This 18-month project, titled Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Sabah: Consolidation of issues and experiences related to biodiversity conservation and sustainable resource management, was managed through a Steering Committee chaired by the Natural Resources Office of the Sabah State Chief Minister’s Department.
The project was carried out through two core components. Under the Learning Platform for Biocultural Diversity and Conservation, a series of workshops and seminars aimed at broadening understanding of the issues and recent developments concerning traditional ecological knowledge was delivered. This exchange of information and sharing of expertise allowed for the strengthening of capacity of conservation agencies, local communities and civil society organisations to address Access and Benefit Sharing issues in Sabah.
The second component focused on the Identification of Potential Indigenous Peoples’ and Community Conserved Areas (ICCAs) in Sabah. A state-wide review to explore, assess the status, and identify measures to recognise and support community conservation in Sabah was conducted.
Included in the IUCN Guidelines on Categories of Protected Areas, ICCAs uphold indigenous peoples’ rights to their lands and resources as enshrined in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, to which Malaysia is a signatory.
Project results contributed towards submissions to COP10 in Nagoya, and ultimately towards the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Sabah, and Malaysia in general.
Project Donor
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
Project Partners
Sabah Biodiversity Centre
Sabah Parks
Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) under the Bornean Biodiversity and Ecosystems Conservation Phase Two Programme (BBEC II)