Sabah Environmental Trust chief executive Rahimatsah Amat said the Danum Valley-Maliau Basin-Imbak Canyon (Damai) rainforest complex, which contains one of the last intact primary forest and wildlife habitats on the continent, deserved a world-class status.
“The main aim is to have at least two more of our country’s national parks recognised as Unesco World Heritage Sites (WHS). With that, it is appropriate to continue pursuing the nomination of the Damai rainforest complex as the second WHS for Sabah.”
He said the nomination dossier was completed in 2013, but in June 2017, the state Cabinet decided to put it on hold.
“Other than the three conservation areas (Danum Valley, Maliau Basin and Imbak Canyon) within the complex, two of these conservation areas are also designated as important bird areas (Danum and Maliau Basin),” he added.
Kinabalu Park, which contains Mount Kinabalu, was the first Unesco WHS in Sabah and Malaysia.
Rahimatsah said Pakatan Harapan had included in its election manifesto the pledge to balance economic growth with environmental protection.
At state level, he said, Parti Warisan Sabah had put forth a pledge to protect, conserve and optimise the natural environment, including protecting natural resources from encroachment.
On the international platform, meanwhile, Malaysia is committed to achieving the Aichi Target of the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) and the United Nations’ sustainable development goals (SDGs) to manage its biological diversity, he added.
“At the regional level, there are two commitments that we are part of: the Heart of Borneo Initiative (HoB) and Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI).
“With the concept of New Malaysia under the new state government, there are several initiatives that may be pursued to manage natural resources and strengthen biodiversity conservation,” Rahimatsah said.
He said altogether, there were five green initiatives that needed serious attention, including achieving Unesco recognition. He said a specific ministry should be set up to manage these matters.
“All these initiatives need serious commitment from the state to ensure that appropriate attention is given to having the right resources (manpower and finance) to manage our natural resources and biodiversity.
“With that, it is appropriate to consider the prospect of having good governance for natural resources management through an environment and natural resources ministry at state level, where several agencies may be placed directly under this ministry.”
He said such agencies included the Sabah Forestry Department, Sabah Parks, Sabah Wildlife Department and the Lands and Surveys Department.
Rahimatsah said the second initiative involved safeguarding marine resources.
“The Sabah Blue Ocean Initiative is the next big thing for biodiversity conservation in pursuant to SDGs. Chaired by Pang Yuk Ming, the former tourism, culture and environment assistant minister, the document has been completed and is pending submission to the state cabinet for endorsement.
“Third, at least 10% of coastal and marine areas are conserved through effectively and equitably managed ecological representatives and well-connected systems of protected areas,” he said.
According to Rahimatsah, Sabah currently has some 1.02 million ha of marine protected areas (MPAs) or about 7.36% of its sovereign waters. A total area of 7.44% or 1.03 million ha has been identified to be considered for protection.
The fourth initiative concerns the protection and management of water catchments in the state, while the fifth has to do with the protection of biodiversity, especially species which face threats from poaching and wildlife trade.
Rahimatsah said over the years, incidents of wildlife poaching in protected areas, forest reserves and marine waters had been on the rise, with several major reports on the killing of elephants, tembadau (wild cattle) and other mammals.
He said these activities must be immediately stopped, and he called for a review of plans to address wildlife habitats and corridors.
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