her team members, in order to sustain LPP as a long-term community science platform in Malaysia.

Night Spotting Project

Dr. Priscillia Miard

Research Grant 2018

Dr. Priscillia Miard is a researcher with a PhD from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). She is the founder and lead researcher of the Night Spotting Project (NSP). Dr. Priscillia is currently doing her postdoctoral studies in Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation (ITBC), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS). Her areas of expertise are zoology, ecology and animal communications. She has published more than 10 research papers. 

NSP is an outreach research project to study the nocturnal mammals of South and Southeast Asia. NSP is established to bring more light to nocturnal mammals research and awareness on their importance in the wild. Currently, she and her team members are studying nocturnal mammal distribution, abundance and behaviour. She also focuses on their habitat preferences and impact of anthropogenic activities. 

Dr. Priscillia’s research focuses are on the lesser known nocturnal species such as slow loris, tarsier and colugo. She uses red light and thermal imaging when spotting these animals which have been proven to enhance animal detection and reduce negative effects on the animals. She has seven years of field work experience with behavioural studies, distribution surveys, local knowledge of people living closely to animals as well as using new technologies for field work such as thermal imaging. She believes that this project could empower more researchers to study nocturnal mammals in Malaysia.

Project Pteropus

Dr. Sheema Abdul Aziz

Research Grant 2018

Dr. Sheema Abdul Aziz is the Co-founder and President of Rimba, a local non-profit research group that conducts applied conservation science to help produce evidence-based solutions for real-world conservation problems on the ground. She is also the Principal Investigator of Project Pteropus – Rimba’s fruit bat research and conservation project, and steering committee member of the Southeast Asian Bat Conservation Research Unit (SEABCRU).

Project Pteropus aims to fill the gaps in our understanding of Old World fruit bats such as flying foxes (Pteropus spp., Acerodon spp.) which are known to be important ecosystem service providers, pollinating flowers and dispersing seeds over long distances. In seeking insights into the ecosystem services they provide, Dr. Sheema hopes to develop an effective conservation strategy to advocate for these misunderstood animals and mitigate negative bat-human interactions.