Bukit Dinding Biodiversity Survey
Bukit Dinding Biodiversity Survey (BDBS) - 24th August 2023 - present (ongoing)
MNS Selangor Branch is documenting the biodiversity available in Bukit Dinding so that the science-based data can be used for advocacy work with Friends of Bukit Dinding to further protect the green lung. The survey was conducted with the assistance of invaluable volunteers and special interest groups:
- Herpetofauna - Chan Yik Khan with Herp SIG
- Flora - Lim Koon Hup
- Mapping & Paths - Pathfinders SIG
- Photography - Alex Fong with Photo SIG
- Birds - Wong Shea Hong with Bird SIG (photo, above)
- Butterflies, Odonata & Birds - Rosli Omar & Mike HN Chong
Dr Rosli Omar, Naturalist and photographer
It's always a delight to spot butterflies, not just for their aesthetic value, but also because we know they are indicators of a healthy environment and healthy ecosystems. But even for these gentle Lepidoptera, threats abound, impacting their survival. Habitat change, development, climate change, widespread pesticide use, and invasive species are just some of the threats they face, because of both direct and indirect impacts on native host plants. In Malaysia, Dr Rosli Omar, a naturalist and wildlife photographer took part in two surveys on butterflies - one in Batu Caves back in 2019, and more recently, one in Bukit Dinding in Wangsa Maju, KL. Dr Rosli has also published a book called Butterflies of Peninsular Malaysia, with a checklist of Scientific, English and Malay names. He joins us to share more about his discoveries and observations of butterfly species in Malaysia through such surveys, and his recommendations or actions to protect remaining species.
Image Credit: Omar, R., Aziz, A.A. & Badrud’din, S. (2023). Butterflies of Peninsular Malaysia: with a checklist of Scientific, English and Malay names. Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Malaysia
Produced and presented by: Juliet Jacobs
This biodiversity survey has also been selected for the APAC Digitalisation Transformation NGO Programme supported by Google, Infoxchange and TechSoup Asia-Pacific.
The data is now being analysed and written for an upcoming Malaysian Naturalist issue.
