61
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature
Switzerland AG 2021
M. T. Abdullah et al. (eds.), Resource Use and Sustainability of Orang Asli,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64961-6_5
Sustainable Utilisation of Forest Plant
Resources by the Bateq and Semoq Beri
Sub-Tribes in Kelantan and Terengganu
States of Peninsular Malaysia
Jamilah Mohd Salim, Suzairi Zakaria, Muhamad Razali Salam,
and Mohd Tajuddin Abdullah
Abstract The Central Forest Spine (CFS) complex in Peninsular Malaysia supports two indigenous sub-tribes — the Semoq Beri and Bateq. Opportunistic ethnobotanical fieldwork and observation were conducted to document the utilisation of
forest plant resources by these two tribes. More than 30 species of plants, which are
used as food, ornament, herbs, alternative water source and craft, were documented.
The grooming practice using plant parts is unique to the Bateq and Semoq Beri subtribes. Plant tubers (ubi in Malay) should be examined further for food security and
conservation purposes. The consumption practices by the Orang Asli in the tropical
rain forest of Kelantan and Terengganu for their livelihood are ecologically
sustainable.
Keywords Orang Asli · Tropical rain forest · Ethnobotany · Sustainable livelihood
· Ecological knowledge
J. Mohd Salim, PhD (*)
Institute of Tropical Biodiversity and Sustainable Development (Bio-D Tropika),
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
e-mail: jamilah@umt.edu.my
S. Zakaria
Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu,
Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
M. R. Salam
Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT),
Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
M. T. Abdullah
Institute of Tropical Biodiversity and Sustainable Development, Universiti Malaysia
Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature
Switzerland AG 2021
M. T. Abdullah et al. (eds.), Resource Use and Sustainability of Orang Asli,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64961-6_5
Sustainable Utilisation of Forest Plant
Resources by the Bateq and Semoq Beri
Sub-Tribes in Kelantan and Terengganu
States of Peninsular Malaysia
Jamilah Mohd Salim, Suzairi Zakaria, Muhamad Razali Salam,
and Mohd Tajuddin Abdullah
Abstract The Central Forest Spine (CFS) complex in Peninsular Malaysia supports two indigenous sub-tribes — the Semoq Beri and Bateq. Opportunistic ethnobotanical fieldwork and observation were conducted to document the utilisation of
forest plant resources by these two tribes. More than 30 species of plants, which are
used as food, ornament, herbs, alternative water source and craft, were documented.
The grooming practice using plant parts is unique to the Bateq and Semoq Beri subtribes. Plant tubers (ubi in Malay) should be examined further for food security and
conservation purposes. The consumption practices by the Orang Asli in the tropical
rain forest of Kelantan and Terengganu for their livelihood are ecologically
sustainable.
Keywords Orang Asli · Tropical rain forest · Ethnobotany · Sustainable livelihood
· Ecological knowledge
J. Mohd Salim, PhD (*)
Institute of Tropical Biodiversity and Sustainable Development (Bio-D Tropika),
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
e-mail: jamilah@umt.edu.my
S. Zakaria
Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu,
Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
M. R. Salam
Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT),
Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
M. T. Abdullah
Institute of Tropical Biodiversity and Sustainable Development, Universiti Malaysia
Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia