THE recognition of Native Customary Rights (NCR) must not be overlooked or diminished in the process of establishing conservation areas, says Baru Bian (GPS-Ba’Kelalan).
He added that the state government should take proactive steps to engage with NCR landowners and communities, ensuring their voices are heard, and their rights are protected.
“Any conservation measures must be inclusive and equitable, balancing the need for environmental protection with the rights and needs of those who have traditionally relied on the land.
“We should find ways to protect and uphold these rights, ensuring that the indigenous peoples of Sarawak are partners in the conservation process, not excluded or deprived of their rights.
“Our indigenous communities have lived on and cared for these lands for centuries. They have a deep, intrinsic connection with the land, forests, and rivers that sustain them as their lives are interwoven with the natural environment, along with their livelihoods often depend on the sustainable use of these resources.”
He said this during the debate on the Natural Resources and Environment Bill 2024 at the second meeting of the third session of the 19th Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting on Tuesday (Nov 12).
Due to that, despite his full support of the bill, he raised one important point of caution, particularly with regard to the provisions under Section 23 concerning the gazetting of Conservation Areas.
“This section allows for the designation of both alienated and unalienated lands as conservation areas, which is a critical move to protect our environment.
“But I urge the government to take into account the significant presence of NCR holders in these areas.
“Conservation should not be a tool for disenfranchising our indigenous communities. Instead, it should be an opportunity to foster partnerships between the government and local communities, encouraging sustainable land management practices that benefit both the environment and the people who have always cared for it,” he said.
