N (Baiah) Binti Mat Yaacob, MSc

Baiah is a Young Academic Staff member at the Department of Forest Management and Biodiversity, Faculty of Forestry and Environment, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). She is currently pursuing her PhD in Forest and Nature Conservation Policy at Wageningen University & Research (WUR), focusing on the role of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) in the involvement of Indigenous communities in forest management in Peninsular Malaysia.

Born and raised in a small village in Pahang, Baiah now resides in Kuala Lumpur for her academic and professional pursuits. She holds a Master’s degree in Forest Management and Ecosystem Sciences, a Bachelor’s in Wood Technology, and a Diploma in Forestry — all from UPM. Before starting her PhD, she worked with several organizations including the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) and the Pahang State Park Corporation, where she was involved in projects related to traditional knowledge, conservation, and community-based forest engagement.

A significant part of her professional experience was being part of the Traditional Knowledge Research Team at FRIM, where she contributed to documenting medicinal plant knowledge among Malay and Indigenous communities. This work received national recognition, including the FRIM Best Research Award (2022) and a Malaysia Book of Records certificate for interviewing the most Malay traditional medicine practitioners.

Her academic and professional journey reflects a strong interest in bridging scientific research with local and traditional perspectives, in support of more inclusive and culturally grounded forest policy.