Tong Tana December 1999 - Bruno Manser Fonds

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Sarawak - Malaysia 4 The Penan wait and hope The rough road to achieving biodiversity conservation in northeastern Sarawak bm – In 1993 the Sarawak government decided to protect 1688 km 2 of forest in Lanjak Entimau (Western Sarawak) as a wildlife sanctuary with support of the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) and the local population. Based on this positive and productive partnership, Sarawak and Swiss foresters worked together on a similar but much more ambitious project in Eastern Sarawak and submitted the proposal to the Sarawak Authorities in early 1998. This proposal is of local and global interest, as it links already existing National Parks and Nature Reserves in Brunei, Sarawak and Kalimantan (Indonesia) to the largest Biosphere-Area in the whole of South-East- Asia, covering 23,489 km 2 of forest and forest land that spans across three States in the interior of Borneo. Over 70% of the area has already been legally put under some kind of protection, though large parts of this area are only protected on paper (e.g. Pulong Tau and Magoh area in Sarawak). The proposed extended protected area, buffer zones and sustainable forest management areas in Sarawak include: large parts of steep mountain forest (not suitable for logging); the last remnants of dipterocarp virgin forest in the region (some of which has been proposed for protection by the government); – as well as some logged off and secondary forest areas. With the commitment of neighbouring countries, the area could still be enlarged to include some endemic bio-regions of Sabah and protected areas nearby to the total project area (the Batu Apoi-Forest Reserve in Brunei, 462 km 2 , and of the Sembakung Extension in Kalimantan, 5000 km 2 ). The ultimate goal of the project is to create a win-win project in the long-term for all stakeholders, including local people living in Eastern Sarawak, the Government of Sarawak and logging companies. When Bruno- Manser-Fonds was approached to comment on the proposal we were very critical that once more, indigenous peoples like the Penan may be the losers again. However, we support the project’s aim: to protect intact virgin forest within the area for biodiversity conservation and to promote the wise use of non-timberproducts by the Penan and others. This in conjunction with the implementation of sustainable timber extraction in degraded areas to bring added income to the state and all concerned parties. The project idea has gained support from Malaysian citizens, e.g. the former Director of the ITTO and the former President to the United Nations General Assembly. Even the Sarawak Timber Association (STA) recognized the importance of the project proposal. For the implementation of the project, a substantial financial commitment has already been made, which exceeded any prior grant financing in Sarawak. The World Bank, the US-Government, the Swiss Government and Japan have also shown interest in making financial contributions to the realization of the project. In April 1998 the Swiss Ambassador to Malaysia accepted an invitation by the Sarawak Government to promote the project idea, supported by many both within and outside Malaysia. The delegation was warmly received by the Chief Minister of Sarawak, who recognized the importance of biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of natural resources in the proposed project area. However, the project has not made any further steps since then. Why Essentially because one man objected: Sarawak State Secretary HAMID BUGO! As a result, today, nearly two years after the launch of the project idea, nothing has happened at all, and the forests are depleted in an even higher rate than before. The reasons why Hamid Bugo is against biodiversity conservation and the sustainable use of forest resources as promoted through this project is not known. Perhaps the Chief Minister of Sarawak has an answer, as to why he has not yet made a clear decision in favor of the people of Sarawak, who suffer from the negative impacts of destructive logging, such as landslides, pollution, local climate change, floods, droughts and forest-fires. It seems that a unique opportunity for the well-being of many is being foregone for the special interests of some. The press and Malaysian citizens should demand answers.
Proposed Biosphere Area in Eastern Sarawak in relation to already existing Protected Areas in Brunei Darussalam and Kalimantan/Indonesia Ref. Designation Country Name of Area Area km 2 1 National Park Malaysia Gunung Mulu 530 2 Forest Reserve Brunei D. Labi Hills, Ladan Hills 749 3 Nature Reserve Indonesia Sungai Kayan, Sungai Mentarang 16’000 4 Proposed Biosphere Area in Malaysia 6’205 Totally border-crossing-connected Protected Area: 23’484 5 Nature Reserve Indonesia Sembakung Extension 5’000 6 National Park Brunei D. Batu Apoi 462 7 Wildlife Sanctuary Malaysia Lanjak Entimau 1’687 5 Source: Protected Areas of the World, IUCN, 1991
Page 1 and 2: January 2000 Newsletter on rainfore
Page 3: Sarawak - Malaysia Taib Mahmud - Ch
Page 7 and 8: Mutang Urud meeting in Malaysia, he
Page 9 and 10: Arson in Sarawak I jk - The forest
Page 11 and 12: Switzerland Derborence Sion A virgi
Page 13 and 14: With disdain! Arson in the rainfore
Page 15 and 16: BMF Internal Where have the poison

Tong Tana December 1999 - Bruno Manser Fonds

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