KOTA KINABALU: Forty-nine per cent of Sabah is covered with permanent forest reserves, according to State Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
He said that with an area of approximately 7.4 million hectares, Sabah is the second-largest state in Malaysia.
"Around 63 per cent of the state's area is still covered by forests, including forest reserves, Sabah parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and state land forests.
"The area of permanent forest reserves in the state has increased by 566.57 hectares compared to 2020.
"It was from 3,574,468.003 hectares in 2020 to 3,575,034.573 hectares currently, which accounts for 49 per cent of the total area of Sabah," he said during the state assembly sitting here.
He was replying to a question by Datuk Darell Leiking (Moyog-Warisan) about the total area of forest reserves in Sabah between 2020 and 2024.
Hajiji's speech was read by State Assistant Minister to Chief Minister Datuk Abidin Madingkir.