| Universiti Putra Malaysia

UPM launches 1st textbook on Tropical Rain Forest in Malaysia

By Noor Eszereen Juferi
Photo by Marina Ismail



SERDANG, 21 May (UPM) – Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) has launched the first comprehensive textbook on forestry that is published in the country  focusing on the tropical rain forest in Malaysia.

The team writer, Prof. Dr. Jegatheswaran Ratnasingam, said the text book that was launched by Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Dato’ Sri Dr. James Dawos Mamit  on 22nd April 2014 can be used by all readers.

“This textbook covers all expects of the forestry field including forest types, physiology, soil types, diseases, plants and animals diversity, tree identification, water resources, harvesting practices, forest management, climatic issues, wood products as well as minor forest products such as bamboo and rattan,” he said.



The editors of the book are experts with vast academic and industrial experiences which ensured the highest quality possible with regards to the facts in the book. Its target audiences are the students in forestry at Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS).

“UPM is currently making it a compulsory textbook for 1st and 2nd year forestry students. The book also provides a comprehensive listing of relevant references that the readers can refer to for further clarification and understanding.

“Most important the students can use this book for reference. Each chapter have an introduction of the topic, keywords that is related particular topic, main photos and graphs, learning outcomes and reference list of future reading which makes it an excellent standard textbook for the forestry curriculum,” he added.

He said, with its wide coverage of topics, the textbook should be of interest to non-forestry specialists and also to the general public. The book was also reviewed by world experts in forestry sciences in Australia and New Zealand, and it has received rousing comments.

“So far, the response to the textbook is exceptional internationally, especially from forestry organizations in the region; Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines and Indonesia,” he said.

Prof. Dr. Jegatheswaran who have 15 years’ experience in the timber industry, expressed the hope that the book would educate not only students in the field of forestry but also allow the public to get a better understanding about the tropical forest in Malaysia.

“Currently we are planning to organize a road show where we may run forestry awareness programmes with different schools, region by region that will be divided to four regions supported by the regional Forestry Organization,” he said.

The textbook can be purchased at UPM Press for RM64. 

 – UPM/nej/kgo


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