Yayasan Sabah expands conservation frontier with Langom Control Centre and Research Station
KOTA KINABALU (June 23): Yayasan Sabah Group, in collaboration with the Sabah Forestry Department, is set to mark another significant milestone in Sabah's environmental efforts with the official launch of the Langom Control Centre and Research Station on June 24.
The launch will take place in the heart of the Danum Valley Conservation Area, Lahad Datu, underscoring the State's commitment to forest restoration and biodiversity research.
As part of Malaysia's ongoing commitment to sustainable development and environmental stewardship under the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK-12), the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, Malaysia has allocated RM5.6 million toward a major infrastructure initiative aimed at strengthening scientific research and ecosystem management in Sabah.
According to the director of Yayasan Sabah, Dato' Sri Haji Gulamhaidar @ Yusof bin Khan Bahadar, 'This project centres on the Langom Control Centre and Research Station, located within the buffer zone of the Danum Valley Conservation Area. With its strategic location and comprehensive infrastructure, the Langom Research Station is positioned to become a regional hub for biodiversity studies, sustainable land management practices, and educational initiatives vital to protecting Sabah's tropical rainforest ecosystem.'
Construction of the Langom Research Station commenced in November 2021. In 2024, the station was fully constructed and operational. The facility includes infrastructure for research teams, space for environmental education workshops, field training facilities, and eco-tourism engagement areas, making it a versatile and sustainable research base in one of the richest biodiversity hotspots in Southeast Asia.
'To strengthen environmental awareness at the grassroots level, Yayasan Sabah Group also launched the Sabah Nature Club Adopt-a-School Programme, a long-term initiative aimed at cultivating a deep, practical understanding of nature among schoolchildren,' he said.
The programme emphasises experiential, outdoor-based learning where students are not only taught about the environment but are immersed in it, encouraging them to observe, question and connect directly with the natural world.
'By bridging the gap between classroom theory and real-world ecological experience, this programme seeks to instil sustainable thinking from a young age, nurture future conservation leaders, and foster meaningful school-community engagement.
The programme's initial phase will focus on three secondary schools in Lahad Datu: SMK Sepagaya Lahad Datu, SMK St. Dominic Lahad Datu and SMK Agaseh Lahad Datu. These schools have been identified as strategic partners based on their location, student population and potential for impactful outreach,' explained Gulamhaidar.
'The launch of Langom Control Centre and Research Station marks a major step toward a greener, more sustainable Sabah. It represents our ongoing commitment to biodiversity conservation, ecological restoration and inclusive environmental education. We envision Langom as more than just a research facility. It will be a living classroom and a collaborative platform for multiple stakeholders,'he added.
He explained further, 'This launch will place Langom on the map as a centre of excellence in conservation and reaffirm Yayasan Sabah Group and the Sabah Forestry Department's shared responsibility to safeguard Sabah's natural heritage for generations to come.'
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