ASEAN Records is proud to officially recognise Pulau Banding Foundation for achieving a significant regional milestone as the:
Highest Species Count Recorded Across Three Biological Domains in a Single Trail Expedition Programme
(1,470 species encompassing Domain Bacteria, Archaea and Eukarya; Banding Trail Adventure 2026; 4.78km trail corridor; 6 sampling points; 67-hour expedition; 18–21 August 2026; 70 academia, experts and volunteers)
This milestone showcases the Foundation’s dedication to systematic biodiversity documentation and scientific exploration, highlighting the exceptional ecological diversity of the expedition area while reinforcing the importance of rainforest research and conservation.
Revealing Biodiversity Across Three Domains of Life
The achievement was recorded through Banding Trail Adventure 2026 (BTA2026), a biodiversity-focused programme designed to systematically explore, identify, document, and verify the diversity of life within Pulau Banding and the wider Belum-Temengor landscape.
Across a 4.78-kilometre trail corridor comprising six sampling points, the expedition successfully documented 1,470 species across all three biological domains of life — 545 Bacteria, 2 Archaea, and 923 Eukarya. Based on the IUCN Red List, among the biodiversity recorded were 1 Critically Endangered, 12 Endangered, 32 Vulnerable, and 21 Near Threatened species, underscoring the ecological significance of the landscape and the importance of continued scientific research and conservation.
Combining Scientific Expertise, Technology and Collaborative Research
BTA2026 brought together 70 academics, experts, and volunteers from diverse backgrounds for a structured 67-hour expedition, combining systematic observation, field sampling, species identification, documentation, and verification.
The programme brought together expertise from government agencies, higher education institutions, non-governmental organisations, conservation bodies, the corporate sector, and volunteers, making BTA2026 not only an expedition but also a platform for collaborative and citizen science.
Participating organisations included Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK), UMK Tropical Rainforest Research Centre (UMK-TRaCe), Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), Tropical Rainforest Conservation & Research Centre (TRCRC), and Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), among others.
Modern technologies such as remote sensing, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) also complement traditional field expertise, strengthening biodiversity monitoring and supporting more science-based analysis and decision-making.
Through this combination of smart sampling, multidisciplinary expertise, multiple research methods, and standardised data collection, BTA2026 demonstrates how collaborative science can create a more comprehensive understanding of life within a rainforest ecosystem.
Strengthening Malaysia’s Biodiversity Knowledge and Conservation Future
Beyond achieving a record, the biodiversity documented through BTA2026 contributes to Malaysia’s broader environmental and conservation priorities.
The programme aligns with the aspirations of the National Policy on Biological Diversity 2022–2030, which emphasises biodiversity conservation, sustainable resource use, equitable benefit-sharing, and the strengthening of research and knowledge development.
The scientific data generated through programmes such as BTA2026 also contributes towards strengthening the Malaysia Biodiversity Information System (MyBIS), the country’s Clearing-House Mechanism under the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Through the programme, Pulau Banding is positioned not simply as an eco-tourism destination, but as a living laboratory for biodiversity research, conservation, education, and environmental awareness.
BTA2026 was organised by Pulau Banding Foundation (PBF) in collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK), UMK Tropical Rainforest Research Centre (UMK-TRaCe), Belum Rainforest Resort, and Yayasan EMKAY, with support from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES), Setia Haruman, and EMKAY Group.
The collaboration demonstrates that protecting biodiversity requires sustained participation across government, academia, conservation organisations, businesses, volunteers, and communities.
A Milestone Moment of Acknowledgement
The ASEAN Records certificate was officially presented on 21 August 2026 at Belum Rainforest Resort (BRR), Pulau Banding, Perak, marking the formal recognition of this significant biodiversity achievement.
The recognition was received on stage by Prof. Emeritus Dato’ Dr. Abdul Latiff Mohamad, Chairman of Pulau Banding Foundation, alongside Dato’ Hjh. Fazwinna Tan Sri Mustapha Kamal, Executive Chairman of EMKAY Group.
The presentation was witnessed by YB Dato’ Sri Arthur Joseph Kurup, Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, and YBhg. Datuk Wira Anis Rizana binti Mohd Zainudin, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES), representing the collective commitment behind biodiversity research, conservation, and environmental stewardship in the Belum-Temengor landscape.
Voices of Leadership
Reflecting on the significance of BTA2026, YB Dato’ Sri Arthur Joseph Kurup, Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, shared:
“BTA2026 holds strategic value in strengthening Malaysia’s knowledge and database on our rich biodiversity. Every species identified and documented contributes to national planning and supports stronger, science-based conservation decisions.
Biodiversity conservation requires the participation of the whole nation and society. Collaboration among government, research institutions, the private sector, civil society, and communities is essential to ensuring that our natural heritage continues to be protected effectively and sustainably.”
Reflecting on the milestone, Dato’ Hjh. Fazwinna Tan Sri Mustapha Kamal, Executive Chairman of EMKAY Group, shared:
“This achievement demonstrates what can be accomplished when scientific research, conservation, and collaboration come together with a shared purpose.
The knowledge and data generated through BTA2026 will help us better understand the extraordinary biodiversity of the Belum-Temengor landscape. We hope this milestone will inspire continued research, greater environmental awareness, and stronger collective efforts to protect this invaluable natural heritage for future generations.”
About Pulau Banding Foundation
Pulau Banding Foundation (PBF) is a non-profit and non-political organisation established to promote scientific research, conservation, eco-tourism, education, and sustainable development within the Belum-Temengor Rainforest Complex in Perak, Malaysia.
The Foundation works to strengthen knowledge and public awareness of tropical rainforest biodiversity while encouraging collaboration among government agencies, researchers, NGOs, corporations, volunteers, and communities.
Its strategic approach is guided by the 3P Concept — People, Planet, and Profit — balancing community wellbeing, environmental conservation, and long-term economic sustainability.
Located within the wider Belum-Temengor landscape, Pulau Banding serves as an important gateway for conservation, research, education, and responsible nature-based tourism. Through initiatives such as Banding Trail Adventure, PBF continues to connect scientific discovery with practical conservation and public engagement.
For more information, visit:
https://pbf-my.org/
