By Karen Bong
KUCHING, May 28: Sarawak has nominated Bako National Park and Lambir Hills National Park to be recognised as Asean Heritage Parks (AHP), marking the State’s continued efforts to elevate its rich biodiversity and natural treasures to international prominence.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan highlighted that the nomination comes in the wake of the successful inscription of Niah National Park as a Unesco World Heritage Site last year.
“Both Bako and Lambir Hills have undergone evaluation by the Asean Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), with the final decision expected to be announced by September 2025,” he said when delivering his ministerial winding-up speech at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly sitting today.
Awang Tengah added that the Sarawak government is also pushing forward with its ambition to obtain Unesco Global Geopark Site status for the Sarawak Delta Geopark by 2026.
He disclosed that Sarawak is currently in the final phase of preparations for an official assessment by Unesco scheduled for June 22 to 25, 2025. Two pre-assessment sessions have already been conducted in April and May this year to ensure readiness.
On the enforcement front, Awang Tengah reported that from November 2024 to April 2025, the Sarawak Forest Department recorded 61 forest-related offences, with 13 cases filed for prosecution.
“Seven individuals have been convicted in four of those cases, while nine cases remain under trial. Total revenue collected from fines and timber confiscation during the period amounted to RM832,042,” he said.
For wildlife and Totally Protected Areas (TPA), Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) opened 19 investigation papers between December 2024 and April 2025, resulting in one case prosecuted, three compounded, and 15 still under investigation.
An additional five cases from the previous year were also brought to court, bringing the total to six cases, with RM65,500 in fines collected.
Awang Tengah also highlighted the recent opening of Wisma Lestari, which houses the Sarawak Wildlife Forensics (SWIF) laboratory. He noted that the lab plays a crucial role in bolstering evidence in court through DNA technology and in enhancing long-term monitoring via a gene bank database. — DayakDaily
