Sabah Youth Earn Reef Ranger Certifications

Thirteen young leaders from Kampung Loro, Tajau Laut, and Bavang Jamal have graduated as the newest cohort of Borneo Reserve Reef Rangers. Over three weeks, participants logged 18 dives, mastered coral ID, learned reef-friendly livelihoods, and co-designed visitor interpretation for our lagoon boardwalk.

Fellowship milestones

• 18 dive surveys logged across Tun Mustapha Park, pairing recruits with veteran marine biologists.
• Coral ID workshops using our nursery tables and AI photo tagging to train accurate data collection.
• Livelihood labs covering reef-safe guiding, mangrove restoration, and kelulut bee husbandry.

The program is co-funded by guest stays and the orchard social impact fund. Every ranger now receives a stipend to support weekly reef monitoring, school outreach, and mangrove nurseries. Several graduates are progressing to Divemaster certification in partnership with Sabah Parks.

The next intake begins in January 2026. Travellers staying with us can shadow ranger patrols, support English conversation practice, and join evening storytelling circles led by elders.