KUCHING: WWF-Malaysia will be hosting a forum, a mini exhibition and a project site visit in conjunction with the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.
The forum and mini exhibition will take place at the Borneo Cultures Museum’s (BCM) Arts and Crafts Gallery on August 19 (Saturday) from 8.30 am to 3 pm.
WWF-Malaysia Community Engagement and Education Manager in Sarawak, Ailyn Nau Sidu said in a press statement yesterday that the public and museum visitors were welcomed to attend the forum themed, ‘Indigenous Youth as Agents of Change for Self-determination.’
“During the forum at BCM, we will highlight the success stories of the indigenous communities’ efforts in conserving natural resources. The audience will also have a glimpse of WWF’s staff working experience with indigenous communities despite having different cultures and facing language barriers,” she added.
The next day, communities coming from outside Kuching will have the opportunity to visit a community-managed area called Jagoi Heritage Forest in Bau, and have first hand experience learning from the Jagoi community.
In Sarawak, Ailyn said, among others, WWF-Malaysia worked with the Lun Bawang communities in Ba’ Kelalan on sustainable farming practices for rice and those in Long Semadoh on riverbank restoration.
“We work with Iban communities in Song-Katibas in Kapit Division on sustainable pepper cultivation; Gunung Lesong-Ulu Sebuyau and Ulu Sungai Menyang in Sri Aman on agroforestry to help conserve orangutan habitat and improve community livelihoods.”
“In Jagoi near Kuching, we work with the Bidayuh community to restore degraded areas of their heritage forest and advocate for Mount Jagoi to be recognised as an International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Green List area,” she added,
According to Ailyn, WWF-Malaysia believes that conservation works effectively when indigenous and local communities participate in sustainable practices of land uses and are co-stewards with nature.
Moreover, communities’ traditional knowledge also embodies a wealth of wisdom and experience in nature, thus adding more value to conservation.
“The objectives of these events are to create awareness on inclusive conservation among the public, provide indigenous communities the opportunity to cross-learn from each other on their conservation efforts, and how their deep rooted cultures help to conserve the natural resources, and promote intergenerational connections and green transition,”
“Inclusive conservation means recognising indigenous communities and local communities’ rights in managing their ancestral land sustainably for their own well-being and nature.
“It also means supporting indigenous and local communities at the grassroots level and this includes women and youth participation in their efforts protecting their land and surrounding biodiversity,” said Ailyn.
For more details on the programme, visit WWF-Malaysia’s Facebook or Instagram page.
