21% of Sabah forests protected

Various eco-tourism attractions within HoB are planned to maintain the green forests as well as provide for the local community.

SANDAKAN: Sabah has doubled its 'Totally Protected Areas' from 800,000ha to 1.55 million hectares which is about 21% of the state, since the inception of the Heart of Borneo (HoB) initiative in 2007.

Sabah deputy state secretary Datuk Joseph Guntavid said the areas include the classification of new Class One Protection Forest Reserves, totalling some 137,000ha in the HoB linking key conservation areas such as the Danum Valley, Imbak Canyon and Maliau Basin.