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RANAU: The new Kinabalu Park World Heritage Site Management Plan was launched on Saturday, setting a fresh long-term framework to safeguard conservation, community welfare and visitor management at the site, Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said.

Speaking at the park’s Silver Jubilee celebration of its World Heritage Site status, Jafry said the newly launched plan would serve as the park’s long-term strategic guide, strengthening protection while responding to emerging challenges such as climate change, visitor pressure, and disaster risk.

He said the plan reflects a forward-looking approach to conservation, grounded in clear policy direction, sound science and integrity in governance, while placing equal importance on safeguarding nature and empowering those who protect it.

“This plan is not symbolic but practical, focusing on climate adaptation, visitor capacity control, disaster risk management and the wellbeing and institutional role of local communities,” he said.

Jafry said the theme of the Silver Jubilee, "Celebrating the Treasure, Empowering its Guardians", underscored that conservation is a dynamic and continuous process involving policymakers, enforcement agencies, communities and future generations.

He noted that Kinabalu Park’s ability to retain its World Heritage status for 25 years was built on layered governance, from compliance with the Unesco World Heritage Convention to alignment with national biodiversity and climate policies and Sabah’s own conservation laws.

“The strength of Kinabalu Park lies in the way modern management works hand in hand with local wisdom, customs and the spiritual significance of Mount Kinabalu,” he said, citing the roles of mountain guides, porters, honorary rangers and traditional custodians.

Jafry said the park’s management model, which balances strict protection in core World Heritage zones with sustainable community development in its geopark buffer areas, has positioned Kinabalu Park as a global reference for sites with dual international status.