Posted on August, 02 2018

Kuching, SARAWAK: Forest Department Sarawak and WWF-Malaysia launched a new coffee table book entitled, The Kuba’an-Puak Story: Journey Towards A Green Corridor here today.

The 159-page book features stories from Kuba’an-Puak, home to Indigenous Peoples, focusing on Penan and their close relationship with nature and contribution in Sustainable Forest Management (SFM).

Forest Department Sarawak (FDS) and WWF-Malaysia jointly published the book with the support of the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

The Director of Forests, Hamden Mohammad unveiled the book on the sidelines of the 18th Malaysian Forestry Conference at a leading hotel. Also present at the launch were WWF-Malaysia’s Board of Trustees, Robert Basiuk and Rewi Hamid Bugo, as well as the Conservation Director, Dr Henry Chan. Jens Brinckmann, Counsellor for Economic, Commercial and Environmental Affairs, German Embassy also attended the event.

Speaking at the book launch, Hamden said these stories convey Penan’s special relationship with the forests, mountains, rivers, plants and animals. They also document their traditional knowledge, wisdom and oral history; concerns and hopes; and their journey in sustainable forest management alongside with other stakeholders towards a green corridor in the Heart of Borneo. The coffee table book contains images from the field and excerpts from the communities themselves.

Hamden said FDS along with WWF-Malaysia, Sarawak Forestry Corporation and Community Information and Communications Centre, to name a few, took on Kuba’an-Puak Forest Management Unit (FMU) as a pilot project site to explore and develop a model SFM in the state.

“The department would like to take this opportunity to thank the German Federal Ministry for Food and Agriculture for funding this project that promotes the concept of SFM. This project is based on research, capacity building and empowerment on SFM to stakeholders including the community,” he said.

“We hope that through this coffee table book, people can see the importance of our forests and how we can and should be managing them sustainably. The forests in Kuba’an-Puak are not only for the Penans and people of Sarawak, but what we do will benefit and create positive influence for the international communities," he added.
The Kuba’an-Puak project area spans about 360,000 hectares, covering multiple FMUs between Mulu National Park and Pulong Tau National Park. This project is part of the Heart of Borneo Corridor Initiative.

The book is sold at RM150 per copy at WWF-Malaysia’s Kuching Office at 7th floor of Bangunan Binamas, Padungan Road and its headquarters at 1, Jalan PJS 5/28A, Petaling Jaya Commercial Centre (PJCC), Petaling Jaya, during office hours from Monday to Friday, or email to my.swkrfp@wwf.org.my. Books are available from mid-August.

For more information, please contact:
Mohd Saiful Amrie Abdullah
Tel: +6082-319219
Email: saifula2@sarawak.gov.my

Ezen Chan
Tel: +6082-240270
Email: yzchan@wwf.org.my