When you hear of the term ecovillage, maybe the first thing that came across your mind is trees. However, an ecovillage is much more than that. Theoritically, it is a sustainable village. I would say it has to be self-reliant, ecologically healthy and sustainable.

There are more and more models coming up every now and then. I don't really know why. Maybe because it is the most basic components towards sustainable development. I suppose Marak Parak is the first model of such village in Malaysia.

Marak Parak (Latitude 6.2^o North, Longitude 115.3^o East) is located 28 km away from Kota Marudu town. Being in Borneo, East Malaysia, it is surrounded by a tropical forest. The forest nearby is protected and conserved for its biodiversity.

Almost 100 percent of the villagers' food come from the village itself. You need not worry about pesticides here. Left over foods and agricultural wastes are composted, thus providing a natural nutrient cycle.

Marak Parak has its own self-reliant income, largely through commercial food such as corn, groundnut and passion fruit.

The villagers walk, not drive, around the village. It is a human oriented, not a car oriented, village.

Being quite isolated from town, Marak Parak has no normal supply of electricity and water. The rivers flowing through it supply the water and the environmental friendly photovoltaic system generates the electricity needed. In fact, the largest photovoltaic system in South East Asia is here.

Being surrounded by natural environment in a small valley, within walking distance to Sorinsim, Sabah Park, having its own heritage and friendly people, the potential of ecotourism is here.