KOTA KINABALU, Sept 30 — Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor has hailed the recognition of Kinabatangan as a Unesco Biosphere Reserve, calling it a significant milestone in the state’s efforts to preserve its biodiversity on a global level.
The chief minister said that with this globally recognised status, the Kinabatangan Biosphere Reserve is expected to attract international attention in areas such as research, education, nature-based tourism, and opportunities for global collaboration.
Spanning an area of 413,866 hectares, the reserve is a natural treasure trove stretching 560 kilometres along the Kinabatangan River.
It serves as a vital habitat for 315 bird species, 127 mammal species, and over 1,000 species of vascular plants.
The site is also a crucial sanctuary for several endemic and endangered species, including the orangutan, the Bornean elephant, the proboscis monkey, and the sun bear.
Significantly, the recognition also supports the preservation of the local Sungai dialect, which is listed as Critically Endangered in Unesco’s Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger.
The designation makes Kinabatangan the second Biosphere Reserve in Sabah, after the Crocker Range was recognised in 2014, and the fourth in Malaysia.
The two-year nomination process was led by the Sabah Biodiversity Centre in collaboration with government agencies, NGOs, and local communities.
The Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Advisory Committee of Unesco commended the high quality of the nomination dossier and the extensive stakeholder engagement involved.
The prestigious recognition was officially declared during the 37th Session of Unesco’s MAB Programme International Coordinating Council, held on Sept 27 in Hangzhou, China. To date, there are 759 Biosphere Reserves across 136 countries worldwide.
