VISION

To be world-class centre for tropical forest studies

MISSION

Undertake research & education in tropical rain forests

1.0 INTRODUCTION

The Kuala Belalong Field Studies Centre (KBFSC) was set up by Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) deep in the country's unspoiled jungle as an international focus for research into the threatened rainforests of Borneo. It is also a teaching and training resource for schools, institutes of higher education in Brunei Darussalam and overseas, and government personnel working on the environment. It is not an area for ecotourism or a recreation site. People who are allowed to visit the Centre are:

• Research scientists with approved short or long term projects/programmes.
• Students who follow one of the educational programmes run by the Centre.
• Students with approved study proposals.
• Approved research assistants.
• Government officers with approved environmental programmes.
• Government officers and others involved with the future development of the Centre.

1.1 HISTORY

The KBFSC was setup in late 1990 when it established its credentials through a joint UBD-Royal Geographical Society expedition. It served as the base camp for scientists from eight countries, carrying out projects designed to gather background data on the surrounding areas for the development of the Centre as important research facility. A vast range of projects were carried out including study on soils, hydrology, zoology, botany and ecology, and the results were incorporated into a Geographical Information System. Research activities continued after the expedition and the current research focus is on updating environmental databases, Climate Change and Biodiversity Studies, Alternative Energy, Bio-prospecting and Natural Products. Some of these research projects are conducted under the auspices of Center for Tropical Forest Science-Arnold Arboretum, Harvard University, UBD-IBM Centre and UBD funded research initiatives.

KBFSC in 1990s	KBFSC in 2000s

1.2 FACILITIES

Six wooden buildings linked by covered walkways have been built at the river's edge. These comprise four accommodation blocks for up to 46 visitors, a laboratory, a dining hall and kitchen. There is a filtered water supply, electricity from diesel generator and a sewerage system. The Centre has a canopy access system provided by portable scaffolding and climbing gear, environmental monitoring programs, research plots and a Geographical Information Sytem (GIS).

Dining	Lesong
Retak	Tudal

1.3 LOCATION & SURROUNDING

The KBFSC is located in the Temburong District of Brunei Darussalam in the Ulu Temburong National Park. It lies on the west bank of the Belalong River nestling in the 'V' of a steep-sided, heavily forested valley about five kilometres upstream from the roadhead at Batang Duri. The Centre is surrounded by lowland and ridge Dipterocarp forest with small areas of riverine and heath forest which have never been logged. The terrain is difficult to work in, characterised by steep-sided valleys and sharp ridges. Hunting has been minimal in the area which supports substantial populations of large mammals including Borneon gibbons, langurs, macaques, civets and sun bears. The Centre is 50 metres above sea level but the highest point within the National Park is Gunong Pagon (1850 metres). The upper reaches of the peak support montane forest but there are some montane plant species closer to the Centre on the upper slopes of Bukit Belalong (995 metres).