KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Parks is on the right track to becoming an agency capable of self-sustaining financially.
State Tourism, Culture and Environment minister Datuk Christina Liew said that the revenue of Sabah Parks in 2023 amounted to RM 54 million, excluding government grants.
"In reality, it is not easy to manage the Sabah Parks area, which covers a total of 1.2 million hectares. There are areas deep within the forests and remote island areas that require several hours of boat travel to reach.
"Managing and protecting these areas incur high costs, therefore the concept of sustainability needs to align with strengthening the financial resources of Sabah Parks.
"Only with strong financial support can sustainability be achieved. Strong financial support enables us to implement more programs and facility upgrading projects," she said during Sabah Parks 2023 Appreciation night at a hotel here last night.
Her speech was read by Sabah Parks Boards of Trustee deputy chairman Peter Lintar.
Liew said Sabah Parks have great potential and had three great achievements such as acknowledgement with UNESCO Triple Crown, Kinabalu UNESCO Global Geopark as well as organising an international conference dubbed 14th Turtle Islands Heritage Protected Area Joint Management Committee Meeting here.
However, she also reminded Sabah Parks the challenges that it has to face in future.
"From the aspect of biodiversity conservation, Sabah Parks must ensure that conservation efforts continue even amidst the pressures of development and natural resource utilisation.
"Secondly, financial resource management is crucial. Ensuring adequate financial resources to carry out conservation and management operations in the Sabah Parks areas.
"Therefore, I urge that all these noble and diligent efforts continue in 2024. I also call for all international recognition obtained by Sabah Parks to be maintained and fully utilised for the benefit of the state of Sabah and its people."
