The Local Context: Exploring Environmental Challenges & Solutions

MalaysiaAnne Lasimbang, PACOS Trust, Sabah, MalaysiaKWAP Inspire Environmental Conference 2018

17-18 2018

ICCA

ForestVillage settlement

Water/Clean waterBasic Amenities(School/Electricity/Road/..)

Agricultural areaHill Paddy

Long term crops(Rubber/Koko/Coffee trees/ ..)

Agricultural areaPaddy fields

Strengthening the Resilience of Indigenous Peoples' Natural Resource Stewardship Systems

In Sabah, Malaysia, a 3-year initiative is currently being undertaken to increase the resilience of Indigenous peoples’ customary institutions and natural resource stewardship systems through constructiveengagement with decision-making processes. This project is part of the global Community Conservation Resilience Initiative. It started in 2014 with an initial seed grant from Global Forest Coalition and iscurrently being funded by the Commonwealth Foundation. The project involves documentation of customary institutions and natural resource stewardships systems, strengthening of local andinternational networks, and engagement with policy- and decision-makers to improve implementation of supportive laws and to promote legal and institutional reform. This project involves 5 communitiesfrom different parts of Sabah, each facing different issues: the Sungai Tombonuo ethnic group from Sungai Eloi, Dusun ethnic group from Terian and Kiau, Murut Tahol from Alutok Ulu Tomani, and DusunRumanau ethnic group from Mangkawagu.

Produced by PACOS Trust y P.O. Box 511 y 89507 Penampang, Sabah y www.pacostrust.org

Kg. Terian (Community Watershed Protocol)

In Terian, on the boundary of the Crocker Range Park, the community is focusing on management of their watershedsthrough sustainable use of the area. They have developed a community protocol based on the knowledge of their elders tozone out their territory based on the land use. They are in the process of documenting their resources and mapping their area.

Good Practices from Sabah, Borneo Malaysia

Sg. Eloi Community (Momokan)

The project mainly focuses on conservation, specifically restoration and sustainable use of community mangrove areas by theSungai Tombonuo people of Sg Eloi. Among the rationale for conserving the area is for livelihood needs as the area supplyfood (especially bivalves and fish), medicines and fuelwood (kayu bakau).Management and control of the mangroves lie in the hands of the community. The identification of the conservation area isbased on customary use and its management is based on the adat (traditional practices).

Kg. Alutok (Tavol)

The Murut community of Kg. Alutok, practices an community protocol called Tavol. Thesystem prohibits certain natural resources in an area such as wild animals, trees, river frombeing taken. Tavol usually happens before a large occasion such as ansakoi (wedding) toallow the resources to be sufficient during the occasion. Community members adheres tothe tavol and those who break this agreement are socially shunned by the community orfined in the form of livestock.

Kg. Mangkawagu (Honey Bee harvesting Protocol)

The Dusun Rumanau community of Mangkawagu are one of the few communities that maintain knowledge on wildhoney harvesting in Sabah. Besides harvesting the honey sustainably, the surrounding community forest area is alsoprotected by the community. But because the community forest area has been included within the MangkawaguCommercial Forest Reserve, there are tensions between the community and the Sabah Forestry Department (SFD) due todifference agroforestry plans whereby the SFD is encouraging rubber cultivation while the community would like tomaintain their forest. However by documenting this traditional activity, they would get formal agreement by the SFD as thiswould mean a mutual conservation of the forest area.

Kg. Kiau (Mamatang & Boros Puru)

The activity in Kiau focuses on revitalising the use of Dusun forest terms or boros puru by bringing it to life in the Kiau communityforest conservation area. The conservation area is a 1024-acre forest area set aside by the community as a heritage. An elder,who is well-versed in the area, spend his time documenting terms that are specially used when walking in the forest and teachingyoung and elders who wishes to learn.By learning the language of the forest, the Kiau community leaders hope that community members will learn to appreciate theforest and would commit to conserve it for the future generation.

Project funded by the Commonwealth Foundation

“Our Adat shows that we are part of the land and we have been taking care of the land for generations”

TS Richard Malanjum, 2017 Chief Justice of Sabah & Sarawak during a recent Codification of Adat meeting held in KK.

KOTOHUADAN|TERIMA KASIHTHANK YOU

www.pacostrust.com|www.facebook.com/pacostrust

Simply the best | Ulu Papar, Penampang, Sabah

Sustainable Peatland Management

KWAPEnvironment

Conference 2018Session 2 Environmental Challenges in Malaysia

17 July 2018Kuala lumpur

Faizal Parish and Serena LewGlobal Environment Centre

Peatlands are the main wetland type in Malaysia

Source: ASEAN Peatland Forests Project (APFP)

Peatlands cover 2.8 million ha or 8% of the country

Peatlands provide water and prevent floods

Malaysian Peatlands have high biodiversity

People in Peat swamp Forest in PahangPeatlands Feed communities

Fishing, Pahang, MalaysiaSource: UNDP-GEF PSF Project

Peatland degradation and fires lead to GHG emissions and haze

Peatland Degradation leads to major heath impacts

Photo Greenpeace

© NASA TOMS1000 km

Smoke from peatland fires has affected 50 million people in 6 countries

Area with no compaction and with shallow planting, result in haphazard leaning of palms.

Promote responsible mangement of existing oil palm on peat

With soil compaction, deep planting, good water management and maintaining adequate soft vegetation - palm leaning is minimal.

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Strengthen community and company capacity for fire prevention

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PreventionDanger rating used to guide preventive measures and

allocation of resources and facilitate patrolling and warning action

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Rehabilitation of Fire Prone SitesLessons learned:1. Rehabilitating fire prone sites significantly reduces chances of

future fires2. Restoring hydrology is most important step 3. Ecological approach can lead to good natural regeneration4. If poor regeneration - plant fast growing indigenous pioneers

Aktivitas Rehabilitasi diikuti oleh komunitas lokal dan masyakat umum

Compartment 73 : 12 August 2012Drained Land – Prone to Fire

Forest burnt in 2012 along drainage canal

Natural recovery in 5 years with high water table

Compartment 73 : August 2017

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Promote Sustainable LivelihoodLessons learned:1. Providing alternative sustainable livelihoods is critical for effective community

partnership in peatland management2. Documenting and sharing best management practices can greatly enhance

the rate of adoption

Agroforestry system: with ‘sorjan system: mixed jelutung and corn and vegetables, Central Kalimantan

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