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Borneo Post
13-07-2025
- General
- Borneo Post
Pin Supu: Malaysia's First IUCN Green List site
Bird's eye view of Pin Supu Forest Reserve in Kinabatangan. Sabah has once again set the benchmark in forest conservation. The Pin Supu Forest Reserve (PSFR), located in the heart of the Lower Kinabatangan floodplain, has been officially recognised as Malaysia's first terrestrial protected area to be included in the prestigious IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas in May 2025, for a period of five years. Sunrise view from Supu Peak Limestone. This international recognition, issued by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), acknowledges PSFR as a well-managed, effectively governed, and inclusive protected area. It places the reserve among a global network of conservation areas meeting rigorous standards for biodiversity protection, fair governance, and positive environmental and social outcomes. The recognition follows the Green Listing of the Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area (SIMCA) in 2022, making Pin Supu the second Malaysian site — but the first on land — to achieve this milestone. Orang utan can be sighted within PSFR. A Vital Ecosystem in the Kinabatangan Basin Covering approximately 4,696 hectares, the Pin Supu Forest Reserve is a biological treasure trove in Sabah's biodiversity-rich Kinabatangan region. The area is characterised by a mosaic of lowland rainforest types, oxbow lakes, and limestone cave systems — all of which serve critical ecological functions and provide habitat for a wide array of plant and animal species. A male Bornean endemic proboscis monkey. Situated within the Lower Kinabatangan floodplain, the forest reserve is home to some of Borneo's most iconic wildlife, including the Bornean orangutan, proboscis monkey, hornbills, and Bornean elephants. The ecosystem connectivity maintained by this reserve supports species migration, genetic exchange, and long-term ecological resilience in the region. The rhinoceros hornbill is one of the eight hornbills that can be sighted along the Kinabatangan area. The Bornean elephant is one of the wildlife attractions within the Kinabatangan area. Joint Management: A Model for Inclusive Conservation What truly sets Pin Supu apart is its co-management model, where the Sabah Forestry Department (SFD) works in close partnership with KOPEL Berhad, a community-based cooperative involving five surrounding villages. This joint management agreement, established in 2016, has led to inclusive forest stewardship, where local communities are actively involved in conservation, forest monitoring, sustainable nature-based tourism development, and education. Through this model, forest protection efforts are deeply rooted in local knowledge and sustained by community ownership and economic incentives. The Chief Conservator Forests, Datuk Frederick Kugan. According to the Chief Conservator of Forests, Datuk Frederick Kugan, this collaboration has produced 'tangible and lasting environmental, social, and economic benefits' that extend far beyond the boundaries of the forest itself. Kugan reiterated, 'The recognition by IUCN places Pin Supu among the best-managed protected areas in the world. This is not only a win for Sabah but also for the people who have worked tirelessly on the ground to make this possible.' Group photo of Forestry Headquarters' coordinators with members of EAGL Malaysia. A Long Road to Global Recognition The journey towards IUCN Green List certification began in 2021, when the site submitted its formal application. Over four years, PSFR underwent a rigorous multi-phase evaluation, including self-assessments, documentation uploads to the IUCN COMPASS platform, and extensive third-party reviews. The process involved meeting 50 performance indicators across four primary areas, namely good governance, sound planning and design, effective management, and lastly measurable conservation outcomes. EAGL site evaluation of PSFR with District Forestry Officer of Kinabatangan. An important milestone in this process was the Expert Assessment Group for the Green List (EAGL) site visit and subsequent independent reviewer verification, which took place in December 2024. The final Green List certificate was issued in May 2025, valid for five years. WWF Malaysia also contributed significantly to the success of this green listing. This comprehensive process ensures that listed areas not only have sound conservation plans but also demonstrate long-term impact, resilience, and adaptive capacity. On top of the limestone outcrop in PSFR. A Community-Led Success Story Local communities surrounding Pin Supu have played a pivotal role in the reserve's management and protection. Through KOPEL Berhad, villagers have been engaged in various forest-based enterprises, including eco-lodges, guided forest treks, wildlife river cruises, and habitat restoration projects. Income generated from tourism and conservation initiatives is reinvested into community development, creating alternative livelihoods, reducing pressure on forest resources, and encouraging youth engagement in environmental stewardship. This community empowerment has strengthened the protection of the area, with residents taking active roles in anti-poaching patrols, biodiversity surveys, and reforestation activities. 