Expedition In Liwagu Sub-Catchment Gathers Important Data

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 20 (Bernama) -- A scientific expedition in the Liwagu sub-catchment in Tambunan, Sabah, has yielded findings that include unique frog and freshwater fish species. The four-day expedition, which ended on Nov 14, was aimed at gathering information that would contribute critical knowledge for supporting better management of the sub-catchment area and the natural resources within it. Participated by Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Sabah Wetlands Conservation Society and World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF)-Malaysia, the expedition focused on research areas ranging from freshwater biodiversity, water quality, geological aspects of river channels to community livelihood. Dr Mahadi Menakbar Mohd Dawood, from UMS' Institute of Tropical Biology and Conservation, said the findings would be published in the institute's "Journal of Tropical Biology and Conservation" special issue as soon as all the related articles were obtained from the research groups involved. "The journal will be distributed to other universities and research institutes, both locally and internationally," he said in a statement issued by WWF-Malaysia on Monday. The Liwagu sub-catchment has been WWF-Malaysia's project area since January 2010 under a three-year project funded by HSBC Bank Malaysia Bhd. -- BERNAMA Malaysia