4. In which ways is the initiative creative and innovative?
|
FRIM acknowledges the participation of its stakeholders that will enhance the success rate in implementing the key strategies in FRIM’s CMP. The laid down strategies and action plan were ensured complies with the regulatory requirements and conform to the best practices while deliverables were focused on meeting the needs of the beneficiaries. Through this approach, invaluable additional information and demand from the stakeholders can be added into and transformed into the project requirements that will lay a stronger foundation to the initiation of such undertakings.
Being the referral research institution, FRIM’s role being the key implementing agency is endorsed at the National Committee governed by the concerned and relevant ministries. This committee oversees the scope of work and responsibilities of parties involved whereby such commitments are documented and inked via Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). This approach is being applied while undertaking both international and national collaborative projects.
FRIM further recognises the importance of having a comprehensive work plan that warrants efficient and effective implementation of such R,D,C&A activities under its CIE strategy. For that, working committees namely the Project Steering Committee (PTC) and Project Technical Committee (PTC) were established. These committees will be responsible in ensuring that the key milestones and deliverables are efficiently, effectively and accordingly delivered. These committees meet on a regular basis that was agreed upon within the context of the scope of activities. While the project scope, specifications and key outcomes are among the key items deliberated in the PSC meetings, milestones progress and achievements are generally discussed during the PTC meetings to reflect on-going and actual development on the ground.
Findings from all the activities were then compiled, documented and made available to all parties concerned. During the course of implementing such initiative, regular training and technical courses were organised and coordinated by FRIM so as to provide the latest updates and know-how to the beneficiaries. In doing so, effective transfer of technology is ensured especially in areas such as tree-planting of forest enrichment and urban landscaping projects because different phases of development demands specific approaches and maintenance techniques in order to reap the optimum impact and outcome from such project.
While efforts are being deployed by FRIM, via relevant technical courses and training, to produce knowledgeable human resources amongst the stakeholders, pools of experienced professionals (scientists and technicians) as well as accredited laboratories are made available in FRIM to attend to the customers’ need and requirement as and when needed. As such, all stakeholders would gain the benefit of having the utmost support of FRIM in ensuring their products and services remain competitive in the commercial field locally and internationally.
On top of the above mentioned course of actions, periodically, authorities, industries and other stakeholders were consulted by FRIM to form a consultative group that will discuss emerging issues and challenges concerning the relevant sectors. Options and resolutions derived from the forum were then translated into actions in the form of trials and/or methods that promote better impact and provide the maximum benefit to the eventual end-users.
To date, FRIM has chaired and/or participated in numerous consultative group pertaining to R,DC&A related subjects such as ‘national timber industry way forward’, ‘conservation of national biodiversity’, ‘natural products development and drug discovery’, ‘sustainable forest management’, ‘forestry sector development’, ‘arid/barren land rehabilitation’, ‘germplasm bank for threatened and endangered forest species’, and ‘urban landscape and greening the city centre’.
|
|
5. Who implemented the initiative and what is the size of the population affected by this initiative?
|
In general, the stakeholders of FRIM cover the general public, industries, NGOs and government agencies. The general public covers neighbouring communities, school children, indigenous people, etc is one of the key recipients in FRIM’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. While industries are confined among others to wood-based sector, traditional medicine practitioners, natural products manufacturers, plantation companies, small and medium enterprises, forest concessionaires, forest managers, and associations of various industries.
FRIM works closely with various NGOs such as Malaysian Nature Society, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and Malaysia Zoological Society. As of the government agencies, FRIM’s main businesses are linked directly with the following ministries—Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities; Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industries and Ministry of Rural and Regional Development.
On top of that, other direct beneficiaries of FRIM’s R,D,C&A are local authorities and town planner/developer such as Putrajaya Corporation; Kuala Lumpur International Airport Berhad, City Hall of Kuala Lumpur; Sepang Municipal Council; Taiping Municipal Council; Mutiara Rini Johor Bahru and Shah Alam; Universiti Teknologi Petronas; Universiti Teknologi MARA Perak; Universiti Malaysia Pahang; Universiti Teknologi Malaysia; Eco Forest Damansara; Paya indah Wetland and the National Zoo.
