Located 75km from Lahad Datu on the east coast of Sabah, Danum Valley Field Centre is the focal point of the research programme. Hundreds of senior scientists, young researchers and university undergraduates have conducted over 200 research projects in relation to tropical forests ecology over the last two decades, resulting in more than 370 scientific publications.
"In its 350-year of history, the Royal Society has never stayed this long with one programme. It usually goes in (to a place), build the research capacity and leave," says SEARRP programme manager and senior scientist Dr Glen Reynolds who had earned his doctorate based on his research in Danum.
That is because of the high quality research work made possible by the rich bio-diversity of the area. Last checked in 2002, the virgin forest hosts 110 species of mammals, 328 species of birds, 72 species of reptiles, 56 species of amphibians and 57 species of freshwater fish.
Key findings in DVCA show that selectively logged rainforest supports a remarkably high level of biodiversity, underscoring the importance of good forestry practices and that such logged forest should be retained and not converted into plantation. Studies also show that the rainforest canopy supports much biodiversity and is sensitive to disturbance by logging and severe drought.
Largely funded by Yayasan Sabah, DVCA also welcomes private and corporate sponsorship besides the Royal Society's annual Ģ1.2mil (RM8mil) research grant. Recently, it found one in Petra Foundation. In August, the charity arm of the conglomerate Petra Group and its Britain-based Green Rubber Global signed a sponsorship agreement in Kuala Lumpur, in the presence of Hollywood actor Mel Gibson.
The RM8mil funding to be spread out over seven years will support SEARRP research, training and environmental education in rainforest ecology.
Petra Foundation chairman Datuk Vinod Sekhar hoped that international and local researchers would have the opportunity to better understand the physical and biological processes operating within tropical rainforests and contribute to science base as well as conservation and sustainable use of rainforests.
"It is also our hope that it will help promote the training of young Malaysian research students and technical staff as they assist and learn from an international group of scientists and researchers," he said.
Reynolds said some 50 Malaysian scientists have participated in the programme, representing 10% of researchers hosted by SEARRP.
To facilitate research in the rainforest, the programme employs a team of research assistants, drawn mostly from local communities in Sabah, to support scientists associated with SEARRP.

Petra Group and its Britain-based Green Rubber Global signed a sponsorship agreement in Kuala Lumpur, in the presence of Hollywood actor Mel Gibson.

CLIMATE STUDIES

Reynolds pointed out that climate-related research would be the focus of SEARRP's work in the future with the presence of the 100m-tall Global Atmosphere Watch station. The Science, Technology and Innovation Ministr-funded facility places Danum in an ideal position to support research in the fields of climate change, atmospheric chemistry and canopy-atmosphere interactions.
One significant scientific contribution from SEARRP in Danum Valley is the carbon offset projects next door in Ulu Segama Forest Reserve.
The projects were the brainchild of the late Dr Clive Marsh who initiated the reduced impact logging and degraded forest rehabilitation projects - the first of its kind in Asia.
The implementation of techniques for reducing the impact of logging, thus avoiding destruction of biomass (carbon store) and release of carbon was the central idea behind the project between New England Power Company of the United States and Yayasan Sabah's Innoprise Corporation.
The project aims to reduce damage to residual stand by half through the adoption of guidelines for timber harvesting.
Another ongoing project is the Innoprise-FACE (Forest Absorbs Carbon Dioxide Emission) Foundation forest rehabilitation scheme in 30,000ha of highly degraded logged forest. Referredd to as Infapro, the 25-year project operates under a three-year renewable contract.
As trees grow faster in the tropical region, they therefore absorb more carbon dioxide compare with reforestation in temperate areas. Hence, FACE Foundation, an organisation set up by the Dutch Electricity Generating Board, teamed up with Innoprise in 1992 to fund reforestation in a bid to partially offset the emission of from their coal -power plants,
To speed up forest regeneration, seedlings of preferred timber trees are planted. A nursery capable of producing over one million dipterocarp seedlings, support the replanting. To date, the project has rehabilitated over 12,000ha of forest and has also established 300 sample plots for carbon monitoring.
"The days of the timber industry are nearly over. Tropical forests are worth more standing than cut down. Malaysia will find itself sitting on a gold mine in terms of carbon sink," said Reynolds.
He said most production forests in Sabah needs restoration and the labour-intensive replanting and monitoring work meant that with currently available resources, only some 1,000ha could be rehabilitated each year.