THE Bako National Park in Kuching and Bukit Lambir National Park in Miri have been officially nominated as ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHP), marking a significant step forward for Sarawak’s conservation and ecotourism credentials.
The nominations were confirmed by Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, who also serves as the state’s Second Minister of Natural Resources and Urban Development.
He said the proposed designations had been evaluated by the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), with the outcome of the assessments expected to be announced in September this year.
“These nominations reflect Sarawak’s commitment to preserving our natural heritage, following the recent recognition of the Niah National Park cave complex as a World Archaeological Heritage Site by UNESCO last year,” he said during the State Legislative Assembly’s winding-up session.
Awang Tengah also highlighted that Sarawak has to date gazetted a total of 2.1 million hectares as Total Protection Areas (TPAs), consisting of 874,000 hectares of terrestrial land and 1.2 million hectares of marine waters.
To further bolster conservation efforts, the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) has entered into several strategic memoranda of understanding. These include partnerships with the Sarawak Infectious Disease Centre (SIDC) for zoonotic disease research, the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC) for technical biodiversity cooperation, and Universiti Malaya for genetic research initiatives.
The ASEAN Heritage Park programme recognises protected areas of high conservation importance that best represent a region’s natural and cultural heritage. If successful, the inclusion of Bako and Bukit Lambir will elevate Malaysia’s presence in the regional conservation network and promote further ecotourism opportunities in Sarawak. - May 28, 2025
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