'The success of Pin Supu shows that when local people are directly involved in protecting their forests, everyone benefits — nature, communities, and future generations alike,' said a representative of the forest conservation programme. Group photo with members of EAGL, WWF Malaysia, KOPEL Berhad and DFO Kinabatangan at the Tungog Lake Eco Camp in PSFR. Lessons in Effective Governance and Sustainability The IUCN Green List standard promotes transparency, accountability, and inclusivity. Pin Supu's achievement illustrates that good governance and ecological integrity are inseparable — and that strong relationships between government bodies, communities, and civil society are key to sustainable conservation outcomes. This achievement demonstrates that protected areas can be more than just fences and boundaries — they can be dynamic landscapes where biodiversity, culture, and livelihoods thrive in harmony. It also reinforces the importance of long-term vision and consistent investment, with the 10-year co-management agreement between SFD and KOPEL laying the foundation for meaningful change. National and Global Impact The Green List certification of Pin Supu is timely, as Malaysia moves toward achieving its target of protecting 30% of terrestrial and marine areas by 2030, in line with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. WWF-Malaysia, acting as the national implementing partner for the IUCN Green List Programme, has played a key role in providing technical assistance, coordination, and capacity building to support the site's Green List journey. This includes helping other protected areas prepare for future candidacy. The hope is that Pin Supu's success will encourage other protected and conserved areas across Malaysia to pursue similar recognition, particularly those in critical ecosystems such as peat swamps, montane forests, and mangroves. The IUCN Green List currently includes more than 100 sites across over 50 countries. Pin Supu now joins this elite group as an emblem of conservation excellence — and as a Malaysian model for inclusive, effective, and equitable forest governance. A Beacon for Future Conservation The story of Pin Supu Forest Reserve is more than a conservation victory — it is a blueprint for the future. It shows that with determination, trust, and community commitment, even small forest areas can gain global recognition. Moving forward, the Sabah Forestry Department plans to leverage the Green List achievement to expand environmental education, build research collaborations, and replicate its co-management model in other high-biodiversity areas. Additional efforts will also be made to monitor and maintain compliance with the Green List standards throughout the five-year certification period, ensuring that the site continues to meet evolving conservation benchmarks. 'The Green List is not just a reward — it is a responsibility. This recognition reinforces our duty to manage forests in a way that respects ecological systems and supports the people who depend on them.' said Kugan. Conclusion: Conservation Rooted in People and Place The recognition of Pin Supu Forest Reserve as Malaysia's first terrestrial IUCN Green List site is a proud moment for Sabah and for the country. It affirms that biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, and local empowerment can, and must go hand in hand. As challenges, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and deforestation continue to intensify globally, the Pin Supu model offers hope. It proves that when nature and people work together, progress is not only possible — it is inevitable. For the communities of Kinabatangan and for conservationists across the region, Pin Supu is more than just a forest. It is a legacy of shared stewardship, a symbol of resilience, and a living testament to Malaysia's commitment to a greener future.
Korea Herald
07-07-2025
- General
- Korea Herald
Why it's vital to save Malaysia's diverse flora
KOTA KINABALU, Malaysia (The Star) -- The plant kingdom isn't doing so well with at least 600 species facing extinction in Sabah alone. These species, which comprise flowering plants and trees, are under threat due to poaching and other human activities, says Sabah Forestry Department director Datuk Frederick Kugan. "Besides pitcher plants, the other types of flora facing threats are trees and flowers," he said. Kugan cited examples such as the dipterocarp (timber) which are being logged and harvested while high horticultural demand for exotic plants like pitcher plants and orchids means they are poached in the wild and sold in the black market. "There is also habitat loss due to plantation expansion," he said. He also spoke about a small distribution pattern which is being threatened by climate change, especially montane (mountainous) species, adding that this has also contributed to the decline of such species. Overall, he said, the species are categorized as "threatened" under the International Union for Conservation of Nature list. The "threatened" category is further divided into CR (critically endangered), EN (endangered) and VU (vulnerable). In fact, Kugan said that 10 species of CR plants had been marked as possibly extinct -- anisophyllea impressinervia, ixora labuanensis, lasianthus subglobosus, melanochyla woodiana, praravinia gracilis, praravinia neriifolia, quercus pseudoverticillata, semecarpus angulatus, semecarpus sandakanus and syzygium badescens. The last seen photos of these tree species ranged from 45 to 148 years ago, Kugan said. "Another possibly extinct species that was part of our conservation project for the last few years is the CR elaeocarpus pinosukii,'" he said. He said that many search operations were mounted to locate this species at its locality, Pinosuk Plateau or Mesilau in Kundasang, but none had been found. Kugan said Pinosuk Plateau or Mesilau, as it is known today, is no longer a forest like it was 60 to 70 years ago (when the species was first collected) as most of these areas have been turned into vegetable farms. He said all these assessments are based on what have been published in the IUCN Red List. "However, we have thousands of species that have not been assessed yet, especially the non-tree species," he added. Kugan said that more research and conservation initiatives need to be taken to better protect these species and hopefully, prevent their extinction. "There must be coordinated efforts between state agencies, private sectors as well as local communities to find solutions on how to reduce impact on flora and fauna with the development that is taking place," he said. In March, Kugan revealed that the pitcher plant is under threat in Sabah, with seven species listed as threatened on the IUCN list. Pitcher plants, also known as monkey cups, have over 160 species worldwide, out of which 25 are found in Sabah. The world's largest pitcher plant, nepenthes rajah, is only found in Mount Kinabalu and its surrounding highlands. This species can trap not just insects but also small mammals like rats. A report in March quoting the IUCN said that "deforestation, farming and climate-fueled fires are driving increasing threats to fungi, the lifeblood of most plants."
