World Heritage Identification Number: 1012
World Heritage since: 2000
Category: Natural Heritage
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇲🇾 Malaysia
Continent: Asia
UNESCO World Region: Asia and the Pacific
Map
Kinabalu Park: A Biodiverse Haven in Borneo
Kinabalu Park, located in the state of Sabah on the northern tip of Borneo, is a veritable treasure trove of biodiversity. Established as one of the first national parks of Malaysia in 1964, it was subsequently recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000 due to its "outstanding universal values." This designation underscores the park's significance as one of the most important biological sites globally.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
Kinabalu Park, in the State of Sabah on the northern end of the island of Borneo, is dominated by Mount Kinabalu (4,095 m), the highest mountain between the Himalayas and New Guinea. It has a very wide range of habitats, from rich tropical lowland and hill rainforest to tropical mountain forest, sub-alpine forest and scrub on the higher elevations. It has been designated as a Centre of Plant Diversity for Southeast Asia and is exceptionally rich in species with examples of flora from the Himalayas, China, Australia, Malaysia, as well as pan-tropical flora.
UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site
Criteria (ix) and (x): The site has a diverse biota and high endemism. The altitudinal and climatic gradient from tropical forest to alpine conditions combine with precipitous topography, diverse geology and frequent climate oscillations to provide conditions ideal for the development of new species. The Park contains high biodiversity with representatives from more than half the families of all flowering plants. The majority of Borneo’s mammals, birds, amphibians and invertebrates (many threatened and vulnerable) occur in the Park.
Encyclopedia Record: Kinabalu Park
Kinabalu Park, established as one of the first national parks of Malaysia in 1964, is Malaysia's first World Heritage Site designated by UNESCO in December 2000 for its "outstanding universal values" and the role as one of the most important biological sites in the world with more than 4,500 species of flora and fauna, including 326 bird and around 100 mammal species, and over 110 land snail species.Additional Site Details
Area: 75,370 hectares
(x) — Contains most important habitats for biodiversity
Coordinates: 6.25 , 116.5
Image
© NepGrower, CC BY-SA 3.0 Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)
