Heart of Borneo

The Heart of Borneo Initiative is a voluntary transboundary cooperation between Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia aiming at conserving and managing the transboundary highlands of Borneo and parts of the adjacent foothills and lowlands, which straddle the borders of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia. The HoB approximately covers 200,000 km2 of ecologically inter- connected rainforest in the island of Borneo.
The State Government of Sabah and Sarawak has identified areas of approximately 3.9 million hectares and 2.1 million hectares respectively for Heart of Borneo, which approximately covers 60,000 km². In 2018, Heart of Borneo areas in Sarawak was expanded to 2.69 million hectares.

The Heart of Borneo Initiative is a voluntary transboundary cooperation between three ASEAN nations and was officially launched in Brazil on 27 March 2006. On 12 February 2007, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of Malaysia, the Minister of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia and the Minister of Industry and Primary Resources of Brunei Darussalam, signed and jointly issued a Declaration in Bali, Indonesia.

In view of the global concerns and controversy about the tropical forest development, the long-term objective of the Heart of Borneo Initiative, as enshrined in the Bali Declaration is as follows: “With one conservation vision and with a view to promote peoples’ welfare, we will cooperate in ensuring the effective management of forest resources and conservation of a network of protected areas, productive forests and other sustainable uses”.

The objectives of the Heart of Borneo Initiative are to conserve the last expanse of contiguous forests in Borneo through maximising transboundary linkages, promoting expansion of protected areas network, maintaining forest connectivity and ensuring sustainable land use practices.

To lend clarity and focus on its implementation of the long-term objective of the Heart of Borneo initiative, Sarawak has concise its programs and activities into five key focal areas or pillars:

• i) Pillar 1 - Sustainable Forest Management Focusing on maintaining the balance between forest used and environmental protection.
• ii) Pillar 2 - Ecotourism Based on Culture, Adventure and Nature (CAN) Focusing on developing the ecotourism involving the local communities to promote conservation and enhance socio-economic well-being.
• iii) Pillar 3 – Conservation of Biological Diversity Focusing on the implementation of Conservation and Biological Diversity initiatives within the HoB areas.
• iv) Pillar 4 - Sustainable Land use/ Agriculture Focusing on sustainable development of rural communities through wise management of natural resources and agriculture.
• v) Pillar 5 - Community-Based/Rural Poverty Alleviation Program Focusing on the welfare of rural communities through effective management of Totally Protected Areas, production forests and agriculture

HoB Sarawak with the earliest total area of 2.1 million hectares is divided into three regions namely Northern Region covering the Miri and Limbang Divisions; Central Region covering the Kapit and Belaga Districts of the Kapit Division; and Southern Region covering Sri Aman, Sarikei and Sibu Divisions as well as the Song District of the Kapit Division.
In 2018, the extension area of HoB Sarawak to 2.69 mil hectares was approved by the State Cabinet. The expansion involves the area from Batang Ai to the western region of Sarawak. This covers the Kelingkang Range, Gunung Apeng National Park, Bungo Range National Park, Gunung Pueh National Park, Kubah National Park, Gunung Gading National Park, Samunsam Wildlife Sanctuary, Matang Wildlife Centre, Kuching Wetland National Park, Bako National Park, Sampadi National Park, Santubong National Park and Tanjung Datu National Park.

LANDUSE IN HOB SARAWAK

*Update on 14 November 2024
Source: Forest Technology and Geospatial Division, Forest Department Sarawak.

FUNDING RECORD OF DEVELOPMENT ALLOCATION (RMK-9 TO RMK-12)

– FEDERAL GOVERNMENT –