Associate Professor Dr Rahayu Sukmaria Sukri

Dr Rahayu Sukri is a Associate Professor in Plant Ecology with the Institute for Biodiversity and Environmental Research (IBER), Universiti Brunei Darussalam. She received her PhD in 2010 from the University of Aberdeen, and specializes in tropical forest ecology. Her current research focuses on tropical plant diversity and conservation, the impact of invasive Acacias on natural ecosystems in Brunei as well as heath and peat swamp forest ecology and rehabilitation. She has successfully secured both local and external research grants as the Principal Investigator for these projects. Dr Rahayu was a visiting research scholar to the New York Botanical Garden, the Peabody Museum at Yale University, Old Dominion University and Princeton University in 2012. She is currently the Brunei Country Coordinator for the ASEAN-Korea Environmental Cooperation Project (AKECOP) and the Brunei Darussalam National Project Coordinator for the ASEAN-India ASEAN-India Project on Enhancing Climate Change Adaptation in Southeast Asia (Phase 1).

EDUCATION

B.Sc. Education (Universiti Brunei Darussalam, 2002 – First class honours)
M.Sc. Ecology (University of Aberdeen, 2004)
PhD in Plant Science (University of Aberdeen, 2010)

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Tropical forest ecology and conservation
Tropical plant diversity and community ecology
The ecological effects and impact of invasive Acacias in Brunei Darussalam
Peat swamp and heath forest ecology, conservation and rehabilitation

TOP PUBLICATIONS

1) R.S. Sukri*, R.A. Wahab, A.S. Kamariah & Burslem, D.F.R.P. (2012). Habitat Associations and Community Structure of Dipterocarps in response to Environment and Soil Conditions in Brunei Darussalam, Northwest Borneo. Biotropica. 44(5). 595-605.

2) Dancak, M. Hrones, M., Sochor, M. Kobrlova, L. Hedl, R., Hrazsky, Z., Vildomcova, A., R.S. Sukri* and Metali, F. (2013). A new species of Thismia (Thismiaceae) from Brunei Darussalam, Borneo. Phytotaxa. 125(1). 33-39.

3) H Din, F Metali & R.S. Sukri* (2015). Tree Diversity and Community Composition of the Tutong White Sands, Brunei Darussalam: A Rare Tropical Heath Forest Ecosystem. International Journal of Ecology. doi:10.1155/2015/807876

4) Sukri RS*, Grafe U, Slik F, Tennakoon K, Metali F, Pagad S, Wong L J (2017). Global Register of Introduced and Invasive Species- Brunei-Darussalam. Invasive Species Specialist Group ISSG. Checklist Dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/ljnym4

5) S ProcheÅŸ, RS Sukri*, SM Jaafar, EJJ Sieben, NH Zaini, N Abas, SN Suhaini, NMJ Manjul, MAH Julaihi, DJ Marshall, JWF Slik, D Moodley (2019). Soil niche of rain forest plant lineages: Implications for dominance on a global scale. Journal of Biogeography. https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.13656.

