MESCOT Forest Restoration Tree Nursery

Forest Habitat Restoration - Tree Nursery Kinabatangan, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo The MESCOT Tree Nursery is an significant component of the tree

planting. For the most part scientists had previously never seen the

fruits or seeds of the trees that are being planted today. Utilising local

knowledge of the tree species and forest fruits, seed gathering takes

place in the surrounding floodplain forest on a seasonal basis. Some tree species fruit once a year during what is called fruit season

between August and October. Other species fruit sporadically

throughout the forest at different times. Some species fruit during the

flood seasons December - February. This means that the seed

collecting takes place throughout the year on an ongoing basis. What

ever is in season, makes its way into the nursery to be processed

(seed extraction) and germinated.

Newly germinated seed is carefully moved into soil-filled planting

bags. At times these tiny trees are only a few millimetres in size. The

nursery work is a team and community effort. Sometimes the local

school children help out, other times volunteer groups do much of the

work. The core nursery team coordinate and carry-out the work,

tending, moving and monitoring on an ongoing basis. * For more information, or to arrange a stay contact KOPEL Office.