KOTA KINABALU : – Sabah must strengthen itself as a trailblazer in conservation, transforming its forests and biodiversity into vibrant hubs for research, education, and sustainable tourism, said Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.
He said Sabah is at the forefront of conservation in Malaysia, having achieved over 30 per cent or 2.227 million hectares of its land as Totally Protected Areas(TPAs), surpassing the international 17 per cent target.
Joniston also noted that Sabah was the first State in Malaysia to adopt the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards for sudtainable forests management.
“International tourists has become more discerning when choosing a place to visit, and our focus on flora and fauna conservation places Sabah in a strong position to elevate its status as a premium destinations that combine protection with purpose.
“It also allows Sabah to leverage these protected assets in a positive way, particularly by promoting niche, high-value tourism experiences within conservation areas,” he said, adding that Maliau Basin, often referred to as the Lost World of Borneo, holds tremendous potential.
Joniston, who is also chairman of the Sabah Tourism Board, made these remarks during the signing ceremony of two strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at advancing conservation, research, and community involvement initiatives.
The first MoU formalises the continuation of a long-standing collaboration between Yayasan Sabah Group (YSG) and Preferred by Nature (PnB) which began in 1999.
Over the years, this partnership has evolved from technical advisory support into structured conservation management and on-the-ground restoration efforts.
The second MoU, signed between YSG and the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) Sabah Branch will establish an Avian Centre of Excellence at the Maliau Basin Conservation Area.
This initiative aims to strengthen bird research, monitoring, and conservation, while nurturing local expertise in these critical areas.
The Avian Centre will digitally document Sabah’s bird species, enabling scientists nationwide and globally to study and learn from them, while supporting community engagement and educational programs.
Signing the MoUs on behalf of YSG was its Director Datuk Sri Ghulam Haidar Khan Bahadar, while PbN was represented by its Executive Director Peter Feilberg and MNS by its President Anna Wong.
“Birding tourism, in particular, is a high-value, low-impact activity that promotes growth without harming our natural heritage.
“Engaging local communities ensures they benefit from jobs, training, and knowledge-sharing,” Joniston added.
He also noted that these partnerships strengthen Sabah’s credibility and governance, making it easier to access national and international funding for conservation, climate action, and biodiversity initiatives.
