Kota Kinabalu: Building trust and fostering meaningful engagement with indigenous communities is crucial for the success of conservation projects in Sabah, said State Wildlife Department Director, Mohd Soffian Abu Bakar.
Speaking at World Hornbill Day 2025 at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), he underscored the importance of promoting the involvement of local folk as they hold invaluable knowledge of their natural environment, and effective at protecting local ecosystems and biodiversity.
“We are deeply grateful of the strong support of local folk whose shared knowledge and cooperation in providing assistance in field monitoring and protection have been instrumental to enhancing conservation on the ground,” he said.
He cautioned relying solely on enforcement is insufficient, as strict measures in the past have sometimes caused communities to grow distant, hesitant to share knowledge or traditional practices due to fear of legal repercussions.
“Therefore, it is essential to build understanding and cooperation with local communities. allowing for mutual exchange of information, respect for cultural practices, and cooperation in conservation,” he added
To safeguard the state’s protected and endangered wildlife, Soffian said the Department has plans to expand the Community ranger Programme (PP3) to 300 from 250 personnel, supported by a budget RM7-9 million.
Currently in its third year, he noted the NRIS-funded programme provides incentives and training to local youths to participate in conservation projects. Soffian noted community rangers play an important role in monitoring protected areas, wildlife habitats and conduct ecological studies
On the way forward for protecting Sabah’s hornbills, Soffian highlighted the Department has launched its 10-year Hornbill Conservation Action Plan which represents a unified roadmap for the future which strengthens cooperation between government agencies, NGOS, academic institutions and local communities.
“Hornbill conservation is a multidisciplinary field, encompassing ecology, habitat management, and diet studies,” he said. Soffian noted ongoing initiatives such as nest monitoring and artificial nest installation have shown encouraging results but there is room for improvement to ensure sustainable management of all eight species found in Borneo.
Furthermore, he noted the Hornbill Conservation Plan integrates ongoing conservation activities and strategies to combat wildlife trade, bolster enforcement and raise public awareness.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD), Hajjah Yatela Zainal Abidin reaffirmed Sabah remains central to YSD’s environmental commitment, with 45 percent of its nationwide RM221 million environmental investments channelled to projects in the state. These include forest restoration, species protection, education, joint research with NGos, government agencies, particularly the SWD.
“Our work in Sabah, including hornbill conservation, forms part of a broader commitment to safeguard endangered species,” said Yatela, noting that the Sabah Hornbill Conservation Action Plan will provide a unified roadmap for impactful, on-ground conservation efforts.
Yatela noted YSD’s partnership with Explore Gaia Enterprise (GAIA), which began in 2021, with an investment of nearly RM3 million including matching government grants, has achieved remarkable milestones.
These include the world’s first success of rhinoceros hornbills nesting in artificial nest boxes, safeguarding 21 natural tree cavities and installing 15 artificial nests across, Sabah, Langkawi and Perak.
“National Hornbill Day gives us the chance to highlight not only the beauty of these birds but also their critical ecological role as the farmers of our forests,” she said.
In his speech, UMS Vice Chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Kasim Hj Mansor congratulated 15 students from the University’s Faculty of Forestry who were chosen as Hornbill Ambassador representatives.
“The Hornbill Ambassador Programme shows that conservation is not solely the duty of institutions, but it is a shared moral and civic responsibility,” he said. The text of his speech was delivered by Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research and Innovation) Professor Dr Rosalam Haji Sarbatly.
