Kota Kinabalu: Sabah currently has two ongoing carbon projects, namely Innoprise-Face Foundation Rainforest Rehabilitation Project (Infapro), which dates back to 1992, and the Kuamut Rainforest Conservation Project with Permian, which uses NBS.
The State was not merely looking at a second project, but potentially a third and subsequent projects, said Sabah Forestry Department (SFD) Forest Sector Planning Division Head Rosila Anthony.
The Forest Enactment 1968 was amended by the State Assembly in 2025 to introduce a regulatory framework for forest cover activities in Sabah.
She said Section 28D of the Forest Enactment 1968, which came into effect on May 15, 2025, regulated forest cover activities in Sabah through a licensing and enforcement framework.
It applied to forest cover activities carried out within forest reserves and other forest areas prescribed under the Forest Enactment, with such activities only permitted under a licence issued pursuant to Section 28D and subject to prescribed conditions.
Meanwhile, the Sabah Climate Change and Carbon Governance Enactment 2025 established the broader statewide framework for climate governance, carbon rights administration, carbon project registration and carbon market oversight.
It applies to carbon rights, carbon projects, carbon credits and carbon-related activities throughout Sabah, with carbon projects required to comply with registration, permitting and governance requirements under the Enactment.
Rosila said the Forest Enactment regulated the conduct of forest cover activities within forest areas through a licensing regime administered by the Forestry Authority, while the Sabah Climate Change and Carbon Governance Enactment 2025 provided the broader governance framework for carbon rights, carbon projects, registry administration and climate governance.
“Compliance with both frameworks may be required depending on the nature, location and scope of the proposed carbon project,” she said.
She said the integrated approach ensured that forest carbon projects were aligned with Sabah’s broader climate governance and carbon market infrastructure.
Rosila said NBS provided significant co-benefits extending beyond climate change mitigation.
From a climate perspective, SFM, mangrove conservation, peatland ecosystem restoration and forest carbon initiatives enhanced carbon sequestration, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and strengthened ecosystem resilience.
The interventions also improved the capacity of communities and ecosystems to adapt to climate-related risks such as flooding, drought, coastal erosion and extreme weather events.
From a socio-economic perspective, she said NBS created opportunities for green economic growth by generating employment, supporting sustainable livelihoods, enhancing ecotourism potential, strengthening community participation and attracting climate and conservation financing.
Sabah’s NBS agenda also aligned closely with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and reflected the principles outlined in the IUCN Global Standards for Nature-Based Solutions, which emphasise effective governance, biodiversity, adaptive management, stakeholder engagement and long-term sustainability.
