trees, INFAPRO has restored more than 11,800 hectares and issued over 1.1 mil- lion Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) credits—one of the earliest carbon for- estry projects in the tropics. In 2012, the restored area was gazetted as a Class I Protected Forest Reserve, forming a continuous green corridor with Danum Valley and providing a safe haven for endangered species such as orangutans, pygmy elephants, and sun bears. SCIENCE IN ACTION: MALAYSIA’S FIRST GLOBAL ATMOSPHERE WATCH STATION Located within INFAPRO, Malaysia’s first Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) Station monitors greenhouse gases and climate variables. A collaboration between Yayasan Sabah and MET- Malaysia, the 100-metre tower feeds vital data into the World Meteorologi- cal Organization’s global network. This facility complements more than four decades of research from the Danum Valley Field Centre, positioning Sabah as a vital contributor to international climate science. INNOVATION IN FOREST MANAGEMENT In the 1990s, Yayasan Sabah intro- duced Reduced-Impact Logging (RIL) practices to minimise damage from timber harvesting in working forests. This advanced management technique reduced incidental forest damage by almost 50% compared to conventional logging. Another major initiative, the INIKEA Forest Rehabilitation Project, was launched in 1998 with Swedish partners to restore 14,000 hectares of degraded land in Kalabakan. The pro- ject blended scientific forestry with community employment, reinforcing
// DATUK SERI PANGLIMA HAJI HAJIJI HAJI NOOR Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor is the Chief Minister of Sabah, a Malaysian state on the island of Borneo that is emerging as a strategic hub for regional economic cooperation and sustainable development. Appointed in 2020, he led the implementation of the five-year Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) – ‘Sabah Prosper’ Development Plan from 2021. The Plan served as the overarching framework for various sectoral development blueprints resting on three foundational pillars – first, Agriculture, Industry, and Tourism, second, Investing in the People and third, Enchancing Connectivity with a Green Approach. With more than three decades in public service, Hajiji has held key ministerial positions in Finance and Local Government and Housing. He also serves as Chairman of the Sabah Economic Advisory Council, working with policymakers and industry leaders to expand Sabah’s role in global value chains in sectors such as downstream oil and gas, forestry innovation, agribusiness and tourism. Under his leadership,
Sabah is strengthening economic partnerships through the Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia– Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP–EAGA) while enhancing trade and investment engagement with partners across Asia, the Middle East and Europe. The state is globally recognised for its biodiversity conservation and nature-based economy, with over four million hectares of forest reserves and world-renowned conservation areas including Danum Valley, Maliau Basin and Imbak Canyon. Hajiji advocates inclusive economic progress that benefits local communities, particularly in rural Sabah. His administration is advancing strategic initiatives that position Sabah as a rising hub for responsible investment, business events tourism and climate-focused global dialogue, while reinforcing Malaysia’s broader commitment to sustainability and international cooperation
A MODEL FOR THE WORLD Sabah’s conservation strategy—protect- ing pristine forests, restoring degraded lands, and managing forests sustain- ably—aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement. It provides a global model for rainforest nations seeking practical climate solutions. From the ancient forests of Danum Valley to the regenerated landscapes of INFAPRO, Sabah is a living laboratory of hope. With science, collaboration, and leadership, nature can heal, com- munities can prosper, and the planet can thrive. Learn more: www.ysnet.org.my | www.searrp.org
Yayasan Sabah’s commitment to both conservation and social responsibility.
FROM CONSERVATION TO OPPORTUNITY
These conservation successes form the foundation of Sabah’s nature-based economy. The DaMaI Rainforest Com- plex—which includes Danum Valley, Maliau Basin, and Imbak Canyon—is being developed as a hub for eco-tour- ism, research, education, and carbon partnerships. INFAPRO and INIKEA attract corporate climate investments and volunteer tourism, while Danum Valley continues to draw scientists and conservationists from around the world. “We view these landscapes as natural capital—assets that can generate long- term economic and social value,” says Dato’ Sri Haji Gulamhaidar @ Yusof bin Khan Bahadar, Director of Yayasan Sabah.
“We are committed to sustainable development that protects our natural heritage while ensuring meaningful benefits for the people”
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