Kinabalu Park’s 25-Year UNESCO Status Reflects Strong Governance and Community Partnership

17 January 2026

KOTA KINABALU: The continued success of Kinabalu Park in maintaining its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for 25 years reflects strong governance, effective protection mechanisms, and close collaboration with local communities, said Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Jafry Ariffin.

Speaking at the Silver Jubilee celebration of Kinabalu Park’s World Heritage inscription, Jafry said the milestone was not merely an anniversary, but a testament to the collective commitment of all stakeholders in safeguarding a site of Outstanding Universal Value to both Malaysia and the international community.

“Kinabalu Park is more than a geographical landmark. It is a natural treasure, a global archive of biodiversity, and a symbol of the harmonious relationship between humanity, nature and spiritual heritage,” he said.

Jafry noted that the theme of this year’s celebration, “Celebrating the Treasure, Empowering Its Protectors,” reflects the government’s balanced and forward-looking approach to conservation, recognising past achievements while strengthening protection systems to address future challenges.

He stressed that conservation efforts must remain dynamic and adaptive, guided by sound policies, strong scientific foundations and governance grounded in integrity. In this regard, he said the protection of Kinabalu Park is supported by a comprehensive, multi-layered governance framework.

At the international level, he said, the park continues to comply with the principles of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, while regionally, its designation as an ASEAN Heritage Park underscores Sabah’s leadership in biodiversity conservation in Southeast Asia. Nationally and at the state level, management of the park is aligned with key policies, including the National Biodiversity Policy, National Climate Change Policy and the Sabah Parks Strategic Plan.

Jafry also highlighted the critical role of enforcement agencies and strategic partners, including the Royal Malaysia Police, the Fire and Rescue Department, the Ministry of Health and district offices, in ensuring public safety, law enforcement, emergency preparedness and effective site management.

Equally important, he said, is the involvement of local communities, who serve as key partners in conservation through their roles as mountain guides, porters, honorary rangers and custodians of indigenous customs related to Mount Kinabalu.

“This collaboration ensures that modern management practices go hand in hand with the preservation of traditional values, customs and the sanctity of Mount Kinabalu, which remains central to the identity and spirituality of the people of Sabah,” he said.

Jafry further noted that Kinabalu Park has successfully harmonised its dual international designations as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a UNESCO Global Geopark through a balanced management model. Under this approach, strict protection is enforced in the core heritage zones, while sustainable socio-economic activities are permitted within designated Geopark buffer areas.

In terms of science and innovation, he said Kinabalu Park has strengthened its position as a hub for tropical mountain ecosystem research, supported by international collaborations that have produced globally recognised publications. He added that lessons learned from the 2015 Ranau earthquake have led to improved risk management and the adoption of digital monitoring systems such as EarthRanger for real-time biodiversity and safety monitoring.

On tourism, Jafry said the park adopts a quality-over-quantity approach, as reflected in its Malaysia Tourism Quality Assurance (MyTQA) Platinum Grade recognition and various ASEAN-level accolades. He added that economic benefits from tourism are distributed inclusively to local communities in line with sustainable development principles.

As part of the Silver Jubilee celebration, Jafry officially launched the new Kinabalu Park World Heritage Site Management Plan, which will serve as the primary strategic document guiding long-term conservation efforts. The plan focuses on four key pillars: climate change adaptation, visitor capacity management, disaster risk management, and community well-being with the institutionalisation of community roles.

“This Silver Jubilee demonstrates that the successful conservation of a World Heritage Site requires clear policy leadership, integrity in implementation and continuous cooperation among all parties,” he said.