By The Borneo Post onFeatures
The Chief Conservator of Forests, Datuk Frederick Kugan.
(April 12): From figs to tarap, wild mangoes to durians, exploring Borneo’s rich forest foods that nourish people and wildlife alike.
Over five billion people around the world use forest and non-timber forest products for food, medicine and livelihoods. Forests and trees are a rich source of fruits, nuts, seeds, roots, tubers, leaves, mushrooms, honey, wild meat, fish and insects, providing essential nutrients to people’s dietary intake.
The poster on 2025 International Day of Forests.
In 2025, ‘forests and foods’ is the theme for the International Day of Forests (IDF), celebrating the crucial roles of forests in food security, nutrition and livelihoods.
IDF was established on the 21st of March, by resolution of the United Nations General Assembly in 2012, to celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of forests for mankind and beyond.
In Sabah, the state level IDF will be celebrated on April 24-26 2025 at the Tropical Forestry Faculty, Universiti Malaysia Sabah in Kota Kinabalu, jointly organised with the Sabah Forestry Department.
The Chief Conservator of Forests, Datuk Frederick Kugan, said that the venue is appropriate and timely, as it will be held as a carnival to promote the significance of forests to the younger generation. Various activities will be put up in line with the theme for the three-day event, and it is expected to be officiated by the Chief Minister of Sabah.
Kugan reiterated that sustainably harvesting and consuming forest foods not only enriches diets but also supports biodiversity and the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities. Promoting the conservation and sustainable management of forest ecosystems ensures the continued availability of these valuable resources for future generations. Foods in the forests are not only consumed by humans but also all other inhabitants, including mammals, birds, reptiles, frogs and invertebrates.
Orang utan feeding on sengkuang fruits in Bilit, Kinabatangan.
A good forest will have bountiful foods for all its inhabitants to co-exist and live harmoniously.
Wild fruits – forest-derived foods
Wild fruits are among the forest-derived foods that support the inhabitants’ nutrition and livelihood. As highlighted by the late Datuk Anthony Lamb in his book on ‘A Guide to Wild Fruits of Borneo’ there could be nearly 500 species of native plants that yield edible fruits, nuts and seeds in the forest of Borneo alone, many of which are found in the lowland dipterocarp forests. This is where the highest diversity of edible fruit trees and their wild relatives reside, such as mangoes, durians, mangosteens, jackfruits and rambutans. Many of these wild fruits are planted at the Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC) in Sepilok that serves as a gene bank for ex-situ conservation purposes, under the management of Sabah Forestry Department. RDC is also part of the Sepilok Arboretum, housing various living forest plants, which are a natural heritage for the state. Highlighted in this article are selected wild fruits of Sabah, giving an overview of their significance for the communities and wildlife.
Rhinoceros Hornbill feeding on figs in Danum Valley.
Figs – keystone food for wildlife
There are some 150 fig species in Borneo. Known as ‘Ara’ in Malay, they are important food source for wildlife as they produce fruits (technically not fruits but inverted flowers called syconia) throughout the year. Figs are a keystone and staple food source for orang utans, other mammals and many fruigivorous birds of the rainforests. Locally known as ‘Tangkol’ Ficus racemosa, is one of the common figs found along the Kinabatangan River that provides food to the riverine wildlife, including the freshwater fishes that feed on the fallen figs from the overhanging trees. Other common figs include Ficus microcrapa and F.
benjamina. The Sabah Forestry Department has been working with various agencies, such as Sabah Wildlife Department, Bringing Back Our Rare Animals (BORA) and 1StopBorneo, on research and conservation of figs in Sabah.
Tarap, Artocarpus odoratissimus, can be easily split open, revealing its whitish juicy pulp.
Tarap Ikal, Artocarpus anisophyllus, with its striking orange pulp.
‘Tarap’ and its associated wild species
This is among the most popular local market fruits which is much sought after by many when in season.
Scientifically known as Artocarpus odoratissimus, it is endemic to Borneo but it has been introduced to other countries in Southeast Asia. In appearance, it looks like durian but with soft, spiky hairy outer skin.
The ripe fruit can be split open easily and it is usually consumed fresh. It is known for its sweet, creamy flesh with strong aroma, like that of banana and jackfruit. The seeds can also be eaten, often boiled and roasted as snack. There are various wild species throughout Sabah, that are planted at RDC Sepilok, such as Artocarpus anisophyllus (Tarap Ikal), A. sericicarpus (Tarap Bulu) and A. limpato (Kesusu), just to name a few. All taraps are eaten by wildlife.
