Wetlands Conservation Remains a Top Priority

Wetlands are treasures which must be managed and conserved wisely because they are the engines of sustainable development. The best way forward is to balance conservation and development. Sabah is fortunate that local communities, research institutions, international partners, and NGOs - such as the Sabah Wetlands Conservation Society (SWCS) – have collaborated with the government to restore thousands of hectares of mangrove forests and to initiate community-based eco-tourism projects, which have enhanced environmental education programmes.

SWCS is working with the government to nominate two additional sites - the Klias Peninsular Wetland and the Lahad Datu Wetland – for inclusion into the Ramsar Sites of International importance. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor Hajiji said that the Government has always placed great importance on environmental sustainability. “We protect our wetlands by gazetting and designating them such as such as the Kota Kinabalu Wetland which is a Ramsar Site of International Importance,” Hajiji said at the 5th International Symposium on Conservation and Management of Wetlands 2025 on 24 September 2025 at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC), Kota Kinabalu.

“We are also implementing initiatives under our development plan, the Sabah Maju Jaya Roadmap, which emphasises sustainable and inclusive growth, with environmental protection as one of its guiding principles. Challenges remain including climate change, and urbanisation. We take the path of nature-based solutions, climate adaptation strategies, and international collaborations to ensure that our conservation efforts remain relevant and effective.”

The symposium discussed three papers: Marine Resource (Blue Economy), Wetland Fire-Regime/Wetland Urban Interface, and Wetland Rehabilitation and Stewardship. The government will continue partnerships to protect wetlands; expand wetland conservation areas; enhance capacity for research; and invest in sustainable financing mechanisms such as carbon trading and biodiversity offsets, the CM added.

Datuk Abidin Madingkir, Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, delivered CM’s speech.