Norlijah receiving the KIPMAPS book — Malaysia’s first information kit on public involvement in forestry — jointly developed by the Sabah Forestry Department, WWF-Malaysia and Universiti Malaysia Sabah.
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s commitment to the environment goes far beyond conservation, as demonstrated by the formulation of the Climate Change and Carbon Governance Enactment 2025, which lays a strong foundation for a greener and more sustainable future, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Haji Hajiji Haji Noor.
He said the landmark law establishes the Sabah Climate Action Council as a high-level decision-making body, ensuring that carbon rights belong to the State.
It also creates a Climate Registry and Inventory Centre to track carbon projects and establishes the Sabah Climate Fund to support adaptation and resilience initiatives, he added.
“Most importantly, it protects the rights of indigenous and customary landowners, ensuring that carbon projects on native land are built on consultation, respect and shared benefits.
“This is climate justice in action — fairness, inclusion, and sustainability walking hand in hand,” he said when opening the International Conference on Borneo’s Green Heart: Advancing Climate Resilience, Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods at Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) here today. His speech was read by Deputy State Secretary Datuk Norlijah Danin.
Haji Hajiji Haji Noor
Hajiji said the State Government has also amended key legislation, including the Sabah Land Ordinance, to recognise carbon storage and integrate climate action across the state’s governance systems.
“Yes, challenges remain — from building institutional capacity and ensuring enforcement to securing funding and creating real impact on the ground.
“But I believe that with strong political will, community partnership, and good governance, there is no challenge we cannot overcome. Together, we can turn ambition into action, and action into lasting change,” he said.
Hajiji reaffirmed that Sabah’s commitment to protecting the Heart of Borneo (HoB) initiative remains strong and unwavering.
“To date, over 27 per cent of our land — about two million hectares — has been gazetted as Totally Protected Areas (TPA). And this year, we will go even further.
“We plan to gazette another three per cent under Section 5A of the Forest Enactment 1968, bringing us closer to our 30 per cent TPA target.
“This milestone reflects our determination to ensure that Sabah’s forests — rich in biodiversity and carbon value — will remain a natural legacy for generations to come,” he said.
He also highlighted one of the State’s most transformative initiatives — the Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration (FOLUR) Project.
Supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by the UNDP in partnership with the Sabah Government, the FOLUR Project covers 2.38 million hectares across 12 districts, benefiting more than 54,000 people.
He said its goal is to ensure that agriculture — particularly palm oil — coexists in harmony with forest conservation and ecosystem restoration.
Through the FOLUR Project, Sabah aims to bring over two million hectares under improved management, restore 150,000 hectares of forest and rehabilitate 50,000 hectares of degraded agricultural land, he added.
“We will also prevent the loss of 14,000 hectares of high conservation value forests.
“Together, these efforts could sequester over 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent — a powerful contribution to Malaysia’s climate goals and a testament to Sabah’s leadership in sustainable landscape management,” he said.
Hajiji also expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, particularly the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry, for its continued support of the HoB initiative since 2009, with total funding of RM60 million to Sabah.
“This partnership reflects our shared belief that protecting nature is not a burden, but a responsibility and an opportunity,” he said.
Towards this end, Hajiji said the Sabah Forestry Department has also submitted a strategic project proposal under the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13), reaffirming the State Government’s commitment to sustainable forest management and climate resilience.
“We look forward to continued collaboration with the Ministry in advancing these goals,” he said.
