The Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM; Malay: Institut Penyelidikan Perhutanan Malaysia) is a statutory agency of the Government of Malaysia, under the Ministry of Land, Water and Natural Resources (KATS). FRIM promotes sustainable management and optimal use of forest resources in Malaysia by generating knowledge and technology through research, development and application in tropical forestry. FRIM is located in Kepong, near Kuala Lumpur.FRIM is the world's oldest and largest re-created tropical rain forest.
Tropical land-surface processes play a key role in Earth system dynamics, yet evaluation and calibration of land surface models in these regions remain limited. This study addresses this gap through site-specific calibration of the Noah with Multi-Parameterizations (Noah-MP) land surface model at two tropical forest sites: the Panama site with a tropical monsoon climate and the Malaysia site with a tropical rainforest climate. We develop an efficient machine learning-based calibration framework that combines emulator construction with parameter optimization. Site-specific calibration improves the model's ability to simulate key variables, including latent and sensible heat fluxes as well as soil moisture, particularly at daily and seasonal scales. The emulator-based framework enables efficient calibration and shows robust performance during independent validation periods at each site. While the calibrated parameters are not directly transferable between the two sites with different climate regimes, they perform effectively during unseen validation periods at their respective sites, suggesting the potential transferability of parameters across similar climates. Remaining challenges include simulating nighttime sensible heat fluxes, balancing the optimization of latent and sensible heat fluxes, and capturing seasonal soil moisture dynamics. These limitations may stem from structural simplifications in Noah-MP, such as the lack of multi-species vegetation modeling, soil organic layer representation, and detailed tropical subsurface hydrology. Our results demonstrate how the calibration framework can effectively improve Noah-MP performance in tropical forests and provide guidance for future development priorities, which can support broader efforts to generalize model calibration strategies and improve Earth system model fidelity in data-scarce, climatically distinct regions.
Sustainable tourism seeks to balance environmental conservation with socio-economic development, particularly in forest-dependent rural districts such as Jeli, Kelantan. This study aims to assess the level of community involvement in conservation and ecotourism initiatives. A cross-sectional survey of 219 household heads from three villages was conducted, complemented by rapid rural appraisal and consultations with community leaders. Participation was measured across four dimensions, which are planning, implementation, monitoring, and benefit-sharing. Results of studies using an engagement index were analyzed through descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression. The findings indicate moderate overall participation (Engagement Index = 0.33), with stronger involvement in benefit-sharing (0.53) and implementation (0.30), but comparatively low engagement in planning (0.26) and monitoring (0.24), suggesting functional rather than empowered participation. Perceived benefits were largely environmental and social, while direct economic gains were limited. Regression results reveal that knowledge exposure (B = 0.28, p < .001) and association membership (B = 0.18, p = .01) significantly predict participation, whereas years of formal education do not, with the model explaining 23% of variance (R² = 0.23). This study contributes new district-level empirical evidence on participation dynamics in rural Malaysia. It highlights the critical role of environmental knowledge and social capital in strengthening inclusive governance, offering practical insights for designing more participatory and resilient ecotourism frameworks.
The pulp and paper products have issues regarding their physical, mechanical, and barrier properties during processes and prolonged storage before being utilized by consumers. Nano additives are an alternative compared to micro-sized commercial additives used in industry because of their high aspect ratio and available surface area to be bonded with pulp and paper products. The incorporation of nano additives such as nanocellulose, nano-clays, carbon-based nanomaterials, and metal oxide nanoparticles offers tremendous potential to enhance mechanical strength, barrier performance, antimicrobial and other functional properties of paper products while reducing reliance on chemical additives. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent progress in the utilization of nano additives in pulp and papermaking, covering processing methods, surface functionalization strategies, integration approaches, and their influence on paper performance. Special attention is given to the interaction between nano additives and fiber matrices, dispersion challenges, and scalable processing techniques. The manuscript also highlights current limitations in nano additives application, including compatibility with industrial systems, cost-effectiveness, and environmental impact. Finally, future recommendations and industrial implementation opportunities are discussed, positioning nanofillers as a pivotal component in the advancement of next-generation paper-based materials.
