MalaysiaGIS.com

Source: The New Straits Times (page 8)

"It was Malaysia's long standing reputation in tropical forest management that first drew my attention to this country," said Cabral. "Malaysia has been ranked No.1 for 15 years by the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO).

"As I come from a tropical country, I wanted to learn about tropical forest management using the technology pioneered by Kamaruzaman," he added.

"Cabral was brave to come all the way here to see how we manage our forests even though he hardly knew anything about Malaysia," said Kamaruzaman, of the lecturer in forestry management with the University of Amazonas in Manaus, Brazil, who arrived in Malaysia with a scholarship from the Brazillian Government to pursue a doctorate under Kamaruzaman's supervision.

Listed in the World's Who's Who in Environment and Conservation, Kamaruzaman has supervised postgraduate students from France, Sweden, Iran, Brazil, Egypt, Indonesia and Cambodia.

"Reputation spreads through word of mouth," said Kelantan-born Kamaruzaman who obtained his bachelor's from UPM, his master's from the University of New Brunswick and his doctorate from Cranfield University in Britain, "but it is built through publication of research findings in international journals and presenting papers at international forums."

A former deputy dean of the Faculty of Forestry, Kamaruzaman is the head of the newly-established Centre for Precision Agriculture and Bioresource and Remote Sensing. He has published about 100 research and technical papers and was awarded a professorship in January this year at the age 40, the youngest professor in UPM. As the country's foremost forest survey engineer, he played a leading role in pioneering the use of applied remote sensing and GIS in sustainable forest management.

Cabral's doctoral thesis was on a GIS-based support system for a tactical dipterocarp timber harvesting plan. He developed the MERANTI software to be used by logging companies to identify terrain that would help minimise environmental degradation during the harvesting of timber.

"I did my fieldwork in the jungle of Gua Musang in Kelantan where I collected data on inventory, terrain, soil and accessibility," said Cabral. "GIS is an emerging technology and has not been explored in Brazil. Now that I have gained expertise here, I will be able to apply the technology in timber harvesting when I return to Brazil."

The Brazillian, who is due to return to his country in December, has published two papers and presented a paper at an international forestry management conference in Brazil. "The paper I presented at a conference in Brazil was very well received," he said.

Kamaruzaman believes the Forestry Faculty of UPM, the only one in the country, can play a role in making Malaysia a centre of educational excellence.

"A professor should not only teach and conduct research but also be pro-active to make Malaysia recognised; it is part and parcel of professorship," he said. "When you present a paper at an international forum, you're indirectly marketing Malaysia. The benefit at the international is that we can offer our expertise to a global audience in a specialized field because now we are better known."

In addition, the international standings brings in much needed research funds which could be channelled to students to conduct the kind of research which forms the bulk of postgraduate studies.

"Funding draws foreign postgraduates here because we provide a stipend for research assistantship," said Kamaruzaman. "There was a time when Malaysian students used to go to countries such as the United States because of such financial assistance. Now, foreign students come to us. During my trips overseas, I take every opportunity to inform my foreign counterparts that we have such funding. Sometimes funds include provisions for student exchange."

As a captain with the territorial army, Kamaruzaman describes himself as a strict disciplinarian who expects work worthy of publications in international journals. "I want them to be of world standard and can compete internationally," he said.

Bu the warmth of his relationship with students under his supervision belies the stern persona. "Kamaruzaman is now a very good friend of mine," attested Cabral.