Wild Beluno mango, Mangifera caesia.
Wild mangoes
Mango (Mangifera indica) was originated from India and it is now one of the most commonly planted fruit trees. Sabah has its own local mango, known as ‘Bambangan’ (Mangifera pajang), and it is endemic to Borneo. Locally, it is also popular and is sold in the markets. The fruit is brown in colour while the flesh is yellow to deep orange, fibrous, and has a tangy-sweet taste with a slightly sour and resinous flavour.
Bornean endemic Bambangan, Mangifera pajang.
Bambangan has a strong and distinctive aroma, more intense than regular mangoes. It is eaten fresh, pickled or cooked in dishes. This fruit is a key part of the Sabahan cuisine and is considered a cultural heritage fruit of Borneo. Another local mango that is quite popular is ‘Beluno’ (Mangifera caesia), which is also native to Peninsular Malaysia and Sumatra. It has a sourish, fibrous white pulp, sometimes eaten as ‘sambal’ or condiments. Orang utans love wild mangoes while other animals, such as macaques, sun bears, civets, squirrels, wild boars and frugivorous birds, were sighted feeding on these fruits too.
Bornean endemic Durian Kura-kura, Durio testudinarum, at RDC, Sepilok.
Wild durians
The commercially cultivated durian (Durio zibethinus) is one of the 20 durian (Durio) species in Borneo.
Locally known as ‘Durian Puteh’ it is the main species with many cultivars, such as ‘Duri Hitam’ and ‘Musang King’ Other edible species from the forests that are now cultivated in Sabah, include Durio dulcis (Durian Tahis), D. kinabaluensis (Durian Tapuloh), D. kutejensis (Durian Luas), D. graveolens (Durian Merah / Kuning) and D. oxleyanus (Durian Sukang). The first three species are endemic to Borneo while the latter two are popular and often sold in the local markets. The lesser-known Bornean endemic D. testudinarum (Durian Kura-kura) is found at RDC Sepilok. Durians are rich in fat, sugar and nutrients, hence, nutritious for wildlife that feed on them, and in return, they help to disperse the seeds in the forests.
Wild rambutan, Nephelium cuspidatum.
Wild rambutans
While the common rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum) is native to Borneo and throughout Southeast Asia, with many clones, there are a few wild rambutans that some of us may have not encountered, such as Nephelium ramboutan-ake (Maritam/Pulasan), N. cuspidatum (Rambutan Hutan), N. maingayi (Buah Sungkit) and the rare Sabah endemic N. papillatum. Rambutans are known for their hairy skin, juicy flesh and sweet taste. Longan or ‘Mata Kucing’ of the genus Dimocarpus is closely related to the rambutan family of Sapindaceae, and it is sought after when in season.
Wild mangosteen, Garcinia sp.
Other wild fruits
There are many other wild fruits in the rainforests of Sabah. Among them are dipterocarp fruits, wild mangosteens, and others in their local names, such as kedondong, rambai, pengoloban, pelajau, kembayau and sengkuang. They are consumed by not only the local people who know these fruits but also all the other inhabitants of the forests. Borneo is the centre of diversity for wild fruits. Many species are rare and little known, and over 30% of the plant species are endemic to Borneo!
Wild fruits as food for sustainability
In view of the importance of wild fruits as a source of forest foods for mankind and wildlife, it is crucially essential that the habitats of the wild fruit trees are protected and conserved. The Chief Conservator of Forests reiterated that certain tree species (including selected wild fruit trees) are protected to conserve biodiversity and maintain ecological balance. Harvesting, felling, or otherwise exploiting these tree species within the forest reserves is strictly prohibited under the Sabah Forest Enactment 1968 and its subsidiary legislation, the Forest Rules 1969.
Researchers from Sabah Forestry Department and Universiti Malaysia Sabah posing with the grape-like fruits of Gnetum klosii (Gnetaceae) on the lower stem and branches during an expedition in Sg Rawog Conservation Area in 2018. This species is edible for wildlife but no so palatable for humans. Another Gnetum species, however, G. gnemon (Belinjau), is not only widely eaten but also being commercialised.
The Sabah Forestry Department is also working closely with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Global Environment Facility (GEF) in initiating a project on integrated landscape management for Food Systems, Land Use, and Restoration (FOLUR) in Sabah to promote sustainable land use, including in agriculture and forestry. This is in line with the 2025 theme for the International Day of Forests which focusses on food security from the forests.
Such initiative also contributes towards the United Nation Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15: Life on Land, that supports conservation of biodiversity.
