Kinabalu Park

Dandelions are a persistent alien plant first reported in the World Heritage property in 1998/99. Despite ongoing efforts to contain this invasive species (Sabah Parks, 2010; Sabah Parks News, 2024), the infestation has spread, displacing local plant species and impacting on biodiversity values (Latip and Rais, 2016; Latip et al, 2016; Latip et al., 2020). In response, Sabah Parks has intensified its management actions (IUCN consultation, 2025): Since 2022, the eradication of false dandelions has been conducted annually on January 16th through collaborative efforts with stakeholders and the local community. Additionally, the Research and Education Division of Sabah Parks is currently undertaking studies to understand the impact and distribution of invasive species within the park. These ongoing initiatives reflect the park’s commitment to protecting its high floral diversity, including threatened and endemic species, from the increasing threat of invasive alien plants. Media have reported on a Sabah Parks work party that 'destroyed' 106 kg of dandelions on Mt Kinabalu over 3 days in August in 2024 (The Star, 2024), with over 3000 kg removed in the three years leading up to 2020 (Muguntan, 2020). The need for thorough digital mapping of invasive species in the park has been identified by park-management staff (Miwil, 2022) but it is not known whether headway has been made on this front.

The park manager's 2015-2025 strategic plan warned that Sabah's increasing population and increasing demand for recreation in natural areas would place assets such as Kinabalu Park under increased pressure (Sabah Parks, 2014). In 2022, the number of visitors to the park reached over 500,000 (Sabah Parks Dashboard, 2024). Noise, air pollution and crowding have been identified as problems experienced by recreationalists and tourists in Kinabalu Park (Latip et al, 2020). The track leading to the summit of 4095m Mount Kinabalu was re-routed following damage from the 2015 earthquake but concerns about its heavy use remained. To mitigate tourism-related pressures, Sabah Parks has implemented measures to limit the number of climbers to 188 per day (IUCN consultation, 2025). Concerns (Goh and Mariney, 2010; Latip and Rais, 2016) about an alleged lack of monitoring to assess visitor impacts, and the lack of a scientifically-determined number for the park's carrying capacity of tourists, have been shown in the past. Impacts that include littering and spreading of dandelion have been reported (Latip et al., 2016). Two 'via ferrata' trails (rock-climbing route protected by permanent metal infrastructure) were established around 2016 (numerous online sources, including The Star Online, 2016) on the previously pristine high precipices of Mt Kinabalu and are advertised as one of the park's attractions (Mount Kinabalu, 2024). Due to the sensitivity of the location it is possible that fauna such as raptors and flora have been and are still being impacted. However, a preliminary research conducted by the Research and Education Division of Sabah Parks indicates that the establishment of the Via Ferrata routes has not caused significant impacts on the existing flora and fauna (OUV) in the area, and no alien species were detected during the assessment (IUCN consultation, 2025). No publicly available EIA has been published so far to confirm whether potential impacts on the OUV were assessed or appropriate mitigation measures implemented.
A study on the impacts of traffic noise on bird populations found significant impacts in the vicinity of the property's main access routes (Ambrose et al., 2017).

The consideration of the impacts of climate change is necessary for all protected areas in which ecosystems and/or flora are key attributes. The 2020 assessment identified 'Droughts creating risk of fire' as a potential threat. This specific impact of climate change is now subsumed into a more generic description because not enough is known about the precise ways in which climate change will affect the property. Climate change has been identified as a threat to Kinabalu Park in various online sources (Zero Hour Climate, 2024) but there is little documentation in English on this threat by the State Party or land managers. Kitayama et al (2014) have referred to 'extreme oscillation of wet-arid condition' in the summit area of Mt Kinabalu, so certain parts of the park may have a natural resilience to changes in climate but they also say 'interactions of temperature and aridity need to be addressed in order to predict the effects of global change on the vegetation of Mount Kinabalu' (Kitayama et al, 2014).
A study appears to indicate that particular species of bird have migrated upslope compared with historical records, otentially as a result of climate change (Harris et al, 2012). Climate change may affect rainfall amounts and the way in which rainfall is distributed throughout the year. Potential impacts include the drying of the property's biodiverse flora (making it more susceptible to fire, disease or dieback) and/or exceptionally heavy rainfall events that damage vegetation, with follow-on impacts on key species of flora and/or fauna. Naturally occurring El Niňo droughts greatly increase risk of impacts on biodiversity due to uncontrolled fires within the World Heritage property. As some of the property's neighbours use fire for agricultural management, there is a risk of fire escape into the World Heritage property during (State Party of Malaysia, 2002). The local media have reported a high incidence of forest fires in Sabah, including 961 between 1 January and 13 March 2024 (New Straits Times, 2019; Straits Times, 2016; Miwil, 2024). Climate change may exacerbate the threat to the property posed by fires whose ignition source is outside the property.

In response to these challenges, Sabah Parks has implemented various mitigation and adaptation efforts (IUCN consultation, 2025). Collaborative research on climate change and key species indicators is ongoing with local universities. In partnership with the Korea National Park Service, climate monitoring equipment has been installed within the park to support long-term data collection and trend analysis. Regular patrolling activities are also carried out with the support of local communities, particularly during drought seasons, to monitor fire risks. In addition, strategic collaboration with the Fire and Rescue Department has been established to enhance team capacity through joint training programs, ensuring effective early response and emergency management both within and around the park area.

When the property was inscribed on the World Heritage List it was noted that it was at risk of becoming an ‘island in a sea of agricultural land use’. A 2008 study found that Kinabalu Park had been effective at preventing deforestation within its boundaries but that deforestation was still occurring inside areas within a kilometre of the park (Phua et al, 2008). In 2011, the Sabah Environment Protection Association was highly critical of the illegal land clearing near the World Heritage site (Kaung, 2011) and a relatively recent study (Allan, 2017) indicated that loss of forest cover in the surrounding area had continued. An establishment of a formal buffer zone with clearly specified land-use restrictions would help provide additional protection for the site.
As part of its ongoing conservation efforts, Sabah Parks is currently overseeing the southern Mamut area with the intention of formally designating it as a Park Reserve. While not yet gazetted, the area is under active monitoring and serves as a de facto buffer zone for Kinabalu Park (IUCN consultation, 2025).

The 2020 assessment said that encroachment by traditional cropping practices and unresolved land claims had been addressed by the introduction of ‘Community Use Zones’. While this was said to be a useful short-term strategy to resolve conflict between management and the local community, a long-term resolution preventing further encroachment, accompanied by rigorous monitoring and reporting, is required. A high incidence of forest fires in Sabah has been reported by local media (New Straits Times, 2019; Straits Times, 2016; Miwil, 2024) and while these have yet to affect the World Heritage site, a prudent approach is to reduce potential sources of ignition within the national park. In 2020, a senior park manager identified 'farms operating without permits' as a threat to Kinabalu Park and said that, over the previous three years, 62 investigations had been opened and 32 individuals summoned due to alleged offences, with 'permits granted to six villagers to carry out farming' (Muguntan, 2020), which seems to indicate a continuation of official tolerance of destructive activities as long they are carried out with a permit. Impacts of encroachment were also identified as a threat by Jumin (2018).
To prevent encroachment and illegal activities, boundary clearing is carried out annually with the support of local communities. Regular patrolling is also conducted by park rangers to ensure the integrity of the park’s boundaries (IUCN consultation, 2025). A formal report by the State Party to the World Heritage Committee on this threat would be welcome.