Author: saveriversweb

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) and SAVE Rivers, express their solidarity with the indigenous communities from Logan Entasan, Lobang Kompeni and Sungai Brit who are affected by the Marudi Forest Conservation and Restoration Project.  The two organisations thoroughly support the communities’ rejection of this forest carbon project and their call for the strengthening of their native … Continue reading Support for Marudi Indigenous Communities affected by Forest Carbon Project

Indigenous communities in Sarawak win a landmark victory as the Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC) and international timber certifier visit Sarawak to inspect timber operations.  [SARAWAK / MALAYSIA] – In a major victory for Indigenous communities defending their customary lands, Samling has withdrawn several of its timber concessions from the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS). … Continue reading Indigenous Baram communities celebrate timber company’s withdrawal from their lands

February 3, 2025 On the 3rd February, a delegation of 15 CSO leaders led by Convening Chair Jerald Joseph of Asean Peoples @Asean2025 (ASEAN Peoples) met the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dato’ Sri Amran Mohamed Zin excepted the “Advisory Paper to the Chairperson of  ASEAN and our Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk … Continue reading Handover of the “Advisory Paper to the Chairperson of ASEAN and our Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim” by the Committee of ASEAN Peoples’ @ASEAN 2025

4 November 2024 -  The ASEAN Environmental Rights Working Group (AER Working Group) has finalized the ASEAN declaration on the right to a safe, clean, [healthy], and sustainable environment, which is currently being reviewed and discussed by the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR).  Civil society groups are concerned about the pressing environmental degradation … Continue reading Civil Society Calls On ASEAN to Strengthen Protection for Vulnerable Groups in New Environmental Rights Declaration

Lack of transparency and breakdown in communication cause cancellation of International Tropical Timber Organization’s (ITTO) showcase operation in Malaysian Borneo (MIRI / SARAWAK / MALAYSIA) International donors were stunned last Thursday when, minutes prior to the start of a project meeting in Miri, Malaysia, they learned that the Forest Department Sarawak had called off a … Continue reading International Flagship Project Sunk by Sarawak Forestry Agency

Last week, the European Commission proposed to postpone application of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) by a year, and signalled that it will use this time to “step up dialogue” with partner countries while stressing that “the partnership's success will also rest on EU partners' commitment to deliver on global targets to halt deforestation.” The … Continue reading EU-Indonesia-Malaysia Joint Task Force must step up its game

Designate Sarawak as ‘High Risk’ Under New Anti-Deforestation Law (Brussels, September 24, 2024) – The European Union should classify Malaysia’s state of Sarawak as high risk under its new anti-deforestation regulation, a coalition of environmental, human rights, and Indigenous organizations said today. Sarawak, whose millions of hectares of ancient rainforests are at risk of being razed … Continue reading EU: Address Indigenous Rights Violations in Malaysian Imports

In a letter to Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, NGOs call for urgent reforms of and propose solutions to the broken Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS) (KUALA LUMPUR / MALAYSIA) Today, civil society groups called on Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, to undertake long-overdue reforms of the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS). Five civil society … Continue reading NGOs call on Anwar to fix broken timber certification system in new report

Save our forest and stop the logging - Baram Penan communities send clear message from the forest to Sarawak’s capital KUCHING & BARAM / SARAWAK / MALAYSIA) On Tuesday (27th Aug) a delegation of Penan from the Upper Baram River Basin delivered a petition with over 500 signatures to government representatives at the Asia Pacific … Continue reading Growing local opposition to logging in Baram forest 

  Having grown up in Sarawak, we know the feeling of standing in lush, verdant forests—humid and sweaty, yet at ease, enjoying the symphony of insects and animals. The richness of life in an old growth rainforest was something we took for granted. What we also unfortunately know all too well, is the gut-wrenching feeling … Continue reading Silent forests, silent voices: the struggle to save the Baram Peace Park