Climbing green heights

The green measures have effectively contributed to Sabah's achievement of having 80 percent of its orangutans thriving in protected forests, Niun said.

"They make use of these newly restored forests, thus avoiding negative interactions and the need for translocations," he said.

"With YSD's ongoing support, we will continue to build on these successes and collaboratively address the remaining challenges to ensure the protection of orangutans throughout the region," Niun said.

He was speaking during the Sandakan event that was held in collaboration with the Sabah Forestry Department and the Sabah Wildlife Department at the Rainforest Discovery Centre.

This year's in-person event, the first following a virtual celebration in 2021, commemorates 15 years of YSD's commitment to orangutan conservation.

It spotlights the foundation's decade-long 25 million ringgit ($5.75 million) initiative in the Bukit Piton Forest Reserve, formerly known as the Northern Ulu Segama Forest Reserve, a key effort in Sabah's conservation landscape.

The celebration also marks the continuation of YSD's work with the Human-Orangutan Coexistence Project, now progressing into its second phase with the South East Asia Rainforest Research Partnership.

The project illustrates the importance of multi-sector collaboration for effective orangutan conservation in Sabah.

Sabah's chief conservator of forests, Datuk Frederick Kugan, said a 10-year partnership with SD Guthrie and YSD has significantly advanced the forestry department's forest conservation technical expertise.

This is, he said, while rehabilitating highly degraded forest which is an important orangutan habitat area in Sabah.

"The successful rehabilitation of the Bukit Piton Forest Reserve has revitalized critical habitats for orangutans and engaged local communities in meaningful ways.

"This initiative is a prime example of how collaborative efforts lead to real change," Kugan said.