The Faculty of Tropical Forestry at the Sustainable Forest Education and Research Area (SFERA) stands at the forefront of tropical forestry education and cutting-edge research. As a dynamic living laboratory, SFERA offers immersive, hands-on learning experiences, integrating innovative sustainable forest management practices with real-world ecological and conservation challenges. Students and researchers engage directly with diverse tropical forest ecosystems, fostering advanced skills in biodiversity conservation, forest ecology, and ecosystem restoration. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, SFERA nurtures the next generation of environmental leaders and scientists committed to sustainable forestry and resilience in tropical landscapes.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), through the Faculty of Tropical Forestry (FPT) have close collaboration in forestry education and research with Sabah Forest Development Authority (SAFODA), a statutory body of the Sabah state government for many years. SAFODA is primarily dedicated to the rehabilitation of degraded lands, forest plantation management, forest productivity and contributing to the improvement of local community livelihood. The partnership was strengthened when SAFODA formally entrusted FPT with 100 acres of forest area at the SAFODA Eco-Forest Park, Kinarut, as a Living Lab for supporting forest education and research on 21 November 2022. Thus, both parties signed a letter of interest on 10th January 2023, and then a memorandum of understanding on 17th October 2023. In support of this partnership, UMS approved a Living Lab funding of RM30,000 entitled Restoration of The Eco-Forest Park SAFODA For Sustainable Development Goals on 1st October 2025. The funding supports various undergraduate final year projects related to flora and fauna diversity, rehabilitation efforts using enrichment planting and agroforestry approaches, mapping approaches, fire preparedness and mitigation studies, and natural resources for tourism. In addition, the Eco-Forest Park SAFODA have supported undergraduate and post-graduate research, field training, and internship in the past. These efforts highlight the importance of protecting the peri-urban forest park supporting SDG 13 Climate Action, which relates to forest fires mitigation with community participation in fire management and monitoring, SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities, which involves communities in awareness programs, and SDG 17 Partnership for the Goals, which involves multi-stakeholder collaboration between UMS, SAFODA and local communities. Research outputs will provide the scientific foundation for important decision-making in various forestry activities. This collaboration highlights the faculty’s commitment to bridging academic excellence with practical forest management solutions.

The Faculty of Tropical Forestry at Universiti Malaysia Sabah collaborates closely with Jawala Corporation Sdn Bhd in Sabah, leveraging Jawala’s extensive forest plantation areas as a cutting-edge living laboratory for sustainable tropical forestry research. This strategic partnership focuses on real-world applications of sustainable forest management, ecological restoration, and industrial tree plantations, particularly within the Sapulut Forest Reserve where Jawala manages over 11,000 hectares under sustainable forest management licenses. Research activities at this living laboratory emphasise improving nursery management, seedling production, and disease control while fostering sustainable timber production with fast-growing species like Laran and Albizia. This collaboration also supports hands-on student training and innovation in forest stewardship, helping to shape sustainable forestry practices that benefit Sabah’s economy and environment over the long term.