Sabah Biodiversity Centre functions are:

• providing the Government and other institutions approved by the Government with accurate information or data on the status, magnitude, distribution, usage and value of the biodiversity in the State;
• managing and sustaining utilisation of the biodiversity of the State, including determining policies and guidelines for scientific research or experiment related to the access to and use of biological resources or associated relevant knowledge in the State for pharmaceutical, medicinal and other specific purposes;
• carrying such activities in association or collaboration or in joint venture with other bodies or persons including the departments or agencies of the Government or the Federal Government for the improvement and enhancement of conservation and management of biological resources or associated relevant traditional knowledge in the State;
• formulating programmes for systematic surveys of biodiversity and the collection and analysis of data thereto;
• identifying the priorities for research on biodiversity in order to enhance undertaking, conservation and sustainable utilisation of biodiversity and biological resources or associated relevant knowledge, including ethnobotany, taxonomy and traditional uses;
• promoting the identification of new natural and biotechnological products derived from the biodiversity and biological resources or relevant traditional knowledge in the State;
• planning and initiating programmes for the utilisation, conservation, protection and sustainable development of biological resources or associated relevant knowledge;
• establishing a database system of all exhibits, published and written records regarding the use, cultivation and management of biological resources or relevant traditional knowledge in the State;
• establishing a network of researchers in institutions of higher learning, research institutes, libraries and documentation centres to assist in building or be part of the system of recording such knowledge;
• establishing or caused to be established a system for the protection of biological resources or associated relevant knowledge so that the native and local communities shall, at all times and in perpetuity, be the legitimate creators, users and custodian of such knowledge, and shall collectively benefit from the use of such knowledge;
• establishing linkages with other institution or bodies, within or outside the State, with a view to enhancing the management, protection, preservation, research and utilisation of the biodiversity and traditional knowledge of the native or local community of the State;
  • to create awareness and to provide training, education and information relating to access and benefit sharing in relation to a biological resources or associated relevant knowledge;
  • to support customary laws and practices of native and local communities, and the development of community protocols and procedures by the native and local communities, as the case may be;
  •  to deal with all the applications for access to a biological resource or associated relevant knowledge and the sharing of benefits arising room the utilisation of the biological resource or associated relevant knowledge;
  • to maintain a record of all access applications and decisions relating to such application, including the licence issued;
• carrying on of all activities of which appears to the Council to be necessary, advantages or convenient for or in connection with the discharge of its duties; and
• generally to promote education and knowledge of the biodiversity of the State.