Malaysia established its National Biodiversity Policy in 1997, four years after the agreement of the international Biological Diversity Convention (BDC) came into force.

The policy states its vision as: to transform Malaysia into a world centre of excellence in conservation, research and utilization of tropical biological diversity by the year 2020.

The responsibility of the Centre ranges from "policies and guidelines for scientific research or experiment related to the use of biological resources of Sarawak for pharmaceutical, medicinal and other specific purposes."

Such a step ahead of national effort reflects the Sarawak's keenness in exploring the values of its biological resources. We could not suspect such vigor generated from the research of the Bintagor tree (Calophylum lanigerum) in the 1980's, which contends the chemical substance (+)-Calanolide A, for fighting AIDS Virus and also possesses anti-TB properties.

Currently entering its I/II phase of experiment, the drug is expected to be ready for the market within the Second Quarter of 2002. Sarawak Medichem Pharmaceuticals Inc., a joint venture establishment between Medichem Research of the USA and the State of Sarawak formed in 1987, holds a patent for the total synthesis of (+)-calanolide A. The venture is expecting world-wide multi-billion dollars business once the drug production starts. (for more information you could visit www.sarawak-medichem.com)

 'biodiversity,' has become a buzzword since the last decade, contributes toward benefiting the human society in many ways.

Sarawak, which shares the Northwest part of the world's third largest island of Borneo, used to had a vast area of rainforest which is known as a mega centre of biodiversity. Scientists believe that more than half of the world's bio-species are found in the tropical forest that composed of only 5-7% of the entire earth surface area.

The documentation of indigenous knowledge would make it easier for scientists to conduct research. Most research works manage to narrow down on a few particular plants with the help of indigenous people who are knowledgeable through their long time cultural practices passed down by their ancestors. However, the profit resulted from such research that produces life-saving pharmaceutical drugs are always not shared by the indigenous people.

Over the past few years, international NGOs have been making efforts to create legal frameworks for community and collective rights. A number of groups are working on the 'sui generis' (meaning 'unique' or 'of its own kind') intellectual property systems that really serve to protect the rights of indigenous peoples and farming or other local communities. However, there seems to have little work on such concern in Malaysia.

Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC) is a government agency in research works on plants

Sarawak is located in one of the world's mega biodiversity region. Naturally its biodiversity wealth should be systematically researched in a modern and technologically advanced manner. Hence the setting up of the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC) at Semengoh, just outside the city with a host of well-equipped and specialized laboratories supplemented by personnel in various fields. In addition to the ongoing work at the centre, there are also collaborations with research institutions and biotech companies within and outside the country for discovery and development of products with commercial potential.

SARAWAK BIODIVERSITY CENTRE

One of the core activities of SBC is to conduct bioprospecting on Sarawak's indigenous biodiversity which may lead to development of pharmaceutical, cosmeceuticals and herbal therapies for healthcare, as well as other products including essential oils, biopestiddes and commercial dyes. Screening for anti cancer, anti fungal, anti bacterial, anti protease, anti inflammatory compounds and immunomodulatory proteins are carried out here too. The centre is also compiling a biodiversity database for the state while networking with organizations of similar interests around the world. Facilitating the documentation of Traditional Knowledge of the local communities' use of biodiversity is also one of SBC's core functions. With more than 30 indigenous groups in the state, there is a wealth of such knowledge, which needs to be documented as heritage before they are lost in the fast changing world. Furthermore, modern society is clamoring for more natural products to address hosts of ailments with the recognition that these products are less likely to produce unwanted side effects over long term use. In addition, the centre is also propagating Sarawak's indigenous plants for conservation and appreciation at its premises while also actively promoting awareness among the people.

n 1997, the Sarawak Government enacted the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre Ordinance and set up the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC) to initiate programmes for the conservation, utilization, protection and sustainable development of biodiversity in the Sarawak.

Between the setting up of the Centre in Year 1998 and Year 2003, Sarawak took cognizance of  its rich biological resources – the potential for intensive biotechnology based research and product development from this vault of diverse biological resources.

In December 2003, The State Legislative Assembly then passed the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (Amendment) Ordinance 2003 and reviewed and passed the revision of the Sarawak Biodiversity Regulations in Year 2004. The Centre was now entrusted to initiate intensive biotech based research and development on Sarawak’s biological resources – particularly those that have been utilized by indigenous communities and to facilitate the documentation of the fast disappearing traditional knowledge of indigenous communities on the utilization of biological resources.

SBC vision to be the focal point for Sarawak biodiversity research, utilization, inventory, monitoring, education, management and conservation.

Among their missions are to identify, set priorities and initiate programmes for research and sustainable management and utilization of biological resources in Sarawak, including bioprospecting and product development and to facilitate documentation on the traditional uses of biological resources by the local communities in Sarawak

Taking on this new role, SBC core functions are to implementing bioprospecting programmes on the State’s indigenous biodiversity facilitating the documentation of Traditional Knowledge on communities’ management and utilization of biodiversity propagating Sarawak’s indigenous plants for conservation and appreciation,  maintaining biodiversity related databases and conducting biodiversity-biotechnology awareness and appreciation programmes

SBC is carrying out programmes such as  Traditional Knowledge Documentation Programme,
Research and Development (Bioprospecting) Programme and Bioinformatics Programme

SBC hopes to contribute towards the State’s efforts in the development of the biotech industry via a combination of various disciplines such as chemistry, molecular biology and biochemistry  provide the local indigenous communities with capacity building and to empower them to document their Traditional Knowledge on the management and utilization of biological resources establish a bioinformatics data centre for biodiversity, research and development, a natural product library and inventory system and traditional knowledge databases on the uses of indigenous plants by the communities in the State.