By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 30: Indigenous communities in Belaga have secured significant victory in their ongoing struggle to protect their ancestral lands after a plantation company has agreed to halt further forest clearing within the disputed area.
The moratorium follows months of community action by Kenyah and Penan residents, who have maintained a blockade since late 2024 to protest against large-scale land clearing for oil palm plantations on what they claim are native lands.
According to a press release by SAVE Rivers, community representatives said the halt in clearing marked a breakthrough in their campaign to safeguard the forest, which serves as both a livelihood source and cultural heritage for local residents.
More than 1,000 hectares of natural forest were reportedly cleared for palm oil in the last year, before operations were suspended. The suspension also disrupted the company’s ability to sell palm fruit as nearby mills have reportedly stopped sourcing from the affected plantation.
Community leaders are hopeful that a deal can be brokered whereby cleared forests are restored and threatened habitats are rehabilitated.
The moratorium is a welcome relief for affected communities, but they emphasised that the struggle is far from over. Restoring degraded forests and ensuring lasting protection of native lands will require sustained effort and collaboration.
A complaint filed by the local communities earlier this year with the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification body regarding the plantation company’s operations is still awaiting a decision. —DayakDaily
