There often seems little that forest communities can do to stop the relentless onslaught of logging companies and the deforestation they leave in their wake. But in Malaysia, Penan communities have successfully caused Malaysian timber giant, Samling, to withdraw its bulldozers from the Penan’s rainforests on the upper reaches of the Akah river.

Blockades

The people of Penan have seen their once vast swathes of land greatly reduced over the last few years and so, determined to fight for the conservation of their last virgin jungle they set up blockades of two strategic locations.

Withdrawn

According to Penan sources, the blockades have forced the Samling logging corporation to withdraw its bulldozers from the disputed community lands of Long Sabai and Ba Kerameu.

Reservations

This is a key victory as the two communities are part of the Penan Peace Park, a self-administered 163,000 hectare nature reserve launched in November 2009 that has been the subject of increased encroachment from logging companies.

A Battle on Many Fronts

But the joy of victory can only be short-lived, as the battle to save their lands continues on many other fronts. The Penan are reporting that Samling continues to trespass on their lands in other regions. Two written warnings have been issued against Samling subsidiary Jerinai to stop logging in the Ba Jawi watershed, a high conservation value rainforest near the Indonesian border.

Furthermore, the company has recently taken up helicopter logging within within the communal boundaries of Long Ajeng in the Upper Baram region.

Environmentally Destructive

Samling is a Hong Kong-listed timber giant. The corporation has a track record of environmentally destructive and illegal logging in a number of countries, including Cambodia, Guyana, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea.

We Just Don’t Have the Power…

Unfortunately, good news stories such as this are rare, and local communities are not usually able to hold out for long against the large logging companies unless they receive support from outside sources.