ABSTRAK: Sejak tahun 1990-an, projek eko-pelancongan telah diperkenalkan di Kampung Sukau apabila beberapa pengusaha pelancongan swasta membina rumah penginapan pelancong di tebing Sungai Kinabatangan. Selepas itu, sesetengah penduduk tempatan (Orang Sungai) mula melibatkan diri mereka dalam aktiviti dan perkhidmatan pelancongan, misalnya sebagai pengemas bilik, pelayan tetamu dan tukang kebun. Penduduk tempatan juga terlibat dalam kerja-kerja seperti pemandu bot, pembuat bot dan peserta homestay. Walau bagaimanapun, kebanyakan kawasan hutan di Hilir Kinabatangan ini telah bertukar menjadi ladang kelapa sawit yang luas. Justeru itu, demi memastikan pembangunan ladang kelapa sawit ini tidak melenyapkan sama sekali kawasan biodiversiti di Hilir Kinabatangan, maka kerajaan dan pihak swasta di Malaysia telah memperkenalkan program bagi tujuan pengurusan pemuliharaan hutan dan hidupan liar di kawasan ini. Persoalannya, sejauhmanakah program pemuliharaan ini telah memberi kesan kepada kehidupan sosio-budaya komuniti tempatan dan apakah kesannya terhadap pihak-pihak lain yang berkepentingan di kawasan ini. Inilah isu-isu utama yang akan diterokai secara kritikal dalam esei ini.

Kata-kata kunci: eko-pelancongan, program pemuliharaan, komuniti tempatan, penglibatan komuniti dan pihak berkepentingan.

About the Authors: Rosazman Hussin, Ph.D. is a Lecturer at the School of Social Sciences UMS (Universiti Malaysia Sabah). He was born in Bentong, Pahang, Malaysia on 1 January 1960. He earned his Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) degree from the University of Glasgow UK (United Kingdom) in 2006. His Ph.D. thesis was “Ecotourism Development and Local Community Participation: Case Studies of Sukan and Batu Puteh Village in Lower Kinabatangan Area of Sabah”. For academic purposes, he can be reached at: drazzros@gmail.com Ahmad Puad Mat Som, Ph.D. is a Lecturer at the School of Housing, Building and Planning USM (Universiti Sanis Malaysia), Penang. He was born in Selangor, Malaysia in 1965. He earned his Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) degree from the University of Strathclyde UK (United Kingdom) in 2005. His Ph.D. thesis was “Community Involvement in Ecotourism”. For academic purposes, he can be reached at: puadusm@gmail.com

How to cite this article? Hussin, Rosazman & Ahmad Puad Mat Som. (2008). “Ecotourism, Conservation Programme and Local Community Participation: Conflict of Interests among the Stakeholders in Sukau Village of Sabah, Malaysia” in SOSIOHUMANIKA: Jurnal Pendidikan Sains Sosial dan Kemanusiaan, Vol.1, No.1 [Mei]. Bandung, Indonesia: Minda Masagi Press, UPI Bandung, and UMS Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, ISSN 1979-0112, pp.115-140.

Chronicle of the article: Accepted (February 11, 2008); Revised (April 14, 2008); and Published (May 20, 2008).

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Interview:

Dr. Isabelle, 19/4/2003.

Datuk Rajah Indran, Project Manager for Partners for Wetland, Kota Kinabalu, 10/6/2003.

Mr. Adrian Trevor Migiu, the Manager of Sukau Rainforest Lodge, 22/4/2003.

Mr. Awang Ismail, the Manager of Sri Kuang Estate Development, 5/5/2003.

Mr. Jimmy Motalib, Assistant Manager Wildlife Expedition Lodge, 22/4/2003.

Mr. Pastor, 18/4/2003.

Mr. Patin, the Sabah Forestry Department Officer of Kinabatangan, 21/5/2003.

One of the JKKK committee members, 20/4/2003.

One of the Village Development and Security Committee members (JKKK), 18/4/2003.

Pak Cik Indal, homestay participants, 20/4/2003.

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