Borneo Post
05-07-2025
- General
- Borneo Post
Sabah Forestry Dept gets grant to save endangered trees
An elegant palm, Adonidia dransfieldii. KOTA KINABALU (July 5): The Sabah Forestry Department has secured a conservation grant totalling £45,000 (approximately RM270,000) over three years (2025–2027) working with Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), the world's largest network for plant conservation, headquartered in the United Kingdom. The conservation project, titled 'Conserving Critically Endangered Adonidia dransfieldii and Saurauia sammanniana in Sabah', represents a significant milestone in global recognition of Sabah's commitment to conserving its unique and threatened plant biodiversity. Adonidia dransfieldii and Saurauia sammanniana are both listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Among more than 500 threatened tree species in Sabah, these two have been identified as facing some of the highest risk of extinction, highlighting the urgent need for targeted conservation action to prevent their disappearance from the wild. A rare treelet, Saurauia sammanniana. The technical and financial assistance provided by BGCI for this work is part of BGCI's Tree Conservation Programme, dedicated to saving the world's threatened tree species in their natural habitats, funded by Fondation Franklinia and many other international donor organisations. Malaysia is one of four Southeast Asian countries to receive funding this cycle from Fondation Franklinia (2025 to 2027), under the Global Trees: Action for all tree species – Tree Conservation Action Project. 'Receiving this international grant is not only a proud moment for us, but a testament to the critical importance of Sabah's unique biodiversity. These two endemic species are only found in Sabah and may face serious threats due to habitat loss and lack of in-situ protection. The department has been actively committed to biodiversity conservation efforts, more so, for the rare and threatened species, in line with the Sabah Forest Policy 2018,' said Datuk Frederick Kugan, the Chief Conservator of Forests. Over the next three years, the project will implement a comprehensive conservation strategy based on five core objectives: Identification and mapping of wild populations – Field surveys will be conducted to locate and document remaining wild populations of the two species. Propagation and ex situ conservation – The department aims to achieve at least 65% success in seed and cutting propagation, leading to the establishment of genetically representative ex situ collections in Sabah. In situ population reinforcement – At least 20 individuals of each species will be planted back into their natural habitat to strengthen wild populations. Capacity building and public awareness – Training workshops for conservation staff and education activities for local communities will be held to raise awareness and build local capacity. Development of conservation action plans – Species-specific action and propagation plans will be developed and published for national and global use. Sabah Forestry Department will lead all project activities, with technical mentoring and oversight provided by BGCI. The department is also responsible for reporting progress annually through BGCI's GlobalTree Portal, ensuring transparency and data sharing across the global conservation community. 'This collaboration places Sabah on the global conservation map and reinforces our role as a key guardian of Borneo's endemic flora. It's not just about saving plants. It's about protecting the natural heritage that sustains our ecosystems and communities,' said Alviana Damit, Project Coordinator and Assistant Research Officer at the Forest Research Centre. Kugan would like to thank BGCI and Fondation Franklinia for this opportunity and the department looks forward to working with local stakeholders, communities and international partners in protecting these irreplaceable species for future generations.
