Sabah Biodiversity 2026 — Forests, Protected Areas & Species
Sabah has about 4.68 million hectares of forest, roughly 63.6% of its land (Sabah Forestry Department, 2021 figures), and in February 2026 it raised its totally protected areas to about 2.23 million hectares, 30% of the state. Kinabalu Park alone holds 5,000–6,000 vascular plant species (Sabah Parks). The Bornean elephant, about 1,000 animals mostly in Sabah, was listed as Endangered in 2024.
About 4.68 million ha of Sabah was forested: 3.85 million ha in Forest Reserves and other forest land, and 0.83 million ha on stateland and alienated land.
Source: Sabah Forestry Department, forest resources; 'other land' is our calculation from the Forest Reserve share (48.6%)
How much forest does Sabah have?
The Sabah Forestry Department puts Sabah's forested area at about 4,679,594 hectares, roughly 63.6% of the state's land (our calculation from its figures, as at 2021). Forest Reserves cover 3,574,468 ha, 48.6% of the state. In February 2026 the state expanded its totally protected areas to about 2.23 million hectares, 30% of its land and meeting its 30% target (Borneo Post, 13 February 2026). See Sabah forests and protected areas.
How many plant species does Kinabalu Park have?
Sabah Parks says 5,000 to 6,000 vascular plant species grow in Kinabalu Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, including 711 documented orchids, 621 ferns, 81 palms, 78 figs, 45 wild gingers, 27 rhododendrons and 9 species of pitcher plants (Nepenthaceae). It describes the park as holding about 14% of the flora of the Malesian region. The park also has over 100 mammal species and more than half of Borneo's 518 bird species.
Orchids and ferns are the richest groups in Kinabalu Park, with more than 600 species each.
Source: Sabah Parks, Kinabalu Park flora and fauna
Which animals are most threatened?
The Bornean elephant was reclassified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List on 27 June 2024. IUCN estimates about 1,000 remain, around 400 of them breeding adults, mainly in Sabah with a small population in Kalimantan, and says about 60% of their forest habitat has been lost in 40 years. The Sumatran rhino is extinct in Malaysia: the last one, a female named Iman, died in Sabah in November 2019. For orangutans, proboscis monkeys and other species, see Sabah wildlife populations.
Marine biodiversity
Sabah's seas are part of the Coral Triangle, which WWF says holds 605 coral species (76% of the world's) and 2,228 reef fish species across its six countries; these are not Sabah-only figures. No Sabah-wide reef fish count has been published. Park by park, Sabah Parks records 573 fish species at Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, 528 at Tun Sakaran, around 350 at Tun Mustapha and over 300 at Sipadan; Tun Sakaran also has 255 coral species. See Sabah marine figures.
Conservation
- 30% totally protected (February 2026): about 2.23 million hectares, meeting the state's 30% target; the largest totally protected area of any Malaysian state (Borneo Post).
- Major protected areas: Kinabalu Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Crocker Range, Danum Valley, Maliau Basin, the Lower Kinabatangan–Segama Wetlands Ramsar site and the marine parks.
- Forests as carbon income: the state energy plan says almost 3.6 million hectares, 48.6% of Sabah's land, is gazetted as Forest Reserve, a large carbon sink (SE-RAMP 2040, p.131). Credits from Sabah's Kuamut Rainforest Conservation Project were sold in the first auction of Malaysian carbon credits in 2024; see Sabah carbon credits.
Frequently asked questions
Q How much of Sabah is forest?
Q How much of Sabah is protected?
Q How many plant species are there on Mount Kinabalu?
Q How many Bornean elephants are left?
Q Is the Sumatran rhino extinct in Sabah?
Q What is the Heart of Borneo?
Sources & References 6 sources
Last updated: 28 September 2026
Government
- Sabah Forestry Department: Forest resources Forested area 4,679,594 ha (3,848,597 in Forest Reserves and other forest land; 830,997 on stateland and alienated land); Forest Reserves 3,574,468 ha, 48.6%; TPA 1,942,397 ha, 26.4% (2021 figures).
- Sabah Parks: Kinabalu Park flora and fauna 5,000–6,000 vascular plants; 711 orchids; 621 ferns; 9 Nepenthaceae; 27 rhododendrons; 78 figs; 81 palms; 45 wild gingers; over 100 mammals.
- Borneo Post, 13 February 2026: Sabah expands totally protected areas to over 2.2 mln hectares Expansion to over 2.2 million ha meets the 30% TPA target; Sabah has the largest TPA in Malaysia.
- Energy Commission of Sabah: SE-RAMP 2040 (2023), p.131 Forest Reserves almost 3.6 million ha, 48.6% of Sabah.