Conservation of Forests through the establishment of rights and the generation of alternative livelihoods in Borneo, Malaysia
Case Study C0026
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| Date | 2002 |
| Agency | Uma Bawang Residents' Association (UBRA) |
| Donor/support agency | The Borneo project, USA |
| Project type | Self implemented |
| Context(s) | indigenous territory |
| Geographic coverage | Malaysia |
| Locality | Sarawak state/Island of Borneo |
| Biodiversity focus | Ecosystem/Landscape |
| Development focus | Around 100 members of UBA |
| Conservation goals | Conservation of the community forest area |
| Poverty reduction goals | None |
Summary
Uma Bawang community lives in tropical forests on the island of Borneo in the state of Sarawak, Malaysia. People of the community live in longhouses, which are traditional centre of governance and house several extended families. In the 1980s, forests of this area were given to logging companies, which created havoc on the local environment and livelihoods. Valuable forest resources got severely depleted. Pollution and siltation of the rivers adversely affected the water supply and fish catch. Irregular and frequent floods destroyed crops. Logging companies benefited a few individuals of the community, which created disharmony among the members. In the year 1989, around 100 people of the community separated from the Uma Bawang Residents' Association (UBRA) and built a separate longhouse to lobby against the depletion of natural resources and prevailing injustices. A democratically elected board was created to manage the association. UBRA started protesting against the logging. It blocked the logging road to their forest. But under government force, blockade was ended. However, UBRA continued its protest with more blockades. Simultaneously, with the help of a USA based non governmental organisation, The Borneo project, UBRA started mapping its forests with an aim to communicate its traditional rights over the forest to the government. This enabled local people to regain control of the reserved areas of their communal forests through court cases. These resource maps have also been used to demarcate boundaries of individual land plots and hence have reduced the conflicts between the land owners. In addition to the resource management, UBRA initiated a wide variety of new skills and activities that provide cash income to people. They started a communal rice farm and bank. Harvest from a communal farm is put in communal bank and anybody who does not have sufficient yield can borrow from the bank. Likewise, a communal rice mill was established to service the community with minimal charges. Pig rearing and fish rearing were started for better food and income. In the year 1992, a reforestation programme was launched, where people planted thousands of local species on the fringes of communal forest. In the year 1997, 8000 teak samplings were planted on private lands for income purposes. In the year 2002, again reforestation was done with 9000 new seedlings. Trees from earlier plantation have grown to an average height of 5 meters and a girth of 0.5 meters. Alternative activities have generated additional incomes and have increased food security in the community. Now, community has checked degradation of the forests and have gained control over their resources. Now, other communities of Malaysia are following the success of UBRA.
Conservation impact
Community took control over their forests and all logging activities were stopped. In 1992, a reforestation programme was launched, where people planted thousands of local species on the fringes of communal forest. In 1997, 8000 teak samplings were planted on private lands for income purposes. In the year 2002, again reforestation was done with 9000 new seedlings. Trees from earlier plantation have grown to an average height of 5 meters and a girth of 0.5 meters.
Poverty reduction impact
Alternative income generation activities like fish rearing, pig rearing and agroforestry have increased people's incomes. Development projects like community rice farm, bank and mill have have increased food security and reduced peopls's hardships.
Strategy for Conservation/Poverty Linkages
Devolution or reinstatement of local rights over/access to resources
Provision of alternative livelihoods
Ecoagriculture
Reference 1
http://www.undp.org/equatorinitiative/secondary/equator_prize2002.htm#malaysia
Reference 2
http://www.tve.org/ho/doc.cfm?aid=1389
More information
The Borneo Project ,1771 Alcatraz Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94703, USA, E-mail: borneo @ earthisland.org ,Phone: 510-547-4258