Marine conservation area in Sabah: the role of World-Wildlife Fund (WWF) in sustaining the marine resources of Tun Mustapha Park (TMP)

Tun Mustapha Park (TMP) is located off the coast of Sabah, Malaysia, and it is a crucial marine protected area known for its abundant biodiversity and ecological significance. TMP was founded in 2016 with the goal of striking a balance between conservation and sustainable resource usage, tackling issues like habitat deterioration, overfishing, and climate change. This qualitative study used document analysis as its main method in a case study design. Peer-reviewed journal articles, government documents and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) reports were among the data sources. The data was analysed using thematic analysis to examine WWF's tactics, which include multi-stakeholder cooperation, habitat restoration, and community empowerment. This study also employs the Three Basic Pillars Model which are environmental, social, and economic sustainability to analyse how the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) sustains TMP's marine resources. Important conclusions show that WWF has been successful in increasing coral cover by 20.8%, encouraging sustainable livelihoods, and encouraging local stewardship through initiatives like MARRS (Mars Assisted Reef Restoration System). The study emphasizes how the three pillars are interdependent, showing how community involvement guarantees efficient monitoring (which links the environment and society), environmental restoration promotes ecotourism (which links the environment and economy), and financial incentives promote long-term conservation (which links the economy and society). WWF's work in TMP provide a replicable paradigm for marine conservation globally by incorporating these elements.