Tourists staying overnight at lodges in Kampung Bilit, Kinabatangan, will now be charged a RM5 conservation levy under a new initiative aimed at wildlife conservation and community development in the area.

The levy is part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Kinabatangan-Corridor of Life Tourism Operators Association (KiTA) and Kampung Bilit’s Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK), witnessed by Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew during a ceremony on Monday.

“This initiative ensures that tourism in Kinabatangan directly supports both conservation and the livelihoods of local communities,” said Liew, in Kampung Bilit, in Kinabatangan on Monday.

”“This collaboration shows how tourism can be a powerful driver of environmental stewardship and community empowerment.” 

Under the MoU, 10% of the levy collected will go into Kampung Bilit’s development fund, supporting projects such as riverbank maintenance, community clean-ups, and social activities.

The conservation levy is part of a broader effort to address human-wildlife conflicts and protect Kinabatangan’s unique biodiversity. 

KiTA Chairman Alexander Yee Kok Tsen said the levy system has been in place for eight years in other Kinabatangan villages such as Sukau, Abai, and Sungai Lokan. 

On another note,  Japanese environmental firm, Saraya Corporation pledged RM1 million to fund a 33.35-acre food corridor in the lower Kinabatangan region over the next five years. 

The initiative is aimed to provide alternative food sources for Bornean elephants and reduce human-wildlife conflicts.

Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew announced the funding during the project’s launch at Kampung Bilit on Monday. 

Liew also inaugurated a planting site for tapier grass along the Kinabatangan River.

The state government has tasked the Responsible Elephant Conservation Trust (RESPECT), chaired by conservationist Yee, to lead the project.

“This partnership with Saraya Corporation highlights the power of collaboration in addressing conservation challenges,” she said in Kampung Bilit, on Monday.

Seven planters employed by RESPECT will drive the project, which also includes plans to plant wild fig trees favored by elephants and other wildlife. – January 20, 2025