SEAMEO BIOTROP has always been cognizant of its responsibility to raise the profile of tropical biology as a vital component to help achieve sustainable development in the Southeast Asian region through research, training, and information exchange. In fiscal year 2009/2010, SEAMEO BIOTROP accomplished planned and unplanned activities having this mandate in mind and in accordance to the five Key Results Areas (KRAs) of its mother organization, the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO). These five KRAs are as follows: (1) Enhanced Program Excellence and Relevance; (2) Increased Access to Markets of SEAMEO Programs; (3) Increased Linkages with National, Regional and International Institutions; (4) Ensured Financial Viability; and (5) Enhanced Quality and Efficiency of Management.

In enhancing program excellence and relevance, SEAMEO BIOTROP conducted 41 research activities, 30 training courses, 7 workshops, 1 seminar, 1 symposium and 6 roundtable/focused group discussions/meetings. It also facilitated internship/scholarship programmes, and on-thejob
trainings for graduate and undergraduate students during the period under review. Mostly funded by the Government of Indonesia, the research activities were carried by the Centre's scientists and 23 other researchers from the same number of partner institutions. The research topics covered production and conservation, capability assessment, farming systems management, genetic improvement, and postharvest management of specific agriculture, forest, and coastal natural resources using various technologies and approaches. On the other hand, the trainings and other learning events benefitted 1.046 individuals consisting of professionals and students affiliated with national and regional government and private agencies.

The Centre published two issues of its bi-annual journal (BIOTROPIA), four issues of its quarterly newsletter (BIOTROP Courier), and 2 training course modules and a guidebook relating to pest management. SEAMEO BIOTROP scientists also published articles, technical papers/posters in nine refereed journals and in proceedings of eight international seminar/symposium/ workshops/ conference.

Since October 2009, the Centre already replaced its manual catalog system into the Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) system. This system is expected to increase the number of library visitors of the Centre around the Southeast Asian region as the BIOTROP Library Catalog becomes more accessible through the Internet. Users can now find 13,411 text books in the OPAC system.

Ensuring financial viability has always been a challenge to SEAMEO BIOTROP. To undertake its activities during the fiscal year under review, the Centre augmented the funds coming from the Government of Indonesia and the SEAMEO Educational Development Fund, with the minimal administrative costs generated from contracted services and collaborative undertakings with partner institutions.

SEAMEO BIOTROP achieved considerable gains toward enhanced quality and efficiency of management during the fiscal year under review. The Centre is proud to have acquired its new ISO accreditation (ISO 9001:2008) in June 2010 and developed a website as a knowledge center for the management of its ISO documents. The Centre also improved the operation of SIPENKI, a transaction and database system that helps unit heads and officers to assess performance of staff members under them. Amendments were made on the Centre's Enabling Instrument specifically on the procedures of appointing the Director and Deputy Directors, and the administration and use of the Centre's budget. About 15 percent of the technical and administrative staff members of the Centre attended national and international training courses and other learning activities related to their areas of responsibilities as part of their staff development. Renovations of some
Centre facilities and purchase of laboratory equipments also started during the fiscal year under review which were aimed at enhancing the corporate image and working environment in the Centre.

Through the years, despite funding limitation, SEAMEO BIOTROP has always exerted significant efforts to generate products and services relevant to the needs of its clients and partners in the region. The Centre is aware that the region will continue to face new and emerging development issues in the years to come that would inevitably affect the environment and the way natural resources must be managed. Thus, in the coming fiscal year 2010-2011, the Centre recognizes the need to be more aggressive in seizing opportunities to undertake practical improvements in its programs, operations, financial viability, and service delivery to produce greater impacts towards addressing the region's development concerns.