Indigenous voices lead the way in conserving Sarawak’s Upper Baram forests

On the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) is celebrating the Indigenous communities of Upper Baram, Malaysia and their leadership in building a future where healthy forests and thriving livelihoods are interdependent. © ITTO

For generations, the Penan, Kenyah, Kelabit and Saban peoples have called the forests of Upper Baram in Sarawak, Malaysia, home. Their cultures, livelihoods and identities are deeply intertwined with the surrounding tropical rainforest, where nature provides food, medicine, clean water and spiritual connection.

On the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) is celebrating these communities and their leadership in building a future where healthy forests and thriving livelihoods are interdependent. 

A newly released short video, “Urgent actions for community-based conservation and development in Upper Baram, Sarawak, Malaysia”, captures the stories of the people involved in the ITTO’s project, “Critical upliftment of local livelihoods”.  The video captures Indigenous community members themselves to tell the story of how they are shaping the future of their forests and lives.

Spread across more than 283,500 hectares, the Upper Baram Forest Area is home to 32 communities representing four Indigenous groups (20 Penan communities, eight Kenyah communities, three Kelabit communities and one Saban community). The landscape is globally significant for its exceptional biodiversity while also serving as the foundation of local livelihoods and cultural traditions.

The project, implemented by the Forest Department of Sarawak with technical support from ITTO and financial contributions from the Government of Japan, responds to priorities identified by the communities themselves. Recognizing the area’s complex mix of conservation priorities, traditional land uses and development needs, the initiative promotes community-based conservation while strengthening sustainable livelihoods.

As Joseph Sedin, a community member from Ba Data Bila village, reflects: “If something happens to our forest, it affects all of us. It would be tough, because the forest gives us our food and medicines.”

The video illustrates how listening to local voices has translated into tangible improvements in people’s daily lives.

One community now benefits from a gravity-fed water supply system that provides reliable access to clean water without the need for electricity. “Before this water system was built, we had to wait for the rain and collect it in a big drum.
Another has seen the construction of a one-kilometre concrete footpath, making travel safer and easier for residents carrying supplies, accessing services and travelling to school.

“This project is not just a simple path - it enables all the villages to carry out their daily affairs with more comfort. The Sarawak government has always believed that development must reach the villages and benefit the people directly”, Datu Haji Hamden bin Haji Mohammad, Director of Forests, Forest Department of Sarawak, expressed at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new path.

Beyond infrastructure, the project supports communities in creating new livelihood opportunities. Training in ecotourism and community homestays supports families to diversify their income while showcasing the unique natural and cultural heritage of Upper Baram. At the same time, community members have established conservation groups to protect forests that sustain their livelihoods and biodiversity.

“We want to show the beauty of this forest and the Tekiwit waterfall to outsiders. So that more tourists come here and this area can be protected”, Sedin added.

Women also play a central role in the initiative. Guided by ITTO’s policy guidelines on gender equality and empowering women, the ITTO Executive Director Ms Sheam Satkuru, stated, “the project promotes women’s participation in land-use planning, natural resource management and livelihood diversification through training and capacity building. Throughout the video, one message resonates clearly: conservation succeeds when Indigenous knowledge, community priorities and local ownership are placed at its centre. This project lies at the heart of the ITTO work in ensuring that the interests of these communities are protected”. 

On the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, we celebrate the knowledge, resilience and stewardship of the Indigenous communities of Upper Baram, whose deep connection to the forest has sustained these landscapes for generations. 

"Their voices remind us that sustainable forest management is strongest when Indigenous Peoples are recognized as partners and leaders in shaping solutions. Their experiences demonstrate that when development is shaped by local priorities and communities are active partners in conservation, forests and people can flourish together”, she added.

Watch the new video to hear their stories and see how Indigenous and local leadership build resilient communities while conserving one of Malaysia’s most valuable tropical forest landscapes.