Is Sabah community benefitting from Unesco's Biosphere Reserve initiative?

 By Olivia Miwil - July 7, 2021 @ 12:05pm

CRBR is the first biosphere reserve in Sabah and the second recognition received from Unesco after Kinabalu Park was declared as a World Heritage Site in 2000. - NSTP file pic

KOTA KINABALU: A study has to be done on whether the community is benefitting from the Crocker Range Biosphere Reserve (CRBR), a conservation area listed under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation's (Unesco).

Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry permanent secretary Jamili Nais said the approximately 350,000ha area was listed under Unesco's Man and Biosphere Programme seven years ago, and there was a need to make more efforts so that it can move forward.

He said the CRBR is the first biosphere reserve in Sabah and the second recognition received from Unesco after Kinabalu Park was declared as a World Heritage Site in 2000.

"What are the benefits reaped by the community within the reserve biosphere, especially for the rural community and remote villagers?

"If those benefits are less significant, it is good to do formulation and observation on new action plans," he said when launching a webinar for the 7th anniversary of declaration of the Crocker Range Biosphere Reserve as a Unesco Man and Biosphere site.

The Man and Biosphere Programme is a joint inter-governmental scientific initiative launched by Unesco in 1971. Areas listed under this programme are basically areas for conservation.

There are currently 714 Unesco-listed biosphere reserve in 129 countries and Malaysia has two, including another one in Tasik Chini, Pahang.

Sabah Parks director Dr Maklarin Lakim said with an area of 350,584 hectares, the CRBR consists of three zones, namely, Core Zone, Buffer Zone and Transition Zone.

The area covers nine administrative districts which include Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Papar, Beaufort, Tuaran, Keningau, Tambunan, Ranau and Tenom.

He said under its Sustainable Management Biosphere Reserve initiative, it promotes conservation and development without negatively impacting biodiversity conservation and natural ecosystem services, especially biodiversity resources and clean water supply.

"Sabah Parks has been entrusted by the state government as a guiding agency in the conservation and preservation of the Crocker Range Biosphere Reserve (CRBR)," said Maklarin, in a speech read by his deputy Rimi Repin.

However, Maklarin stressed that it is also the joint responsibility of government agencies such as the Drainage and Irrigation Department, Agriculture Department, Forestry Department, Sabah Biodiversity Centre, Local Government, District Office, and community leaders to preserve the area.