SANDAKAN: The Chief Conservator of Forests, Datuk Zulkifli Suara, showcases the 306-page 2025 Annual Report of the Sabah Forestry Department (SFD) at the Forestry Headquarters in Sandakan on 6 September, 2026.
Many activities were implemented with achievements accomplished in 2025.
Notably, the Pin Supu Forest Reserve (FR) in Kinabatangan has been officially recognised as the first terrestrial IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Area in Malaysia, a prestigious global recognition awarded by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for excellence in conservation and protected area management.
To date, the State’s forest cover is maintained at 63%, which is the highest of the three regions in Malaysia, and we are achieving 30% of the Totally Protected Areas (TPAs) through the gazettement soon.
All these are in line with the State’s efforts in addressing issues related to climate change, realising the UN Sustainable Development Goals agenda.
In legislation, the Forest (Amendment) Enactment 2025 was passed to regulate forest-based carbon activities and establish a framework for carbon trading.
Forest-based carbon activities in forest reserves, state land, and titled land will be licensed under agreed terms and conditions that protect the state’s interests.
Additionally, Sabah has recently passed the Climate Change and Carbon Governance Enactment 2025, positioning the state as a leader in environmental conservation and resilience against climate change.
In 2025, the Sabah Timber Legality Assurance System (TLAS) was upgraded to Sabah TLAS+, which was launched recently.
The e-Removal Pass System of the department was launched in December, in line with the EUDR international standard. The forest revenue collected in 2025 is RM164.7 million, despite the challenging world economy and trade.
The department has organised many seminars, workshops, events, dialogues and training throughout 2025, including the International Conference on the Green Heart of Borneo on 22-23 October, with the theme ‘Advancing Climate Resilience, Conservation and Sustainable Livelihood’.
The State-level International Day of Forests was held on 24 April at UMS, with the theme ‘Forests and Food’. The Majlis Apresiasi Perhutanan (MAPT) 2025 was successfully organised and was officiated by the State Secretary, representing the Right Honourable Chief Minister.
Throughout the 5-year Greening Malaysia-100 million Tree Planting Campaign (2021-2025), nearly 27 million trees were planted (67% of the targeted 40 million trees for Sabah).
The statewide Forestry Speech and Quiz Competition was organised among the secondary schools in Sabah to enhance awareness of the importance of forests to the younger generation.
The PROTECT Team won the marching competition twice this year (and many times in previous years), during the National Day and TYT’s birthday parades.
It is enlightening to know that the Sabah Forestry Department has been accorded the Special Award for the Best Human Resource Management in 2025 along with the Best 5-Star Rating for Human Resource Information System (SM2) by the State’s Public Service Department and Best Record Management by Sabah State Archives.
The department was also awarded the first runner-up for the Independent Web Innovator Award by the State Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.
The year 2025 also marked the inception of some of the major activities (inaugural workshop and project board meeting) of the Integrated Landscape Management for Sustainable Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration Project in Sabah (FOLUR).
The development projects under the 12th Malaysia Plan (2021-2025) were successfully implemented accordingly, with 99% and 99.8% on expenditure for state and federal development projects, respectively, over the five-year period.
A total of 30 state-funded projects and 30 federal-funded projects were undertaken.
On forest protection and enforcement, various existing initiatives were implemented and enhanced.
These include aerial surveys via drones, honorary forest rangers, forest checking stations, partnerships and training with government agencies, the private sector, NGOs and local communities, as well as amendments to the relevant forest laws.
In research, 113 publications and scientific reports were produced in 2025.
There were over 50 research collaborations with local and international agencies.
More than 40 research-related activities by the Forest Research Centre and some 107 EE programmes by the Rainforest Discovery Centre were undertaken in 2025.
The Sabah Forestry Institute (FORiNS) continues to excel in forestry capacity building, with 38 individuals graduating from the forestry courses in 2025.
Datuk Zulkifli Suara acknowledges everyone in the Sabah Forestry Department and various stakeholders for the accomplishments in 2025 that contribute towards sustainable forest management.
The annual report can be accessed at the Sabah Forestry Department’s website. In just one click on the ‘Table of Contents page’ of the Annual Report 2025, the user can go directly to the selected title.
The report showcases all project implementations, activities and achievements of the department throughout the year.
It is the Key Performance Index (KPI) or the report card of the department.