In those involvements, FRIM’s ‘Sciences—Green Products’ have been remarkably crucial and significant to the said stakeholders, particularly in the fields of but not limited to;
(a) Early childhood educational and environmental appreciation programmes
(b) Strategic plan in National Forest Plantation Programme to plant 375,000 ha in Peninsular Malaysia with forest species by the year 2025.
(c) Commercialisation and exportation of highly demanded locally manufactured timber floorings from rubberwood.
(d) Development, verification and authentication of natural and aromatic products in Malaysia.
(e) Conservation of threatened forest species.
(f) Urban forestry landscape development and sustenance.
(g) Barren land rehabilitation with forest species.
|
6. How was the strategy implemented and what resources were mobilized?
|
In charting the course of meeting its vision and mission via strategic implementation of CIE initiative, FRIM recognises the influential role of funding provided by the government. Out of the total annual budget received, nearly 84% is spent on operational affairs, about 14% allocated for development in support of FRIM’s R,D,C&A programmes and slightly more than 2% is for specific research. As such, proper planning and appropriate spending have been given close attention to ensure FRIM’s CMP is successfully progressing according to its key development phases.
FRIM utilises the government fund mostly to enhance its technical capabilities. This could be traceable in equipping its laboratories with state-of-art facilities; establishing a quality work systems, procedures as well as guiding principles; and striving towards putting the real values of R&D outcomes and impacts into the commercial world in the form of products, industry-best practices, manufacturing protocols and processes, and testing and/or authentication schemes.
In view of carrying out research activities, most FRIM’s R&D grants were obtained through best bidding approach from various funding mechanisms. In most cases, projects that carry more commercial potential or of applied research in nature were granted with higher funding. FRIM does provide internal funding for its researchers but is limited to facilitate probing of specific research intent.
As research funding from the government is very competitive, a strategic undertaking with direct beneficiary or stakeholder is one of the more favourable options for FRIM researchers. The win, win strategy is one of the best approaches in securing funding especially for such projects aiming towards commercial uptake or manufacturing. To date, FRIM has entered into no less than 100 strategic collaborations with relevant partners locally and internationally; about 70% has its own funding obtained from various sources.
In term of human resources, FRIM pledges to ascertain that its key asset be given ample opportunities to enhance their technical capability and competencies through various kind of training and capacity buildings. The opportunities of involved in cross-sectoral and inter-agencies collaborative works also provide avenues for FRIM’s personnel to gain invaluable exposure and experience relevant to their field of expertise and specialisation.
Nonetheless, while funding is seen as a limiting factor, over the years, FRIM does grow from strength to strength in delivering its ‘Sciences—Green Products’ to its hosts of clients and stakeholders. This is achievable by allowing its personnel to excel in their fields and equipped themselves with the relevant skills and competencies during their years of services. This commendable effort has resulted in generation of a pool of multi-disciplinary experts and resource persons in FRIM that are highly sought after by clients.
|
|
7. Who were the stakeholders involved in the design of the initiative and in its implementation?
|
Five concrete outputs of FRIM’s ‘Sciences—Green Products’ are;
(a) FRIM’s land—ex-tin tailings area turned into a man-made tropical forest. A National Heritage site, also known as ecological tourism spot; showcases world leading reforestation standards for ex-mining/severely degraded land. FRIM’s 544.3 hectare site and its 125 hectare afforestation research centre therefore represent a comprehensive biodiversity depository for future R&D, comprising 354 species of ex-situ cultivation, 13 critically endangered species, 25 endangered species, 35 vulnerable species and 73 threatened tree species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) list that have been domesticated on the FRIM campus. A remarkable contribution towards meeting The Aichi Biodiversity Targets (2011–2020) and pursuant to country’s commitment to The Rio Earth Summit 1992.
(b) FRIM’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives—Afforded to about 500,000 visitors annually, comprising tree planting activities, outreach programme and environmental education. During 2010-2013 alone, more than 6,000 trees of forest species have been planted involving 20 agencies and 1,700 people.
