After various complaints from civil society, the Dutch government asks PEFC International to demonstrate accountability and prove that the Malaysian timber certification scheme is compliant (THE HAGUE / NETHERLANDS) The Dutch government expects PEFC International to conduct an investigation into the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS) following growing concerns about...
Many consumers want to make responsible choices when it comes to their purchases, but sometimes it’s hard to know what the safer, more ethical choice is. Certification schemes are a tool that many people (understandably) use to help them make those choices. Unfortunately, the credibility of these schemes is not...
Following the death of Abdul Taib Mahmud (“Taib”), the former long-term Chief Minister and Governor of the Malaysian state of Sarawak, Swiss environmental and human rights group Bruno Manser Fonds calls on Malaysia’s political leadership and judiciary to freeze Taib’s assets and reopen investigations into the origin of Taib’s and...
Certification body SIRIM uses Penan rejection of logging as a reason to reinstate certificate – Penan ask Samling representatives and SIRIM auditors to leave (LIMBANG / SARAWAK) During the January audit of timber giant Samling’s Ravenscourt Forest Management Unit (FMU) in Northern Sarawak, the local semi-nomadic Penan communities boycotted the...
The petition against the proposed Tutoh/Apoh cascading dam demanding for community engagement and consultation, has successfully collected 650 signatures in less than 2 months since it was organized. Currently, the signatories to this on-going petition come from 19 communities within the affected area who are made up of Kayan, Penan,...
Why are social and environmental impact assessments important? Social Impact Assessments (SIAs) and Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) are a crucial step in determining whether and how to initiate a wide variety of projects that have impacts on ecosystems and people. Evaluating the impact that a road, logging concession, or dam...
This month, communities impacted by the proposed Tutoh/Apoh cascading dam project are busy collecting signatures for a petition to the Premier of Sarawak’s office. The petition is currently 500 signatures strong. It expresses concerns about the project and demands community interests and Indigenous rights are not sidelined in the name...
Penan communities are dismayed that Samling’s forest certificate was reinstated even though serious problems remain unresolved. They demand a no-logging zone in their territories. (LIMBANG / SARAWAK) This week some of the last nomadic Penan communities submitted documentation to timber giant Samling to assert their ancestral land rights. The Penan...
Dear friends, In a world too often marred by grief, wars, and violence, we find hope in the resilience and collective will of this community we have built. The story of our ongoing battle against logging in Sarawak is a testament to the power of perseverance and unity in the...
Our new report is titled “Lost in Certification: How forest certification greenwashes Samling’s dirty timber and fools the international market”. It is a comprehensive analysis of the most recent land conflicts in the Baram region of Sarawak. It looks at the most shocking community claims against logging company Samling and...