The Star
05-07-2025
- General
- The Star
Sabah Forestry Dept working with UK conservation group to save two critically endangered trees
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has secured a conservation grant totalling over RM270,000 to conserve two of the top endangered plant species in the state. Through the Sabah Forestry Department, this grant, which runs from now until 2027, would see the department working with one of the world's largest networks for plant conservation - the Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), headquartered in the United Kingdom. Datuk Frederick Kugan, the department's chief conservator of forests, said this conservation project was titled 'Conserving Critically Endangered Adonidia dransfieldii and Saurauia sammanniana in Sabah'. 'It represents a significant milestone in global recognition of Sabah's commitment to conserving its unique and threatened plant biodiversity,' he said in a statement. He said the Adonidia dransfieldii and Saurauia sammanniana were both listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Among more than 500 threatened tree species in Sabah, these two have been identified as facing some of the highest risk of extinction, highlighting the urgent need for targeted conservation action to prevent their disappearance from the wild, said Kugan. 'Receiving this international grant is not only a proud moment for us, but a testament to the critical importance of Sabah's unique biodiversity,' he said. He explained that these two endemic species are only found in Sabah and may face serious threats due to habitat loss and lack of in situ protection. The department has been actively committed to biodiversity conservation efforts, more so, for the rare and threatened species, in line with the Sabah Forest Policy 2018,' Kugan said. The technical and financial assistance provided by BGCI for this work is part of BGCI's Tree Conservation Programme, dedicated to saving the world's threatened tree species in their natural habitats, funded by Fondation Franklinia and many other international donor organisations. Malaysia is one of four Southeast Asian countries to receive funding this cycle from Fondation Franklinia (2025 to 2027), under the Global Trees: Action for all tree species - Tree Conservation Action Project. Over the next three years, the project will implement a comprehensive conservation strategy based on five core objectives including identification and mapping of wild population, propagation and ex situ conservation and in situ population reinforcement, Kugan said. There will also be focus on capacity building and public awareness as well as development of conservation action plans, he added. He said field surveys will be conducted to locate and document remaining wild populations of the two species with the department aiming to achieve at least 65% success in seed and cutting propagation, leading to the establishment of genetically representative ex situ collections in Sabah,' he said Adding to this, Kugan said at least 20 individuals of each species will be planted back into their natural habitat to strengthen wild populations. He said training workshops for conservation staff and education activities for local communities will be held to raise awareness and build local capacity while species-specific action and propagation plans will be developed and published for national and global use. He said the Sabah Forestry Department will lead all project activities, with technical mentoring and oversight provided by BGCI. The Department is also responsible for reporting progress annually through BGCI's GlobalTree Portal, ensuring transparency and data sharing across the global conservation community. Project Coordinator and Assistant Research Officer at the Forest Research Centre, Alviana Damit said this collaboration places Sabah on the global conservation map and reinforces their role as a key guardian of Borneo's endemic flora. 'It's not just about saving plants. It's about protecting the natural heritage that sustains our ecosystems and communities,' she said. Earlier, Kugan thanked the BGCI and Fondation Franklinia for this opportunity and looked forward to working with local stakeholders, communities, and international partners in protecting these irreplaceable species for future generations.
The Star
03-07-2025
- Science
- The Star
Vital to save M'sia's diverse flora
KOTA KINABALU: The plant kingdom isn't doing so well with at least 600 species facing extinction in Sabah alone. These species, which comprise flowering plants and trees, are under threat due to poaching and other human activities, says Sabah Forestry Department director Datuk Frederick Kugan. 'Besides pitcher plants, the other types of flora facing threats are trees and flowers,' he said. Kugan cited examples such as the dipterocarp (timber) which are being logged and harvested while high horticultural demand for exotic plants like pitcher plants and orchids means they are poached in the wild and sold in the black market. 'There is also habitat loss due to plantation expansion,' he said. He also spoke about a small distribution pattern which is being threatened by climate change, especially montane (mountainous) species, adding that this has also contributed to the decline of such species. Overall, he said, the species are categorised as 'threatened' under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) list. The 'threatened' category is further divided into CR (critically endangered), EN (endangered) and VU (vulnerable). In fact, Kugan said that 10 species of CR plants had been marked as possibly extinct – anisophyllea impressinervia, ixora labuanensis, lasianthus subglobosus, melanochyla woodiana, praravinia gracilis, praravinia neriifolia, quercus pseudoverticillata, semecarpus angulatus, semecarpus sandakanus and syzygium badescens. The last seen photos of these tree species ranged from 45 to 148 years ago, Kugan said. 'Another possibly extinct species that was part of our conservation project for the last few years is the CR elaeocarpus pinosukii',' he said. ALSO READ: We need more experts in plant biodiversity, says academician He said that many search operations were mounted to locate this species at its locality, Pinosuk Plateau or Mesilau in Kundasang, but none had been found. Kugan said Pinosuk Plateau or Mesilau, as it is known today, is no longer a forest like it was 60 to 70 years ago (when the species was first collected) as most of these areas have been turned into vegetable farms. He said all these assessments are based on what have been published in the IUCN Red List. 'However, we have thousands of species that have not been assessed yet, especially the non-tree species,' he added. Kugan said that more research and conservation initiatives need to be taken to better protect these species and hopefully, prevent their extinction. 'There must be coordinated efforts between state agencies, private sectors as well as local communities to find solutions on how to reduce impact on flora and fauna with the development that is taking place,' he said. In March, Kugan revealed that the pitcher plant is under threat in Sabah, with seven species listed as threatened on the IUCN list. Pitcher plants, also known as monkey cups, have over 160 species worldwide, out of which 25 are found in Sabah. The world's largest pitcher plant, nepenthes rajah, is only found in Mount Kinabalu and its surrounding highlands. This species can trap not just insects but also small mammals like rats. An AFP report in March quoting the IUCN said that 'deforestation, farming and climate-fuelled fires are driving increasing threats to fungi, the lifeblood of most plants'. At least 411 fungi face extinction out of the 1,300 varieties, said IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species.
