Government of Sarawak requests termination of ITTO project

Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia, 10 October 2024: An ITTO project in the Upper Baram Forest Area in Sarawak, Malaysia, will be terminated at the request of the Government of Sarawak due to factors affecting the project’s implementation.

The request was made at the second project steering committee (PSC) meeting in Miri, Sarawak, for the ITTO project PD 902/19 Rev. 3 (F): “Management of Upper Baram Forest Area for Conservation and Sustainable Development with Involvement of Local Communities, Upper Baram, Sarawak, Malaysia”.

The project was approved by the International Tropical Timber Council (ITTC) at its 57th session in November–December 2021 and commenced in September 2023. It is funded by the Government of Japan, the Bruno Manser Fonds (BMF), and the Canton of Basel (Switzerland).

Deputy Director of Forest in the Forest Department Sarawak, Mr Semilan Anak Ripot, speaking at the commencement of the meeting on behalf of Sarawak’s Director of Forest, Datu Haji Hamden Bin Haji Mohamad, said there were diverse views and needs among communities in the Upper Baram Forest Area.

“Some stakeholders clearly have different aspirations to those stipulated in the ITTC-approved project document, making it very challenging to continue,” said Mr Ripot. “It is with this in mind that I regret to inform this PSC that Sarawak requests the termination of this project.”

ITTO Executive Director Sheam Satkuru, present at the PSC meeting, acknowledged the request to terminate the project, which would need to be carried out in accordance with ITTO procedures.

“This project is one of the first of its kind to be approved by the ITTC, involving integrated forest management between the government and local communities,” said Ms Satkuru.

“ITTO, in collaboration with the Sarawak Forest Department and stakeholders, have always remained fully committed to ensure the success of this project by being objective and inclusionary whilst exercising independence and monitoring controls aligned with ITTO’s procedures, manuals, rules and regulations. ITTO fully appreciates the complexities and sensitivities involved in this project and was determined to ensure that its key outcomes were attainable through close collaboration amongst all partners. It is indeed highly unfortunate that this innovative project will not be completed as planned”.

Ms Satkuru thanked the donors for their generous financial contributions to the project and expressed gratitude to the Sarawak Forestry Department for its implementation efforts to date. A second project under consideration by the PSC, PP-A/59-352 (“Community Empowerment in Forest Management and Forest Landscape Restoration in Upper Baram, Sarawak, Malaysia”), will continue as scheduled.

Read the news on the Borneo Post here.