Sabah's first bird hide workshop charts path towards safer and sustainable bird tourism
SANDAKAN (Aug 7): The Sabah Forestry Department (SFD) successfully convened the Workshop on Developing Bird Hide Guidelines in Sabah on August 6–7 at the Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC), Sepilok.
With the theme 'Responsible Birding, Sustainable Tourism', the workshop addressed the rapid growth of bird hides across Sabah and the need for a clear, sustainable approach that balances ecotourism, safety, and forest protection.
The event brought together over 50 participants from across Sabah, including District Forest Officers, bird hide operators, birdwatchers, tour guides, and ecotourism stakeholders.
Through presentations, group discussions, and field observations, participants exchanged ideas on improving bird hide operations while safeguarding forest ecosystems and ensuring visitor safety.
A key outcome of the workshop was the proposed classification system for bird hides, aimed at providing a clear and practical guide for identifying levels of development, safety, and visitor readiness. This proposed system could also inform appropriate contributions or fees for hides operating within forest reserves, and forms a potential basis for revenue-sharing models that participants discussed — models designed to support forest conservation, infrastructure upgrades, and local community engagement.
The workshop was officially closed by the Chief Conservator of Forests, Datuk Frederick Kugan, who emphasised that the development of bird hides must not come at the expense of safety, forest protection, or long-term sustainability.
He stressed the importance of establishing operating standards, safety guidelines, and regulatory mechanisms aligned with SFD's conservation goals, particularly as bird tourism expands into more forest reserves.
He also encouraged the formation of a working group to consolidate the input gathered during the workshop into draft guidelines, and to begin piloting the proposed classification system and revenue models in selected forest reserves.
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