Kota Kinabalu: SKG Green Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Sabah-owned Sawit Kinabalu Group, has strengthened its conservation and operational capacity by training and certifying its own tree climbers.
The company now has four certified climbers, including one ranger who has attained advanced Level 2 certification, a first for SKG Green, which previously relied on external specialists for tree-based work.
Advertisement
SKG Green Senior Manager (Conservation and Biodiversity) Charis Saliun, said the move would improve operational efficiency while significantly reducing costs.
“Previously, we had to engage external climbers for all activities that required tree access, costing between RM10,000 and RM20,000 annually. Our maintenance schedules were also often affected by their availability,” he said.
He explained that only certified climbers are permitted to carry out tasks such as maintaining three overhead canopy bridges for wildlife crossings, servicing eight aerial habitat nodes, installing and removing camera traps, collecting seeds, and pruning trees within the 2,632-hectare Sungai Pin Conservation Area.
“With our own trained climbers, work can now be carried out on schedule. We are also able to install more camera traps higher up in trees instead of mainly on the ground, which improves the quality of wildlife monitoring,” he said.
Charis said one ranger has completed Level 2 certification, while the remaining three are currently certified at Level 1, with plans already in place to upgrade their qualifications.
“Certified tree climbers are still limited in Sabah, so this capability is important for us. We intend to continue training our rangers and enhancing their certification levels,” he said.
Beyond operational requirements, SKG Green is also exploring opportunities to diversify its eco-tourism offerings by introducing guided tree-climbing activities for visitors.
“We are assessing suitable trees near our facilities, including around the Canopy View Café, where a platform about 20 metres high is being considered. With certified climbers, we can ensure safety and compliance,” he said.
The training was conducted by veteran tree-climbing instructor Jamiluddin Jami, who has 23 years of experience.
Charis added that the company also sees potential to offer professional tree-climbing services to other organisations in the future.
“This skill set could eventually open up a new business segment for us, particularly as competent tree climbers remain scarce in Sabah,” he said.
.jpg)
