RANAU: The Sabah government has established the Sustainability and Capacity Development Centre to focus on protecting and conserving Sabah Parks.
Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew said the centre aimed to improve the knowledge, skills and capacity of stakeholders and communities around the parks.
"This will allow local communities to take advantage of the socio-economic benefits, especially around the area that has been recognised as a Unesco site," said Liew when announcing the establishment of the centre.
She said this at the launch of an 11-day training course on "Sustainable Development Goals: The Way Forward, Issues, Challenges and Prospect of Sustainability Development — Climate Change and Renewal Energy 2024" at Kinabalu Park.
The course is crucial as it is part of the Sabah Maju Jaya development plan and is in line with all 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, she said.
She congratulated the Sabah Parks board of trustees for initiating and approving the setting up of the centre.
All natural resource management programmes for the socio-economic interests of local communities would be managed by this centre, she said.
She urged communities around Kinabalu Park, Crocker Range Biosphere Reserve and Kinabalu Global Geopark to make full use of the course.
Cooperation and strong support from stakeholders were crucial to stimulate Sabah's socio-economy in tourism, culture and environment, she said.
"The Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry is committed to advancing the sustainable development of tourism, which is the third pillar of the state government's economy."
The course has more than 25 participants from the Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry, Sabah Biodiversity Centre, Sabah Tourism Board, Sabah Forestry Department, Sabah Forestry Development Board, Sabah Irrigation and Drainage Department, Kota Kinabalu City Hall, the district offices of Ranau, Tuaran, Papar and Penampang and Sabah Parks.
Present was Sabah Parks director Dr Maklarin Lakim and organising committee members.