In Sabah’s east coast Lahad Datu district, efforts are being made to establish a wildlife corridor. This project aims to enhance biodiversity conservation and promote ecological connectivity within the Tabin Landscape by connecting the Tabin Wildlife Reserve and the isolated Silabukan Forest Reserve. The Tabin Wildlife Reserve, situated amidst oil palm plantations, is home to the largest population of orangutans in the eastern lowlands, with approximately 1,200 individuals. The corridor between these reserves serves as a lifeline for species’ movements, facilitating connectivity with the smaller, isolated orangutan population in the Silabukan Forest Reserve.
The partnership between WWF-Malaysia and plantation company Kuala Lumpur Kepong (KLK) sets a new precedent in corporate responsibility. Dr. Robecca Jumin, the head of conservation (Sabah) at WWF-Malaysia, expressed hope that this initiative by KLK would encourage other movements within the palm oil industry to recognize the importance of biodiversity and habitat restoration. She commended the company’s involvement in this project as a demonstration of the living landscapes approach and activity beyond certification.
KLK Sabah’s senior general manager, Dinakaran Madhavan, emphasized that conservation and preserving biodiversity were key priority areas in the company’s sustainability commitments. Through efforts such as pledging to no new development on peat and adopting the approach of high conservation value and high carbon stock, KLK aims to create a sustainable ecosystem that ensures the survival of wildlife and maintains life-supporting systems essential to ecological processes.
Recent surveys conducted by WWF-Malaysia highlight the immense conservation importance of the Tabin Wildlife Reserve, showcasing its remarkable regeneration from an area that was once heavily logged for timber. This reserve also serves as a sanctuary for other Bornean endemic species, including Bornean elephants (350), Banteng (50), and Sunda clouded leopards (40).
The five-year project to establish the physical wildlife corridor was inaugurated with a tree planting ceremony at Ladang Bukit Tabin. As part of this initial phase, the priority is to plant fast-growing native pioneer species and fig plants to improve the food source for wildlife. Apart from co-funding the initiative, KLK has dedicated 7.1 hectares of oil palm land for this purpose and will continue to maintain the planted area.
Funded by Beiersdorf AG, a German multinational company that manufactures personal-care products, this project contributes to the restoration activities under the WWF-Malaysia Sabah Landscapes Programme. Its main goal is to enhance connectivity and improve wildlife corridor establishment.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
