BEAUFORT: Sabah Parks is banking on cooperation from all stakeholders to preserve the status quo of the Crocker Range Biosphere Reserve (CRBR).
Its director Dr Maklarin Lakim said the 350,584-hectare Crocker Range Park and its surrounding area was declared CRBR under the Man and Biosphere (MAB) programme by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on June 12, 2014.
A Biosphere Reserve is a geographical area of land that can cover up to the coast, managed through a sustainable development approach.
Sustainable management promotes conservation and development without having a negative impact on the source of clean water supply that comes from a healthy nature.
CRBR covers nine administrative districts, namely, Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Papar, Beaufort, Tenom, Keningau, Tambunan, Ranau and Tuaran.
"Sabah Parks has been entrusted by the state government of Sabah to become the lead agency for the conservation and rehabilitation of CRBR.
"However, to ensure the Reserve is preserved and restored, it is the joint responsibility of all departments and agencies, such as the Department of Irrigation and Drainage, Department of Agriculture, Department of Forestry, Sabah Biodiversity Centre, Local Government, District Offices and Community Leaders in tandem with their respective mandates that have been entrusted by the Sabah State Government.
"We must continue this cooperation to ensure that CRBR will continue to stand tall and strong in the eyes of the world," he said during a roadshow on CRBR for the Klias community at Sekolah Kebangsaan Biah here.
Present was Klias assemblyman Datuk Isnin Aliasnih and district officer Nazri Ajun.
Isnin, who is also the state Assistant Local Government and Housing minister, said Klias was fortunate to be in the transition zone of the CRBR.
"This means that the Klias area still has natural features of high value and is able to be used as a product and a focus for tourists who like to explore and enjoy the richness of the tropical forest.
"With this, I fully support this tour programme or "roadshow", because it can ensure public awareness and support for the preservation and conservation of the environment more effectively, not only for the current generation, but also for the sake of future generations."