20 March 2025
Supporting sustainably managed forest in Sabah
Caption: A focus group discussion with women representatives in Kg Tungkuyan, Sabah.
In February, Proforest, together with the Sabah Forestry Department (SFD), conducted a High Conservation Value (HCV) assessment for the Deramakot Forest Reserve (DFR) in Sandakan, Sabah.
This assessment is part of ongoing efforts to enhance the sustainable management of the forest reserve and fulfil the certification requirements under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) scheme.
Deramakot Forest Reserve, located in central Sabah, is a logged-over Class II Commercial Forest Reserve encompassing approximately 55,507 hectares, which accounts for 2.5% of Commercial Forest Reserves in Sabah.
Managed by SFD, DFR forms a significant part of the regional forest landscape, bordered by Tangkulap Forest Reserve to the west, Segaliud Lokan Forest Reserve to the east, and Malubuk, Ulu Segama Malua, and Kuamut Forest Reserves to the south.
The HCV assessment is aligned with the HCV Network (HCVN) Assessor Licensing Scheme (ALS), with one of the team members serving as a licensed HCV assessor.
The assessment process involves three main stages: Pre-assessment, Scoping Study, and Full Assessment. An earlier Scoping Study was conducted in October 2024, where the team gathered preliminary information through literature reviews and stakeholder consultations. Biodiversity experts also conducted field surveys on birds, freshwater fishes, and herpetofauna, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the fauna diversity in Deramakot.
As part of the Full Assessment fieldwork, the team trekked through the lush tropical forest to collect environmental data, conduct field surveys, and engage with local communities through social assessments. These assessments seek to understand the adjacent villages' livelihoods, basic needs, local resources, and cultural sites. Interviews were conducted with various community groups, and participatory mapping exercises identified areas of community land use and cultural significance.
Following the fieldwork, a mini-workshop was held on 27 February 2025, where the team shared preliminary findings and observations. Preliminary findings show that Deramakot maintains a high diversity of fauna species and communities near the reserve, relying heavily on the Kinabatangan River and other smaller rivers connected to Deramakot for sustenance, drinking water, cleaning, and transportation.
HCV assessments are important as they aim to identify and preserve areas of outstanding environmental, social, and cultural significance. By systematically evaluating these values, HCV assessments ensure that key habitats, species, and ecosystem services are protected and managed sustainably.
This process not only fulfils certification requirements but also fosters responsible forest stewardship, promotes biodiversity conservation, and supports local communities' livelihoods. Ultimately, the HCV assessment plays a pivotal role in maintaining the ecological integrity of forest landscapes and contributing to global conservation goals.
The work with SFD highlights Proforest’s commitment to Sabah and the Borneo region, reinforcing our dedication to supporting responsible forest management and safeguarding conservation values in critical landscapes.