The Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation was set up in July 1994 as one of the founding institutions within UNIMAS with the purpose of promoting research in two niche areas-tropical biodiversity and environmental conservation.Its teaching and research programmes are structured at the masters,doctoral and postdoctoral levels.Research and teaching programmes in IBEC have been established upon the following two concepts:

1.The acquisition of knowledge concerning the significance and modes of subtainable development of natural resources is of paramount importance to Malaysia's future development.Developmentinitiatives will be self-defeating and socially destructive unless the structure,funtions and diversity of the nations'natural system are understood and judiciously protected.

2.Malaysia to forge ahead as a developed nation,the country's industries must seek to manage sustainable resource,because biodiversity and environmental conservation provide greater options and significant opportunities for diversificaion of industrial activities and economic development.