Maliau Basin Conservation Area is a remote pristine wilderness located in south central Sabah. Formerly part of Yayasan Sabah Concession Area and covering 39,000 hectares, the area was upgraded to a Class 1 Protection Forest Reserve in 1997 and extended to 58,840 hectares, encompassing additional forested areas to the north and east of the Basin.
MBCA is managed by Yayasan Sabah on behalf of the Maliau Basin Mangement Committee, which also includes Sabah Forestry Department, the Ministry of Tourism Development, Environment, Science and Technology, University Malaysia Sabah and several other agencies.
Over 20 staff are based in MBCA, monitoring the area and carrying out anti-poarching patrols. A new facility, Maliau Basin Studies Centre (MBSC) will be established at the south edge of the Basin for research, education and nature tourism purposes, along similar lines to Danum Valley Field Centre, adjacent to Danum Valley Conservation Area in Lahad Datu.
Extensive studies are underway with the assistance of DANCED for a comprehensive MBCA managment plan, to be completed by the year 2002. Access to the area is strictly controlled and permission to enter must be obtained in advance from Yayasan Sabah.