Coconut Ecomuseum: Coconut research activities in Malaysia

©R. Bourdeix, 2022, section DPP-Malaysia Documentation par pays

Dr R. Bourdeix visited Malaysia first time in 2001, and then in 2012 and 2017.

In 2001, he has contributed to the preparation of three guides to the description of coconut tree varieties. The first two are projects at the global level, where he acts as an editor, together with Pons Batugal, coordinator of the COGENT network:

1. The Catalog of Coconut Germplasm conserved in Collection (Catalogue of Coconut conserved Germplasm, by R. Bourdeix and P. Batugal editors). This first catalog will include the description in English of about 200 varieties or traditional populations of coconut kept in the collections of more than 15 countries.
2. The Catalog of coconut varieties identified among farmers (Catalogue of coconut farmer’s varieties by P. Batugal and R. Bourdeix editors). These are new or less well-known varieties, identified during participatory-type surveys carried out among farmers. This second catalog was supposed to include the description of approximately 100 types, but is publication was cancelled due to lack of reliable data.

This mission consisted in initiating the complex mechanisms governing the publication of these collections of variety sheets, which will include more than 2000 color photographs and will integrate the participation of some thirty authors from more than 15 countries.

Dr Bourdeix also visited Malaysia in 2012 and 2017 (to be continued).