About Research

Scientific Research
We are citizen scientists who have been trained by local and international scientist-advisors. Using internationally-recognised monitoring methods, we assist scientist-advisors through the collection and curation of samples and compilation of baseline data. Since 2009, we have been documenting our seagrass, island and mangrove habitats and processing specimens for the future Nature & Heritage Centre. We share this information with the local community through presentations.  Do e-mail us at kelab.alami@gmail.com if you require any assistance in your field of study, or if you would like to share your knowledge or exchange experiences with us. For further information, please see our current research or published research pages on this website.

Community Research
We also work as community researchers. Under the supervision of Dr Serina Rahman, we interview villagers. Mukim Tg. Kupang was originally a community of fishermen, but many have switched to other jobs because of reduced catch, increased petrol prices and shrinking seas. However, the fishermen still hold a wealth of local ecological knowledge and cultural heritage (fishing lore, traditions, taboos and magic) that must be documented for cultural preservation.  Other cultural traditions like traditional medicinal cures based on local plants, from herbs to wildflowers and mangrove trees or traditional recipes using local (and sometime strange) marine animals could also be forgotten as we lose species to habitat damage.  Local ecological knowledge that we gather will be matched with the scientific research that Kelab Alami conducts to strengthen and enrich the information available on local natural habitats. For further information, please see our fishing heritage or food heritage pages on this website.

Our future plans, pending funds, include:
- to make the Kelab Alami photo data bank publicly available on the Iskandar Regional Development Authority's PESISIR website
- document and publish data on our coastal and other natural areas so that we can contribute to policy recommendations for their protection
- publish books, newsletters and posters on our fishing and cultural heritage for both the community and public sale
- to set up the Kelab Alami Nature and Heritage Centre to showcase all of this knowledge and preserve it for generations to come.


DUGONG FEEDING TRAIL & HABITAT MAPPING
Funded by Lembaga Pelabuhan Johor

In collaboration with Dr Jillian Ooi (University Malaya)

This study monitors and maps dugong feeding trails in our seagrass meadows to determine areas that the mammals frequently use and the frequency with which they use it. It also estimates animal size based on the size of the trail (and thus whether they are adult or juvenile). At the same time, we document the seagrass habitat to understand the dugong’s food preferences. This data will eventually contribute to a local dugong population study. This pioneering research for our area.

OTTER DOCUMENTATION & HABITAT MAPPING
Funded by Lembaga Pelabuhan Johor

In collaboration with Affendi Yg Amri (University Malaya)

This study identifies and documents the otters in Mukim Tanjung Kupang. Pioneering research for this area, we hope to determine the number of otter family groups in this area, and the specific coastal areas and mangrove forests that they use to live and feed in. This information will be useful to determine which mangrove areas must be protected to ensure otter presence in the mukim.

PULAU MERAMBONG BIODIVERSITY ASSESSMENT
Funded by Forest City

In collaboration with Affendi Yg Amri and Dr Jillian Ooi (University Malaya)

This study documents the biodiversity of Pulau Merambong in the hope of identifying resident and migratory (bird) species both on land and in the water. Photo documentation and identification has been ongoing since 2010 and will eventually be published as a book. Part of the study has been presented as a poster (on seagrass mapping on the island) at the World Seagrass Conference 2018, and another poster (on mangrove and macrobenthos of the island) will be presented at the 5th International Macrobenthos and Mangrove Meeting in Singapore in 2019.

LIVING HERITAGE OF MUKIM TANJUNG KUPANG
Funded by Think City and Iskandar Investment Berhad

In collaboration with Dr Serina Rahman (ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore)

This long-term study documents the local ecological knowledge and cultural heritage of Mukim Tanjung Kupang through interviews, archival research and photographs. The objective is to compile the first holistic reference to this area as a tribute to the people and place that may soon be lost or forever changed due to urbanisation and development. The research has been published as a coffee-table book by the same name in 2019, and may be further published in other forms. To order a copy of the book, please click here.

HIGH SPEED RAIL TRAIL DOCUMENTATION AND MAPPING
Funded by Forest City

In collaboration with Dr Serina Rahman (ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore)

In anticipation of the arrival of the High Speed Rail (HSR), which will cut a swathe 4 km long and possibly 500m wide through the village, we are documenting the land and coasts that could be lost. This research will preserve, in print and photographs, a part of the village that was, before it becomes a mere avenue through which long-distance travellers will zip through. The goal is to exhibit this research in a multi-sensory exhibition by the end of 2019.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC VALUE OF LOCAL SEAGRASS HABITAT
Funded by Kelab Alami (self-funded)

In collaboration with Dr Serina Rahman (ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore) and Dr Siti Maryam Yaakub (DHI, Singapore)

This pioneering study for this area assesses the socio-economic value of the seagrass habitat based on the ecosystem services it provides, under the framework of a well-being lens. The assessment takes into account socio-ecological-economic relationships and includes site-specific and locally-assessed calculations for reported catch landings, gleaning, tourism and downstream economic values among others. The resultant determined seagrass habitat value for this area is US$57,731.80 (RM 242,473.58) per hectare per year. This paper was presented at the World Seagrass Conference 2018 in Singapore, and is currently being revised for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

OTHER CURRENT RESEARCH
  • Coastal mangrove documentation (along Sungai Che Manan)
  • Fish landing study
  • Community uses of Tebrau Strait and coastal areas
  • Fishing heritage (taboos, methods, magic)
  • Traditional food heritage
  • Local myths and legends: origin stories
  • Plant-based and traditional medicines
  • Local ecological knowledge (collation and curation with scientific data)
  • Marine and coastal documentation and sampling (baseline study)
  • Roadkill study
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