Research

We are citizen scientists trained by local and international scientist-advisors. We also work as community researchers. Since 2009, we have been documenting our seagrass, island and mangrove habitats and processing specimens for the Kelab Alami Nature & Heritage Centre. Do email us if you require any assistance in your field of study, or if you would like to share your knowledge or exchange experiences with us. 

Scientific Advisors

We have a network of advisors from both local and international universities who provide input into all aspects of the organisation's work. While we are driven by the vision, needs and desires of the local community, it is these advisors that help to enable us to achieve our goals, capacity-building the community to play a central role in habitat documentation and education. This facilitation is done with a view to the community being able to eventually take over the entire programme with the advisors only being called upon for assistance when the need arises.

Collaborations

Collaborations with international universities, museums and other organisations enhance the research that we do, expand the horizons of Kelab Alami youth and staff who engage with myriad experts and international visitors, and provide the local community with additional income through tourism. Kelab Alami and Mukim Tg Kupang are often showcased as a community environmental education, engagement and empowerment model that can be adapted to ensure the sustainable development of other similar habitat-rich locations.

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.

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