SAVE Rivers

What Happened to the Baram Peace Park?

A new report by Bruno Manser Fonds reveals how the vision to protect the forests of Upper Baram was undermined, while logging has returned to the area.

For years, Indigenous communities have fought to protect their ancestral forests. This led to the Baram Peace Park, which was later adopted by the Malaysian government and the International Tropical Timber Organization as the Upper Baram Forest Area (UBFA).

But in 2024, Borneoland Timber Resources was given a logging concession covering more than 100,000 hectares of the proposed conservation area.

The report raises serious questions about how the concession was approved, the lack of transparency, and whether affected communities gave their Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).

Today, logging is expanding into forests that communities believed would be protected.

Read the full report to learn what happened to the Baram Peace Park and why Indigenous communities are still fighting to protect their forests.

Read the report: https://www.savebaramforest.org/en/report/

https://saverivers.org/2026/08/27/new-report-exposes-how-an-indigenous-conservation-initiative-was-undermined-as-logging-returned-to-sarawaks-upper-baram/

Report For decades, indigenous communities in the Upper Baram region of Malaysian Borneo have been fighting deforestation and, through their sustained efforts, have successfully protected large areas of forest. These efforts gave rise to the vision of the Baram Peace Park, which was later formalized by the...

🍃Memperkasa Wanita Ulu Baram | Lawatan Sambil Belajar ke Sabah, 17–22 Ogos 2026

Lawatan ke DumoWongi, Bundu Tuhan membuka ruang kepada wanita Ulu Baram untuk melihat sendiri bagaimana sumber alam di sekeliling boleh diubah menjadi peluang ekonomi yang lestari.

Daripada herba dan bunga kepada pewarna semula jadi, eco-print dan kain terpakai, setiap bahan dimanfaatkan dengan kreativiti untuk menghasilkan produk yang mempunyai nilai dan potensi sebagai sumber pendapatan.

Lebih daripada sekadar lawatan, pengalaman ini menjadi ruang untuk belajar, berkongsi dan bertukar idea — membawa pulang inspirasi yang boleh disesuaikan dengan sumber dan keperluan komuniti Ulu Baram.

Lawatan Sambil Belajar & Pemerkasaan Wanita Ulu Baram ke Sabah(18–21 Ogos 2026 | Bersama Save Rivers)

Mengunjungi Kebun Harapan komuniti yang diinspirasikan oleh Caritas dan dibangunkan khusus untuk meningkatkan pendapatan keluarga bagi menjamin bekalan makanan segar serta berkhasiat bagi komuniti setempat. Melalui amalan pertanian lestari, kebun ini mengusahakan pelbagai sayur-sayuran dan herba tempatan. Usaha ini membawa misi besar untuk membasmi kemiskinan, membina kemandirian, serta memperkukuh semangat kebersamaan.

Apa yang lebih menyentuh hati, projek ini bukan sekadar aktiviti bercucuk tanam, malah ia memupuk sebuah harapan. Tanah diusahakan dengan iman dan kasih bertujuan untuk menyediakan makanan buat keluarga, berkongsi rezeki dengan golongan memerlukan, dan membina komuniti yang lebih berdaya tahan. Lawatan ini membuka ruang bagi kami untuk menimba ilmu, bertukar pengalaman dan menyaksikan sendiri bagaimana tanah, sumber makanan, keimanan, dan pemerkasaan komuniti saling bertautan dalam membentuk kehidupan yang lestari.

“Mengusahakan tanah dengan iman dan kasih, menyediakan makanan segar buat keluarga, menyantuni golongan yang lapar, dan membina komuniti yang teguh melalui rahmat Tuhan." - Kebun Harapan 🌱

Penan Communities Say NO to Proposed Tutoh River Dams

More than 100 representatives from 40 Penan communities have unanimously rejected the proposed hydroelectric dams along the Tutoh River, Baram.

The communities say the project threatens their customary lands, forests, rivers, livelihoods, culture, and that they have never given their Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).

They are calling on the Sarawak Government and Sarawak Energy to cancel the project and respect Penan rights.

The Penan are not against development. They are asking for development that respects their rights and meets the real needs of their communities.

Read more below:

Penan Communities Reject Proposed Cascade Dams, Demand Respect for Indigenous Rights BARAM: More than 100 representatives from 40 Penan communities have unanimously rejected a proposal to construct hydroelectric dams along the Tutoh River in Baram, describing the project as a serio…

The future of Upper Baram is about more than logging. It's about protecting Indigenous rights, respecting Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), recognizing Native Customary Rights (NCR), and ensuring development is sustainable, transparent, and benefits local communities.

As Sarawak looks toward a "Beyond Timber" future, development must balance economic progress with environmental protection and the voices of the people who have cared for these forests for generations.

Read more about why the future of Upper Baram should be built on rights, sustainability, and responsible development.

The Future of Upper Baram: Rights, Sustainability, and Responsible Development by Peter Kallang The future of Upper Baram is no longer an abstract debate about development versus conservation. It is a real and ongoing conflict involving Indigenous communities, logging interes…

What an incredible two days in Long Semiyang, Ulu Baram!

In collaboration with the Department of Agriculture (Agro-Based Industry Division), Miri, we successfully conducted a Food Product Processing Workshop where participants learned to transform local agricultural produce into value-added products.

From Serunding Halia and Serunding Bunga Kantan to Jem Terung Asam and Jus Terung Asam, each session was filled with curiosity, laughter, and hands-on learning.

A huge thank you to everyone who participated with such enthusiasm and eagerness to learn. It’s truly inspiring to see communities embracing new skills that can open doors to sustainable livelihoods.

Here’s to empowering communities, one workshop at a time! 💚