The signing and handing over of Sawit Kinabalu Sdn Bhd (SKSB) Sg. Pin Conservation Area Management Plan (CAMP) is part of the Sabah Forestry Department (SFD) initiative through the Sabah EU-REDDplus Project in mainstreaming conservation through public-private partnerships in Kinabatangan. The signing ceremony was officiated by the Chief Conservator of Forests, Mr Frederick Kugan and Sawit Kinabalu Group Managing Director, Mr Bacho Jansie, at Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort and Spa in Kota Kinabalu.

This much-anticipated signing event was long overdue because the Covid-19 pandemic marks the start of Sawit Kinabalu official roles in continuing to implement their conservation activities in Sg. Pin Conservation Area as stipulated also in the MoU signed with SFD back in October 2017 during the International Heart of Borneo (HoB) Conference.

This is a momentous milestone set for the conservation efforts made by Sawit Kinabalu Group which is the main project partner in Sabah EU-REDD+ Project, “Tackling Climate Change through Sustainable Forest Management and Community Development” in Kinabatangan. This Conservation Area Management Plan which is specifically customized for the private landowner, which was prepared by the Team-of Experts from the Forest Research Centre in Sepilok, is an invaluable future reference for other oil palm companies venturing into conservation in line with the internationally recognized IUCN’s Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECM).