Dr. Mohamad Syahrul Nizam Bin Ibrahim

Dr. Mohamad Syahrul Nizam Ibrahim is a distinguished expert in nature tourism, biodiversity conservation, environmental sociology, environmental anthropology, and environmental psychology who currently serves as a Senior Lecturer at the Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS). His academic foundation is deeply rooted in the study of globally recognized protected environments, beginning with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Biodiversity Conservation and Management from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu in 2016. In 2018, he earned a Master of Environment from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), where his pivotal research evaluated the socioeconomic and environmental impacts of tourism development on community well-being within the Langkawi UNESCO Global Geopark. He further advanced his expertise by completing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biodiversity and Conservation of Natural Resources at UPM in 2024; his doctoral research centered on public awareness, biodiversity conservation, and community well-being in Gunung Mulu National Park, a prestigious UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS). Highly engaged in impactful field research at the intersection of local communities and conservation, Dr. Syahrul serves as a Principal Investigator for significant international and national grants. These include a UNESCO project evaluating sustainable ecotourism in the Kinabatangan Biosphere Reserve and a Nagao Natural Environment Foundation initiative focused on bird conservation in the Kinabalu UNESCO Global Geopark. He also collaborates on vital projects funded by the Sabah Tourism Board and the Ministry of Higher Education. Beyond his field research, he actively shapes the global academic landscape as an Associate Editor for People and Nature (British Ecological Society), a Reviewing Editor for Springer Nature, and a Managing Editor for the BIMB EAGA Sustainable Tourism Development journal. His global recognition is underscored by his status as a Laureate of the 2026 UNESCO Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Young Scientists Award and his selection as a Top 15 Finalist for the 2022 Young Scientist Network-Academy of Sciences Malaysia Chrysalis Award. Furthermore, he has driven national policy impact as an Expert Instrument Validation Panelist for the national-level study on biodiversity awareness supporting the implementation of the National Policy on Biological Diversity (NPBD) 2022–2030, while maintaining active memberships in prestigious professional bodies such as the British Ecological Society, the Euro-Asia Tourism Studies Association, the Asian Association of Environmental and Resource Economics, and the Southeast Asia Research Academy.