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Alexander K Sayok

Name Alexander K Sayok
University Universiti Malaysia Sarawak
Country Malaysia
Position Editorial board member

Biography

Alexander K Sayok, a graduate in forestry (BS Forest management (1984) Louisiana State University, MS Watershed Management (1986)  and Doctorate in Forest Hydrology and Soil Science (1991) Stephen F Austin State University, Texas).

Lecturing in Forestry at PNG University of Technology, Lae from 1992 to 1996 on subjects related to forest and agriculture production, management and conservation

Environmental Specialist at KTA Sdn Bhd (Consulting Engineers) from 1996 to 2002 ensuring all development projects especially on land development not just meeting state and national laws and regulation but must be environmental friendly

National Expert for the peat swamp forest project funded by United Nations Development Programme from 2002 to 2008.  Main purpose is to understand more on the properties of peat swamp for sustainable use and integrated management

Research Fellow/Associate Professor at Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak since September 2008 lecturing and doing researches as well as consultancies on biodiversity and environmental conservation and enhancement

He had worked with communities while lecturing in Papua New Guinea and communities in Tinjar-Baram area, Sarawak when he served  with UNDP. He continues to work with the communities while serving in UNIMAS. In UNIMAS, he lectures and undertake researches on plants and the environment including Water Resources Engineering. He also had led a project related to dissolved organic carbon in peat land areas in Selangor. Presently he is documenting resources in five  community forests including plants in Sarawak towards effort for conservation and sustainable use, and traditional knowledge on food plants diet and health relationship of Bau District community, as well as active ingredients in selected medicinal plants in Singai Area, Kuching.

Had also been engaged in several hydrology-related consultancies since joining UNIMAS. Among them are as follows:

  • In 2009, he was involved as a forester for the feasibility studies on the proposed Baram Dam by SEB.
  • In 2010, he led the team for Environment Sensitivity Index of the coastline of Sarawak and Western Sabah commissioned by Petronas and other oil companies.
  • During September to December 2012, he was engaged as Peat Swamp Expert cum Team Leader for the midterm review on ASEAN Peatland Forest Project funded by the UNDP via International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) based in Rome, Italy. 
  • In 2015, he led two water/flood-related consulting projects entitled “Rapid assessment of floods in peat swamp areas of Rajang delta” under Wetlands International and “Ecosystem-based adaptations to sea level rises in Sarawak River basin” under NAHRIM. 
  • In 2016, he led the team in drafting the Batang Ai Reservoir Management Plan commissioned by MNRE through NAHRIM.  In 2017, he was engaged as the desktop evaluator for Agusan Marsh Mindanao, The Philippines, for nomination as the World Heritage Site.
  • In 2018, he was assigned as hydrologist for the Taman Perpaduan di Taman Budaya (aka Reservoir Park) Kuching renovation under DBKU through EMS Progress Sdn Bhd.

He is a committee member for the Lakes and Reservoirs Malaysia,  Academic Research on Oil Palm Sustainability (ARPOS), and a member of the Malaysian Palm Oil Certification Council Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC). He is a regular editor/reviewer of articles sent to Journal of Geography and Regional Planning, and reviewed some articles for Journal of Land Use as well as Journal of Environmental management