KUCHING: The Community-Based Conservation 2025 Workshop was successfully held on 30 June 2025 at the Raia Hotel and Convention Centre, Kuching.

According to a statement, the workshop brought together 66 participants from communities involved in the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) project in Ulu Baram, Anap–Muput and Ulu Mukah, as well as communities from the Ecological Fiscal Transfer (EFT) project area under the supervision of the International Affairs Division, Sarawak Forest Department (JHS).

“Also present were 20 representatives from the Forest Department Sarawak (FDS) and various relevant government agencies.

“The workshop also featured knowledge and experience sharing sessions from representatives from various parties including FDS officers, Chairman of Jagoi Heritage Association, Manager of KOPEL Kinabatangan, and Head of Conservation of WWF-Malaysia, enriching the participants’ understanding of the community-based conservation approach,” it said on Monday.

FDS Director, Datu Hamden Mohammad in his opening speech stressed that communities must always be open-minded and not easily influenced by external views that do not understand the reality of forest management and legislation on the ground.

He called on communities to be wise in determining their own direction for the sake of the land, forests and the future of the next generation, while being prepared to adapt to the stream of development.

Throughout the sharing session, several community representatives shared their respective successes as a result of collaboration with private parties and government agencies.

Among them, Tuai Rumah Jana from Anap–Muput and Ulu Mukah shared the benefits of collaboration with logging companies such as Zedtee Sdn. Bhd., which contributes to forest sustainability and local economic development.

Meanwhile, Daud Sedin from Ba’ Data Bila recounted the success of their community in receiving various basic facilities as a result of close collaboration with the company and the Sarawak State Government.

The ceremony also witnessed the official handover of three completed projects to the community in Ulu Baram, namely, the construction of the Long Lamam Pedestrian Path, the Lio Mato Pedestrian Path, and the improvement of the Gravity Water System in Ba’ Muboi.

All mentioned projects were fully completed in April 2025 as a result of the collaboration between FDS and ITTO.

In the statement, FDS reaffirmed its commitment to implementing social forestry and community development initiatives, including community training programs, alternative economic development projects based on non-timber forest products (NTFPs), recognition of Community Representative Committees (CRCs), and the implementation of ecosystem restoration projects with the active participation of local residents.

“Through this inclusive approach, communities not only play a role as beneficiaries but also as strategic partners in the implementation of sustainable forest management.

“The organisation of this workshop demonstrates the Sarawak Government's continued commitment to empowering communities as key partners in forest conservation efforts, in line with the Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) approach and the state's sustainable development aspirations,” the statement said. -UKASnews