[2] It was first created in January 1972,[1] before being designated as a Class 1 Protection Forest by the Sabah Forestry Department in 1984.

[7] 1,070 floral species have been identified within Tawai Forest Reserve, 1030 flowering plants, 25 ferns, 13 gymnosperms, and 2 lycophytes.

[1] Tawai Forest Reserve is home to animals including wild boar, clouded leopard, barking deer, red leaf monkey and gibbon.

Butterflies inhabit shaded areas,[1] including the poorly understood Delias henningia.

[9] Borneo elephants inhabit parts of the reserve, often concentrated in flat areas that are being considered for highway expansion.