In 1969, Crocker Range was gazetted into a forest reserve under the 1968 Forest Enactment. In 1984, under the Parks Enactment it was converted to a national park and named Crocker Range National Park. Later in 1996 it was renamed Crocker Range Park (CRP). Since its gazettement as a park there were planning and management efforts, but due to lack of funds and human resources, it was implemented in stages. The demarcation of the 408 km park boundary was completed in 2000. CRP is the largest of the six parks under the administration of Sabah Parks.

     Dusun and Murut indigenous peoples have lived in the Crocker Range for many generations before the creation of the park. Their livelihoods are still dependent on the resources in and around the park. Most are farmers, practicing shifting cultivation and to a lesser extent wet-rice cultivation. Hunting and the gathering of forest products are both important for their subsistence and as a source of cash. But people, especially the young generation, are to an increasing degree seeking employment with Government or private companies in Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah, or the urban centers of Peninsular Malaysia.

     Before the creation of the park, resource management was based on traditional practices and customary law, or adat. During colonial times and until the present government, the communities were free to continue this. The implementation of the 1984 Parks Enactment and the boundary demarcation was however done without consultation of the Dusun and Murut communities who felt that they have been sidelined and that their rights have been eroded.

     Since 2002, when the BBEC (Bornean Biodiversity Ecosystem and Conservation) programme with the support from JICA (Japanese International Cooperation Agency) was launched, several activities were organized to come up with a management plan by Sabah Parks. Several village representatives have joined these activities and were able to get a better knowledge on the planning and efforts by the government in managing protected areas. Village representatives, especially the village head and PJKKK (Village Development and Security committee Chairperson) were able to join workshops organized on biological resources, tourism potential, zone planning and sociological issues, as well as exposure visits to villages that already had community based tourism programs. Through the BBEC program Sabah Parks has been enabled to produce information about the ongoing management planning process. This provided the opportunity for all stakeholders including various government departments and communities to present their views and their interests.

     For Sabah Parks this cooperation is aimed at producing a model based on current international trends to further promote collaborative approaches in the management of protected areas. However, the approach being followed by the Government and especially Sabah Parks does not sufficiently accommodate the rights and interests of the indigenous communities, does not ensure full participation and has not been able to solve existing conflicts. Furthermore, major obstacles such as language and communication with remote villages, especially when international experts are involved, have not been addressed.

     Communities are willing and ready to be involved and cooperate with the government if given the opportunity. Another potential still not fully tapped are supportive NGOs. They can play the role of mediators and facilitators to improve cooperation. Crocker Range is serving as a pilot project in which conflict resolution mechanisms and other crucial components in bringing about collaborative management are being developed.