Survey Of Rare, Threatened And Endangered Plants In Marai Parai, Kinabalu Park

Abstract

A field survey was carried out at Marai Parai, Kinabalu Park in Sabah during an expedition in October 2023 to investigate Rare, Threatened, and Endangered (RTE) plant species. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the remaining population sizes of seven selected target species: Elaeocarpus inopinatus Coode, Hedyotis protrusa Stapf, Melastoma maraiparaiense K.M.Wong, Saurauia leopoldii K.M.Wong, Symplocos trichomarginalis Noot., Timonius clementis Merr., and Urophyllum lineatum Stapf. Five plots were established in areas where these target species were occuring. Among these target species, Melastoma maraiparaiense exhibited the highest density, while Saurauia leopoldii having the lowest density. It is imperative that conservation efforts prioritize Saurauia leopoldii due to its status as the rarest and most vulnerable target species among these plants.