GRANT DETAILS

• “Rehabilitation and management of degraded heath and peat swamp forests in Brunei Darussalam”. BND 3,490.00. (1 February 2018 to 31 January 2019). Principal Investigator [Universiti Brunei Darussalam FICBF grant, UBD/RSCH/1.13/FICBF(b)/2018/003]
• “IBER Tropical Forest Dynamics Plot Network”. BND 9,240.00. (1 February 2018 to 31 January 2019). Principal Investigator [Universiti Brunei Darussalam FICBF grant, UBD/RSCH/1.4/FICBF(b)/2018/004]
• “Impact of exotic Acacia on soil properties and nutrient cycling processes in three contrasting forest types in Brunei Darussalam”. BND 18,325.00. (1 April 2018 to 30 September 2019). Principal Investigator [Universiti Brunei Darussalam FICBF grant, UBD/RSCH/1.4/FICBF(b)/2018/005]
• “Effects of nutrient cycling on peat swamp forest productivity”. BND 74,600.00 (2018), BND 89,520 (2019) – Principal Investigator [external grant awarded by the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology (SMART), UBD/RSCH/1.21.3[a]/2018/004]
• “Research on monitoring and quantification of spatial-temporal changes in carbon stocks according to forest types of Brunei Darussalam”. BND 50,000.00 (2018-2020) – Principal Investigator [external grant awarded by the Korea Forest Service research grant, UBD/RSCH/1.21.3[a]/2018/005]
• “A multifaceted investigation of the spread of exotic Acacia species into native habitats within Brunei Darussalam: understanding the causes of, and management strategies for, these invasive species”. BND 2,907,600.00 (2015-2017) – Principal Investigator [grant awarded by Brunei Research Council – UBD/BRC/11].
• “Assessment of potential native tree and shrub species to rehabilitate degraded heath (kerangas and kerapah) forest and peat swamp forests in Brunei Darussalam”. USD 10,000.00 (2015-2016) – Principal Investigator [grant awarded by ASEAN-Korea Environmental Cooperation Project, AKECOP – UBD/AVC-RI/AKECOP/01].
• “Enhancing local level climate change adaptation in Southeast Asia (Phase 1)” USD 7,000.00 (2015 – 2016). Principal Investigator [grant awarded by ASEAN-India Green Fund – UBD/AVC-RI/ASEAN-India/01].
• “A preliminary investigation on the use of native tree species to rehabilitate degraded peat swamp forests in Brunei Darussalam”. USD 10,000.00 (2014-2015) – Principal Investigator [grant awarded by ASEAN-Korea Environmental Cooperation Project, AKECOP – UBD/AVC-RI/AKECOP/01].
• “Ecological consequences of Acacia invasion into Brunei Darussalam and the strategies that can be adopted to minimise further damage to natural and agricultural habitats in the Sultanate”. BND 50,000.00 (2011 to 2016) – Principal Investigator [grant awarded by Universiti Brunei Darussalam – UBD/PNC2/2/RG/1(204)]
• “The development of databases for the Institute for Biodiversity and Environmental Research (IBER)”. BND 15,600.00 (2014-2016) – Co-investigator [grant awarded by Universiti Brunei Darussalam – UBD/PNC2/2/RG/1(288)]
• "Plant conservation in human influenced landscapes of Brunei Darussalam". BND 95,200.00 (2017 to 2019) - Co-investigator [grant awarded by Universiti Brunei Darussalam - UBD/OAVCRI/CRGWG(008)/170401]

CONSULTANCY

• Biodiversity expert for flora survey for “Rasau 3D Seismic Survey Baseline Collection and Integrated Impact Assessment” – consultancy for Wetlands International Malaysia and Environmental Resources Management (M) Sdn Bhd. (May to August 2013).
• Biodiversity expert for flora survey for “Biodiversity Action Plan and Peat Fire Prevention Project in Lower Belait District” – consultancy for Wetlands International Malaysia (May to October 2013).

Industry, Institute, or Organisation Collaboration

• Research collaborations with the University of Aberdeen, University of Leeds, King’s College London, University of Bristol, Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Global Change Research Institute, Czech Academy of Sciences, Palacky University, Mendel University in Brno, Leiden University, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, University of Kwazulu-Natal in South Africa, Princeton University, Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, National University of Singapore, NTU, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Prince of Songkla University in Thailand, Korea University, Seoul National University, Ehime University Japan, Federation University in Australia, Stanford University, University of Potsdam, Natural History Museum of Bern Switzerland, Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research Germany, Swinburne University of Technology, University of Bremen, University of the Sunshine Coast
• Visiting research scholar to the New York Botanical Garden, the Peabody Museum at Yale University, Old Dominion University and Princeton University in 2012

INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE

• Brunei Country Coordinator for the ASEAN-Korea Environmental Cooperation Project (AKECOP) – 2014 and ongoing.
• Brunei Darussalam National Project Coordinator for the ASEAN-India ASEAN-India Project on Enhancing Climate Change Adaptation in Southeast Asia (Phase 1) – 2015 and ongoing.
• Brunei Country Representative, Association of Tropical Biology and Conservation Asia-Pacific Chapter (July 2014 to June 2017)
• UBD representative, BSJV Biodiversity Action Plan Advisory Committee - 2014 and ongoing
• IUCN SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group (Country Editor for Brunei Darussalam Country Inventory)