From a degraded forest to rainforest rehab model

KOTA KINABALU: The Innoprise-Face Foundation Rainforest Rehabilitation Project (INFAPRO), located in Ulu Segama Forest Reserve, buffering the world-renowned Danum Valley Conservation Area (DVCA) in Lahad Datu, stands as one of Sabah’s most iconic forest restoration initiatives, now widely regarded as a model for tropical rainforest rehabilitation in the region.

Launched in 1992, INFAPRO is a long-term restoration and conservation effort under a collaboration between Rakyat Berjaya Sdn Bhd, a wholly company of Yayasan Sabah Group, and the Netherlandsbased Face the Future (Forest Absorbing Carbon Dioxide Emissions) Foundation.

Through a Memorandum of Understanding, the project sought to plant trees to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

The project aims to rehabilitate 25,000 hectares of severely degraded rainforest, using indigenous dipterocarps through enrichment line planting. This includes fast-growing pioneer species as well as forest fruit trees.

According to Yayasan Sabah, between 1992 and 2022, INFAPRO successfully rehabilitated 11,864.5 hectares (about 47.5%) of the targeted area. Over two million trees were planted, sequestering more than 1.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.

INFAPRO was certified with the Voluntary Carbon Standards (VCS) by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (UNIPCC) in 2011 and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) in 2012.

It is the first forest project certified by the VCS AFOLU (Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use) in Asia.

The restored area now exudes a rare natural beauty, transforming the once-degraded landscape into a serene haven of lush greenery and thriving wildlife.

Through enrichment planting using indigenous species, INFAPRO strives to restore the natural biodiversity of Sabah’s rainforest. The primary species selected for the project include indigenous dipterocarps from the genera Shorea, Parashorea, Dipterocarpus, Vatica, Hopea, and Dryobalanops.

These species are well-suited as pioneers in open and severely degraded areas, while also providing food sources for birds and other wildlife.

INFAPRO’s operational centre is just 11 km from the Danum Valley Studies Centre (DVSC).

This allows close collaboration with both local and international scientists, and provides opportunities for both centre to working closely and allows local and international scientific communities to carry out research activities.

Dr Hamzah Tangki, Senior Manager of the Conservation and Environmental Management Division (CEMD) at the Yayasan Sabah Group, noted that the project success has attracted numerous local agencies, researchers, students, and conservationists from around the world.

“More than 10 postgraduate studies have been conducted at INFAPRO, along with around 100 publications related to the project’s research and activities between 1992 and 2024.

“We are also developing environmental education activities at INFAPRO in related to share the project objectives to sequester the carbon dioxide emission through forests restoration,” he said.

Dr Hamzah explained that most research priorities at INFAPRO are often focused on investigating large-scale rehabilitation issues and responding to challenges that arise during project implementation.

“These efforts support nursery and field operations by improving rehabilitation techniques and silvicultural treatments, aiming for higher survival rates and enhanced plant growth,” he said. Long-term monitoring on the carbon offset verification is considered crucial aspect to reflect to the INFAPRO outcome by time.

To further realise INFAPRO’s potential as an eco-tourism destination, beside the majestic panoramic of recovered forest and wildlife, several facilities such as trails have been developed within the project site for tourism packages.

The INFAPRO forest also plays a vital ecological role by replenishing food sources for primates and insects, which in turn support birds and reptiles in the area.

Notably, INFAPRO became Malaysia’s first forestry project to initiate a Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Carbon Offset Verification (COV) programme in 2002.

Carbon offset verification involves a rigorous third-party approval process to ensure the project meets carbon market standards, including criteria such as additionality and permanence.

INFAPRO is also the first project globally to adopt an Improved Forest Management (IFM) approach using an “avoidance of re-logging” methodology – officially approved by the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) Board in November 2010.

Jazirul Marmoh, the officer in charge of INFAPRO, stated that the project currently employs 34 staff to support the INFAPRO operation, which mainly to maintain the nursery and project area.

“At this moment, we have more than 100,000 tree seedlings of 24 species in our nursery, ready for use whenever needed to support the forest restoration,” he said.

Jarizul added that the INFAPRO base camp has been renamed the INFAPRO Studies Centre to better reflect its role as a hub for forest restoration, research, training, education and nature-based recreation activities.