Kota Kinabalu: The Sungai Pin Conservation Area (SPnCA) is poised for international recognition as it becomes one of the highlighted case studies in the upcoming Asean Handbook on Regenerative Tourism — a milestone experts say could elevate Sabah’s conservation-driven tourism model across the region.
SKG Green Sdn Bhd Chief Executive Officer Philipa Datuk Wilfred Mojilis said SPnCA’s inclusion reflects growing acknowledgement of Sabah’s success in integrating biodiversity conservation with responsible tourism within an active production landscape.
Advertisement
She said SPnCA’s selection followed visits from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s Uni-Technologies Sdn Bhd, the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (Motac), and earlier, the Sabah Forestry Department.
“This handbook will be circulated across Asean member states and international partners. To have SPnCA showcased in it is more than recognition — it is an opportunity for Sabah to share its conservation story with a global audience,” she said.
Mojilis said SPnCA had evolved into a flagship site for restoration, research and community-based tourism, proving that palm oil landscapes can coexist with meaningful environmental protection.
“Regenerative tourism isn’t just about attracting visitors. It’s about leaving places better than we found them. SPnCA is living proof that production areas can still host thriving biodiversity when managed responsibly,” she said.
She added that Sawit Kinabalu, the parent company of SKG Green, has long prioritised balancing economic growth with the safeguarding of natural assets.
In an address to Sabah’s Chief Conservator of Forests Datuk Frederick Kugan, Mojilis highlighted the long-standing partnership between Sawit Kinabalu and the Sabah
Forestry Department, formalised through a 2017 Memorandum of Understanding.
The MoU led to the establishment of the 2,632-hectare SPnCA — voluntarily designated by Sawit Kinabalu as a conservation zone within its plantation landscape.
“SPnCA is more than a forest. It is a vital wildlife corridor — a green bridge for species such as orangutans and proboscis monkeys. Our collaboration is built on shared responsibility, guided by science and reinforced by trust,” she said.
Since then, SKG Green has planted over half a million trees and developed a formal management plan with technical support from the Forestry Department.
“Their expertise has been invaluable in ensuring our programmes align with Sabah’s conservation priorities. The Partners for Conservation Award we received earlier this year recognises our shared success,” she added.
Mojilis hoped that the recent field visit would further deepen collaboration and open new opportunities for joint initiatives.
“As we work to position SPnCA as a regional model for regenerative tourism, collaboration remains our greatest strength,” she said.
