SANDAKAN: A landmark partnership to protect Borneo’s endangered orangutans has been sealed in Kinabatangan.
The pact signals new collaboration between Sabah’s palm oil industry and wildlife conservationists.
The Memorandum of Understanding was exchanged on Thursday (Oct 2) under the Orangutan Diplomacy Programme at the Sungai Pin Conservation Area.
It builds on an earlier agreement between the Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation and Sawit Kinabalu subsidiary Borneo Samudera Sdn Bhd.
The collaboration is a significant step in balancing plantation development with biodiversity protection, said Datuk Yusran Shah Mohd Yusof.
“It is crucial to ensure orangutans can move freely in their natural habitat,” he said, adding that they must be free from disturbance by human activities, plantation operations or uncontrolled tourism.
The initiative follows Kinabatangan’s recognition as Malaysia’s newest UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
“This effort reflects Malaysia’s seriousness in safeguarding wildlife while balancing sustainable development,” said Yusran.
Sawit Kinabalu will set aside 2,632 hectares within its Sungai Pin Estate as a High Conservation Value area.
The area is home to an estimated 55 orangutans.
MPOGCF and local conservation group Hutan will carry out a new population study.
It will update the current estimate of 10,000 to 11,000 orangutans in Sabah.
MPOGCF has pledged RM20,000 to support conservation under the Orangutan Diplomacy Programme.
“This collaboration strengthens the conservation agenda and the credibility of Malaysia’s palm oil industry,” Yusran said.
The industry is committed to biodiversity protection.
Sawit Kinabalu managing director Datuk Victor Ationg said development and conservation can progress side by side.
“SPNCA is a living testament to Sabah’s potential as a global model for sustainable palm oil landscapes,” he said.
“When industry, government and communities work together, we can protect wildlife such as the orangutan and ensure people’s wellbeing,” he added.
This also supports the long-term sustainability of the industry.
Borneo Samudera’s Conservation and Biodiversity Unit manages the SPNCA, and
It forms part of Sawit Kinabalu’s broader sustainability agenda.
Ationg said the MOU will strengthen collaboration between industry and conservation partners and will enhance wildlife protection and reinforce Sabah’s leadership in sustainable palm oil production.
He added that the SPNCA is a hidden gem in Kinabatangan.
It is guided by a long-term plan focused on biodiversity and coexistence between agriculture and nature.
Also present were MPOC chief executive officer Belvinder Sron, SKG Green chief executive officer Philipa Datuk Wilfred Mojilis and MPOGCF general manager Hairulazim Mahmud.
The Orangutan Diplomacy initiative was launched in May 2024 by Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.
It aims to strengthen partnerships and channel funding to protect orangutans in their habitats.
It also promotes Malaysia’s commitment to biodiversity and sustainable palm oil.
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