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Indigenous Action Offers Hope for Sarawak's Rainforest

In June, journalist and photographer Izzy Sasada joined us on a visit to Long Moh, a Kenyah village in Sarawak’s Upper Baram region. Her feature for Al Jazeera spotlighted Indigenous-led conservation in action.

Community leader William Tinggang showed how Tagang - a system of restricting fishing, hunting, and logging - keeps river ecosystems thriving for future generations. Izzy also highlighted the role of community mapping and grassroots organizing in defending forests from logging.

Read Izzy’s full story to see how Indigenous communities are protecting their territories and why global solidarity matters. 

Japan Urged to Ban Malaysian Timber Imports

This month, 200 Penan from Sarawak’s Middle Baram region called on the Japanese Government to immediately ban timber imports from Malaysian logging giant Shin Yang. The communities report serious human rights issues and broken agreements, and allege that Shin Yang’s practices breach Japan’s Clean Wood Act.

Shin Yang is currently logging near the village of Long Tepen without community consent. Residents have set up a blockade and repeatedly tried to negotiate, only to face intimidation and arrests. With the support of our coalition, the community submitted an urgent letter to Japan’s Prime Minister demanding an end to Shin Yang’s shipments and an investigation into the company’s conduct.

Read our joint release with Bruno Manser Fonds, SAVE Rivers, and Keruan for the full story.

How Sarawak Uses 1950s Aerial Photos to Deny Indigenous Land Rights

Sarawak continues to use colonial-era land laws to restrict Indigenous rights, forcing communities to prove they farmed land before 1958 or risk losing their ancestral territories. The state relies on outdated aerial photos to decide such cases, often without allowing Indigenous peoples access to the very evidence used against them.

This policy denies recognition of forest-based livelihoods and makes communities vulnerable to land grabs by logging and plantation companies. Although Malaysia has endorsed the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), Sarawak’s land code continues to entrench corporate interests at the expense of Indigenous rights.

Read our latest analysis on how these outdated laws continue to undermine Indigenous land security. 

Your support goes directly to Indigenous communities in Sarawak who are defending their ancestral lands, protecting their forests, and demanding a more just future. From blockades to legal battles, this work is urgent and we couldn’t do it without you. Thank you.

In solidarity,

Jettie