28 February 2018 (Wednesday) – Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) received a visit from six Japanese representatives who wanted to share their experience and have a discussion on ‘Access and Benefits Sharing’ (ABS) with FRIM researchers.
From left: Fadzureena, Norini, Mastura and Nik Musa’adah at the discussion session.
The delegation, who came to FRIM on 19 February, consisted of Maho Matsumoto from Japan Ministry of Environment, Dr Manabu Suto (Biological Resource Center), Rie Funabiki (National Institute of Technology and Evaluation), Mutsumi Suzuki (National Institute of Genetics/ABS Task Team for Academia), Dr Yamasaki Takeshi (Makino Herbarium, Tokyo Metropolitan University) and Michiko Nishikawa (Embassy of Japan in Malaysia).
Nor Azah (left) presenting a FRIM publication to Matsumoto.
FRIM officer and the Japanese delegates posing for a photograph.
In the meeting, chaired by FRIM Natural Products Director Dr Nor Azah Mohamad Ali, FRIM Fellow Dr Norini Haron presented the ‘Documentation of Traditional Knowledge (TK) of Orang Asli towards Benefit Sharing’ Project. Among others, she also shared FRIM’s initiative in the signing an ABS agreement with a state government as well as Orang Asli sub-ethnic group in line with the Access to Biological Resources and Benefit Sharing Act (Act 795) 2017.
Some of the delegates also shared their ABS experience and progress. The delegation was later taken to FRIM Ethnobotanical Garden to see the medicinal and aromatic plants collection. Also present were Dr Nik Musa’adah Mustapha, Dr Mastura Mohtar, Dr Fadzureena Jamaludin and several TK project researchers.
A group photo during the visit at the Ethnobotanical Garden.
