PRESERVE & PROTECT.

PROTECTING THE ISLAND WE CALL HOME

Lankayan Island Resort aligns its operations with marine conservation in close partnership with the award-winning NGO Reef Guardian. From sustainable practices across the resort to carefully designed activities, every effort supports the health of the surrounding reefs and marine life. The island also provides a unique gateway for visitors to gain insight into conservation and take an active role in protecting this vibrant ecosystem.

Lankayan lies within the Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area (SIMCA), a fully protected marine reserve spanning more than 46,000 hectares of pristine ocean, coral reefs, and seagrass beds.

With round-the-clock monitoring, SIMCA protects one of Sabah’s most vibrant marine ecosystems. The resort sits quietly within this sanctuary, surrounded by waters where life can flourish undisturbed.

PRESERVING LANKAYAN'S LIVING REEF

Reef Guardian, a Sabah-based non-profit, has managed SIMCA since 2003 in partnership with the Sabah Wildlife Department. Their work includes reef monitoring, turtle conservation, scientific research, public education, and enforcement against illegal fishing. With support from the resort, they operate patrols, research stations, and conservation programmes that keep SIMCA functioning as a true marine sanctuary. Much of Lankayan’s untouched beauty today is the result of their long-standing commitment.

OUR CONSERVATION PARTNER

Lankayan’s beauty and the life it supports are fragile. Without careful protection, nesting turtles, vibrant coral reefs, and the countless species that call this island home could be lost. Conservation ensures that these ecosystems continue to thrive, not just for today, but for future generations. Every patrol, research survey, and restoration effort helps maintain the balance of life on the island and in the surrounding seas. By safeguarding Lankayan, we preserve a rare place where nature leads, and guests can witness its wonders in their purest form.

WHY CONSERVATION MATTERS

Lankayan is a key nesting site for green and hawksbill turtles. Each evening, rangers patrol the beaches to protect nesting mothers and their eggs. Vulnerable nests are relocated to a protected hatchery to ensure they develop safely.

Guests are often lucky enough to witness a turtle laying her eggs or watch hatchlings begin their first journey to the sea. Guided by rangers and only when nature allows, these moments are among the island’s most treasured. Guests can also support turtle conservation by adopting a nest, helping protect and monitor the eggs so more hatchlings reach the ocean safely. Years of steady protection have allowed turtle numbers to grow.

SEA TURTLE CONSERVATION

Reef Guardian conducts regular reef surveys, monitoring coral health, fish populations, and seasonal changes. This long-term research helps guide protection strategies and shows how the ecosystem evolves over time. Guests also play an important part: by following strict guidelines for water activities, such as diving, snorkeling, and boating, visitors help minimize impact on the reef. The thriving marine life around Lankayan stands as a testament to what careful protection and shared responsibility can achieve.

PROTECTING THE REEFS

A RECORD OF RESILIENCE:

NESTING AND HATCHING ON LANKAYAN

Every nesting season on Lankayan begins long before the first turtle comes ashore. The Reef Guardian team walks the beaches at all hours, documenting tracks, relocating vulnerable nests, guarding them from predators, and monitoring each clutch until the very last hatchling reaches the water. Their records—carefully gathered since 2004—are more than numbers; they are a living archive of how our turtles are doing year by year. This long-term data helps conservationists understand trends, identify threats, and refine protection strategies so that each generation of hatchlings has a better chance of survival. Below is a glimpse into over two decades of this quiet, patient, and deeply meaningful work.