KOTA KINABALU: The Kinabalu Unesco Global Geopark has secured a four-year extension on its international recognition, amid concerns over construction activities on Mount Kinabalu.
Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said the state received a confirmation from Unesco about three months ago.
"We received the green card just three months ago, which approved another four-year extension," he told reporters after launching the state-level National Environment Day celebration here on Thursday (Nov 5).
Jafry was asked if the construction of a High Altitude Training Centre (HATC) on Mount Kinabalu could jeopardise its Unesco recognition.
He dismissed the possibility, saying the project would involve only minimal development without extensive construction or major infrastructure.
He said transporting building materials up the mountain was challenging, limiting the scale of construction to smaller materials that could be carried up.
The ministry is expected to provide further details on the project.
The construction recently drew attention after photographs and videos of structures on Mount Kinabalu circulated on social media, raising concerns over their environmental impact.
Jafry earlier said the project was approved by the Sabah Parks board of trustees and endorsed by the Mount Kinabalu Native Customary Advisory Council.
Originally proposed under the Kinabalu Park Development Plan in 2015, the project was deferred following the earthquake that struck Mount Kinabalu that year before being revived in 2025.
The centre is intended to provide basic accommodation and facilities for specialised high-altitude training and mountaineering activities.
Jafry previously said the project would use lightweight, prefabricated and modular materials to minimise environmental disturbance, with the state government monitoring compliance with approved specifications and environmental regulations.
The Kinabalu Unesco Global Geopark received its designation in 2023, further strengthening Sabah's standing as an internationally recognised destination for natural heritage.
The designation complemented Kinabalu Park's World Heritage Site status, granted in 2000 and the Crocker Range Biosphere Reserve recognition in 2014, giving Sabah its Unesco Triple Crown distinction.
