E XPLORING NATURAL RESOURCES FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SUSTAINABLE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

Our environment which is rich in natural resources has been used in many ways. Research and development has played a prominent role in universities but needed more efforts towards nurturing the next generation in this research. Ecology has shown us the sustainability in biological systems that are diverse and productive, but how we sustain our life based on the environment, economic and social entities has not been stressed. Fundamental research is to broaden ones knowledge that provides a starting point for future innovative applications. We should not forget that these natural resources provide us with the quality of life, that we share with other lives. Knowledge from sustainable research is for the future generations to build upon to help develop solutions to preserving the biodiversity that have been extinct due to our unsustainable development. Focus on the use of biobased materials for energy and application in medicine should be given the priority which is the flagship for sustainable green economy. The conflict between land use and preserving biodiversity has now become the world’s complex environmental issues. A holistic case study carried out in the UNESCO site, Tasik Chini Bioshere Reserve, Pekan, Pahang will be emphasized.