As stipulated in the Sarawak Biodiversity Ordinance 1997, Sarawak Biodiversity Regulations 1998 and Sarawak Biodiversity (Amendment) Ordinance 2003 and Sarawak Biodiversity (Amendment) Ordinance 2014, SBC carries out the following core functions:
- implementing bioprospecting programmes on the State's indigenous biodiversity
- facilitating the documentation of Traditional Knowledge on communities' management and utilization of biodiversity
- propagating Sarawak's indigenous plants for conservation and appreciation
- maintaining biodiversity-related databases
- conducting biodiversity-biotechnology awareness and appreciation programmes
- regulating biodiversity-related research with commercial potential in Sarawak through the Research Permit System
- networking with organizations with similar interests
To implement these functions, SBC is carrying out the following programmes:
- Traditional Knowledge Documentation Programme
- Research and Development (Bioprospecting) Programme
- Bioinformatics Programme
- Biodiversity Garden Programme
- Awareness and Appreciation Programme
The five programmes are carried out in concordance with the statutory functions as stipulated in the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (Amendment) Ordinance 1997 with Amendments 2014
