KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is drafting a 25-year Statewide Forest Master Plan to balance socio-economic development with environmental conservation, says Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
He said the master plan, being developed by the Sabah Forestry Department, would serve as a guide for managing the state’s forest resources while supporting sustainable land use.
“With the Forest Master Plan in place, the Sabah government will ensure that all ecologically sensitive areas remain protected while continuing to pursue sustainable socio-economic development for the well-being of the people of Sabah.
“This is also in line with the implementation of the Sabah Maju Jaya 2.0 development plan, which sets out the need for infrastructure network and green development,” Hajiji said at the national-level International Forest Day 2026 celebration in Sook yesterday.
He reaffirmed Sabah’s commitment to maintaining at least 50% forest cover in line with the Sabah Forest Policy 2018.
According to Hajiji, Sabah currently maintains 63% forest cover, encompassing 3.85 million hectares gazetted as forest reserves and other protected areas.
“To strengthen forest management and protect biodiversity treasures, Sabah is also committed to maintaining 2.2 million hectares, or 30% of the state’s total land area, as Totally Protected Areas,” he said.
Hajiji said Sabah had identified about 400,000ha of degraded forest reserve land for forest plantation development under the Forest Plantation Development Action Plan 2022-2036.
The initiative will restore the productivity of degraded forests while reducing the timber industry’s dependence on natural forests and ensuring a sustainable supply of raw materials, he said.
As part of efforts to balance development and conservation, Hajiji said the Sabah government, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme and the Global Environment Facility, would spearhead the Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration Impact Programme.
The programme, which involves integrated landscape management covering about 2.1 million hectares, aims to coordinate land-use planning and management to minimise the environmental impact of palm oil production while preserving High Conservation Value Forests.
“This programme will be implemented in 12 districts in Sabah and is expected to benefit around 56,000 rural residents,” he said.
