In conjunction with International Women’s Day, the Sabah Environmental Trust (SET) celebrates the vital role of women in driving conservation efforts across Sabah. From field-based wildlife monitoring to academic research and project leadership, women are at the forefront of protecting the state’s rich biodiversity.
A key example is the wildlife monitoring pilot project conducted between 2022 and 2024 in the Maliau Basin Conservation Area. Led by Grace Pounsin (Photo 1) from the Conservation and Research Unit of the Maliau Basin Conservation Area, the project focused on two threatened species—the Bornean elephant and the Bornean banteng. Her leadership exemplifies the critical role women play in advancing field research and conservation practice in challenging environments.
Photo 1: Grace Pounsin installing camera trap for the Threatened Species Study in MBCA.
Building on this initiative, SET extended its support to the Imbak Canyon Conservation Area (ICCA) through a postgraduate research programme in collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Sabah. The study, conducted by Amalia Safra (Photo 2), reflects SET’s commitment to strengthening women’s capacity in conservation science and supporting emerging female researchers.
Photo 2: Amalia with her team from ICCA in Batu Timbang.
The Imbak banteng project is coordinated by Mahani Mohd Isa as Project-in-Charge (PIC), working closely with Amalia Safra as the lead researcher. This collaboration highlights how women are contributing across multiple levels—from research and data collection to project management and implementation.
These efforts are part of SET’s broader approach to empower women through meaningful participation, leadership opportunities, and capacity building in conservation. By supporting women in science, fieldwork, and programme coordination, SET is helping to build a more inclusive and effective conservation landscape in Sabah.
This International Women’s Day, SET recognises that empowering women is not only about representation—it is about enabling leadership, fostering knowledge, and ensuring that women continue to play a central role in safeguarding Sabah’s natural heritage for future generations.