IUCN Green List: Pin Supu Forest Reserve first in Malaysia included

Daily Express

10-06-2025

Published on: Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Published on: Tue, Jun 10, 2025
By: Mardinah Jikur Text Size: Kugan said this partnership has brought positive outcomes, including nature-based tourism development that benefit local communities and promote sustainable forest management within the Kinabatangan area. SANDAKAN: The Pin Supu Forest Reserve in Kinabatangan has been officially recognised as the IUCN Green List and Conserved Areas, a prestigious recognition awarded by the International Union for Conservation and Nature (IUCN) for excellence in conservation and protected area management. It is the first terrestrial site in Malaysia to be included in the List.
Advertisement Sabah Chief Conservator of Forests Datuk Frederick Kugan said the certification, which was issued in May and valid for a period of five years, places Pin Supu Forest Reserve as among the world's best-managed and most effectively governed protected areas. 'More importantly, this reserve is jointly managed by the Sabah Forestry Department (SFD) in collaboration with Kopel Berhad, a community-based cooperative in Kinabatangan,' he added. He said Pin Supu is a Class VI Virgin Forest Reserve, encompassing 4,620 hectares, surrounded by five villages to assist in conservation projects. A 10-year joint forest management agreement (2016-2026) was established between the Sabah Government through the SFD and Kopel Berhad. Kugan said this partnership has brought positive outcomes, including nature-based tourism development that benefit local communities and promote sustainable forest management within the Kinabatangan area. He said the journey towards Green List certification began with the formal application in 2021. 'Over the course of four years, the site underwent a rigorous multi-phase process (application phase and candidate phase) to complete the 50 indicators required for the certification. 'This included comprehensive self-assessments, evidence submission through the Compass platform, independent expert evaluations by the expert assessment group for the Green List (EAGL) and a final review and verification by an independent reviewer,' said Kugan. The key milestone was the EAGL site visit, followed by the final reviewer verification in December 2024, he added. He reiterated that managing Pin Supu with the involvement of surrounding communities has given numerous positive impacts – environmental, social and economic benefits, including biodiversity conservation, local empowerment and income growth. 'This shows the success of joint efforts in promoting environmental sustainability. This IUCN recognition is a testament to the dedication and collaborative efforts of the Sabah Forestry Department and local community in particular Kopel Berhad,' Kugan said. Earlier in 2022, the Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area (Simca), also in Sabah, was recognised as the country's first marine IUCN Green Listed Area. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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