(c) FRIM‘s commitment on ‘Conservation of Threatened Forest Species, and Urban Forestry Landscape Development and Sustenance’—Among the beneficiaries are Putrajaya Corporation; City Hall of Kuala Lumpur; Mutiara Rini Johor Bahru and Shah Alam; Universiti Teknologi MARA Perak; Eco Forest Damansara; Paya Indah Wetland and the Parliament. The On-line Tree Inventory and Management System (2,117 trees of 156 species) in Putrajaya is the first of its kind and adopted at the Federal Government Administrative Centre. Further, FRIM has effectively rehabilitated eight vulnerable coastal areas in Malaysia through an innovative Comp-Mat technique.
(d) FRIM’s High Temperature Drying (HTD) Lumber Treatment System, a green approach for treating wood without the use of chemicals—It obtained the patent from the USA PTO in March 2013 and being filed for patent in Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, China and India. The system, winner of the National Innovation Award 2013, enhances the timber stability and reduces the processing time, hence highly supports the wood-based industries’ need.
(e) FRIM’s internationally recognised authoritative benchmark facilities—This includes the California Air Resources Board (CARB) wood products’ compliant testing system; ISO/IEC 17025 accredited testing laboratories for wood-based products; ISO9001:2008 certification for R&D and support services for the forestry sector; GMP-compliant herbal processing; BioNexus accredited laboratories for natural- and agro- products; and the Furniture Industry Research Association of the UK (FIRA) compliant furniture testing facilities. To date, 275 Malaysian Standards have been developed by FRIM.
|
|
8. What were the most successful outputs and why was the initiative effective?
|
FRIM is under the purview of Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. Being the leading Research Institution, FRIM’s function lies in providing the necessary solutions and advisory to the Ministry pertinent to efficient use of natural resources through R,D,C&A for sustainable development of the forestry sector in the country.
FRIM acknowledges the participation of its stakeholders that will enhance the success rate in implementing the key strategies in FRIM’s CMP. The laid down strategies and action plan were ensured complies with the regulatory requirements and conform to the best practices while deliverables were focused on meeting the needs of the beneficiaries. Through this approach, invaluable additional information and demand from the stakeholders can be added into and transformed into the project requirements that will lay a stronger foundation to the initiation of such undertakings.
Being the referral research institution, FRIM’s role being the key implementing agency is endorsed at the National Committee governed by the concerned and relevant ministries. This committee oversees the scope of work and responsibilities of parties involved whereby such commitments are documented and inked via Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). This approach is being applied while undertaking both international and national collaborative projects.
FRIM further recognises the importance of having a comprehensive work plan that warrants efficient and effective implementation of such R,D,C&A activities under its CIE strategy. For that, working committees namely the Project Steering Committee (PTC) and Project Technical Committee (PTC) were established. These committees will be responsible in ensuring that the key milestones and deliverables are efficiently, effectively and accordingly delivered. These committees meet on a regular basis that was agreed upon within the context of the scope of activities. While the project scope, specifications and key outcomes are among the key items deliberated in the PSC meetings, milestones progress and achievements are generally discussed during the PTC meetings to reflect on-going and actual development on the ground.
|
|
9. What were the main obstacles encountered and how were they overcome?
|
While it seems that funding is seen as a limiting factor, over the years, FRIM does grow from strength to strength in delivering its ‘Sciences—Green Products’ to its hosts of clients and stakeholders. This is achievable by allowing its personnel to excel in their fields and equipped themselves with the relevant skills and competencies during their years of services. This commendable effort has resulted in generation of a pool of multi-disciplinary experts, resource persons and the dedicated teams in FRIM that are highly sought after by clients.
The greatest challenge in reforestation is caused by the lack of understanding towards the importance of conservation and preservation of green stands. Therefore it is vital that the environmental education and CSR programmes are being implemented continuously to instil learners with knowledge about the environment, inculcate positive attitudes toward the environment and help achieve environmental literacy. As such, among the main obstacles encountered by FRIM in implementing the CIE Initiative is to change people mindset and bringing them away from their comfort zone to the reality of new challenges and horizon. In research field, it is of utmost importance that achievement is pursued upon constant willingness to strive for excellence and keep pushing for betterment of which sciences, creativity and innovation offer not least than vast opportunities and potential.
|