By Jettie Word | Executive Director
Dear friends and supporters,
We’re celebrating a historic milestone for Indigenous land defenders in the Baram: we stopped the chop!
After years of protests, petitions, blockades, and international pressure, timber giant Samling has withdrawn its certification for logging in the Gerenai concession in the Upper Baram. This marks a major win for communities who have spent decades fighting to protect the forest they call home.
A Samling representative confirmed that “constant objections by NGOs and local communities” were a key factor in the decision. While the company still holds the license, this move effectively stalls their operations—a powerful example of what determined grassroots resistance can achieve.
FSC Confirms Samling's Violations
Just as this victory was unfolding, a long-awaited decision from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) added global weight to local claims. After nearly three years, FSC—the world’s leading forest and timber certification body—confirmed that Samling illegally harvested timber and destroyed High Conservation Value (HCV) forest in Sarawak.
The findings, based on an investigation sparked by a 2022 complaint from a coalition of NGOs, provide what FSC describes as “clear and convincing” proof. The complaint also raised serious social allegations, which FSC regrettably failed to address in its investigation.
Though Samling withdrew from FSC certification when the investigation began, the FSC has chosen to maintain its association with the company—on the condition that it undergo a formal remediation process. If Samling refuses, the organization will be disassociated.
New Frontlines: Carbon Projects
Even as the chainsaws pause, the fight continues. In place of logging, Samling is now turning its attention to carbon offset schemes—greenwashed land grabs that threaten to displace communities under the guise of conservation.
In Marudi, Indigenous communities are speaking out against the Marudi Forest Carbon Project, which was developed without their Free, Prior, and Informed Consent. Residents of Logan Entasan, Lobang Kompeni, and Sungai Brit have rejected the project outright, demanding recognition of their land rights instead.
We’re supporting community-led advocacy to ensure their voices are heard—locally and globally. You can read our article here to see what Marudi communities are doing to resist this new form of land grabbing.
The Borneo Brief
This month, we launched The Borneo Brief, a new quarterly video update featuring news from the ground in Sarawak. In just a few minutes, we cover key developments in forest policy, community struggles, and conservation efforts—bringing frontline stories directly to our global supporters. Check out our first video chat with Celine Lim from SAVE Rivers!
Looking Ahead
This May, we’re reminded that progress often comes in waves—one step forward can expose new challenges ahead. But with each win, our movement grows stronger.
Thank you for standing with us. Your support fuels the work—on the ground, in the courts, and across borders—to protect the Baram’s rainforests and the people who defend them.
In solidarity,
The Borneo Project
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