The Sabah Biodiversity Enactment 2000 (SBE) was enacted by the Sabah State Legislature in December 2000. SBE provides a legal framework to safeguard Sabah's rich biodiversity, ensure the sustainable utilization of biological resources, and promote the equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilization.

The enactment led to the establishment of the Sabah Biodiversity Council and the Sabah Biodiversity Centre to oversee the management and conservation of biodiversity in the state. SBE was first amended in 2017 in response to the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from Their Utilization (ABS) under the Convention on Biological Diversity.

In August 2023, a bill to amend SBE to include provisions for Protected Biological Resources and ensure the protection of plant genetic rights in accordance with international requirements (Nagoya Protocol) was passed by the State Legislative Assembly. The amendment also enables the Sabah Biodiversity Centre to be established as an entity (department) under the Chief Minister's Department, headed by a Director.

Click the PDF file below to view the Sabah Biodiversity Enactment 2000 (latest as of September 2023).