Kota Kinabalu: A groundbreaking conservation project in Sabah is set to showcase Malaysia’s environmental leadership across Southeast Asia after being selected as a flagship case study in the upcoming Asean Handbook on Regenerative Tourism.
The Sungai Pin Conservation Area (SPnCA) will feature prominently in the regional handbook, putting Sabah’s innovative approach to wildlife protection and sustainable tourism on the international stage.
Industry leaders say the recognition validates Sabah’s pioneering model of combining palm oil production with serious conservation efforts.
SKG Green Sdn Bhd Chief Executive Officer Philipa Wilfred Mojilis said the selection represents a major milestone for Sabah’s environmental credentials.
“This handbook will reach Asean member states and international partners. Having SPnCA featured gives Sabah a platform to demonstrate how economic development and conservation can work hand-in-hand,” she said.
The 2,632-hectare conservation area, voluntarily established by parent company Sawit Kinabalu within its plantation landscape, serves as a vital wildlife corridor for endangered species including orangutans and proboscis monkeys.
Since formalising its conservation commitment through a 2017 agreement with the Sabah Forestry Department, SKG Green has planted over half a million trees and developed a comprehensive management plan.
“Regenerative tourism means leaving places better than we found them. The SPnCA proves that working landscapes can support thriving wildlife populations when managed responsibly,” she said.
The project recently received the Partners for Conservation Award, recognising the successful collaboration between private enterprise and government conservation agencies.
She said the international exposure could attract further partnerships and investment in Sabah’s conservation-tourism sector while inspiring similar initiatives across the region.
