KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is gazetting another 216,000ha of new area, including commercial forest reserves and state land, to further expand its Totally Protected Areas (TPA).
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor (pic) said this would increase the state’s TPA to 2.227 million hectares or 30.06% of the total land area.
“This milestone not only allows the 30% TPA target to be met, it also boosts Sabah’s image as the state with the largest TPA in Malaysia,” he said in his speech read by Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai at Sabah Forestry Department Excellent Service Awards ceremony here on Friday night.
Hajiji said the importance of forests as protectors of biodiversity, climate stabilisers and sources of livelihood could not be denied, commending the Forestry Department’s continued efforts to meet the TPA target.
He said the state Cabinet had agreed last year to the department’s proposal to gazette several more important protected areas under Section 5A of the Forest Enactment 1968.
“This is an indication that the strategy outlined under the Sabah Forest Policy 2018 is capable of guiding the department towards achieving the highest standards in the state’s conservation efforts.
“This places Sabah on the global conservation map, not only in terms of the size of its protected areas, but also the narrative of continuous efforts and the state government’s commitment to achieving the policy targets that have been set,” he said.
Hajiji also urged all Forestry Department personnel to continue ensuring revenue collection from the forestry sector is carried out with transparency and commitment.
“The Sabah Forestry Department collected RM161mil last year and of this amount, RM92mil or 57% was from timber royalties.”
