Forest Dept rejects ‘misleading narratives’ over Upper Baram logging activities

Forest Department Sarawak logo. Photo credit: Forest Department Sarawak/Facebook

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Nov 12: The Forest Department Sarawak (FDS) has rejected allegations and what it described as misleading narratives concerning logging activities in the Upper Baram Forest Area (UBFA), saying forestry operations must be assessed based on applicable laws, licence conditions and regulatory requirements.

In a statement, FDS said it took note of a joint statement dated Nov 9, 2026, issued by Friends of the Earth Japan (FoE Japan) and its partner organisations regarding logging activities in UBFA.

While respecting the role of civil society organisations in raising environmental and social concerns, the department said it strongly rejected “misleading narratives, unfounded generalisations and assertions that do not adequately reflect the legal, institutional and socio-economic realities of forest management in Sarawak”.

Clarifying UBFA’s legal status, FDS said the proposed area was not, as a whole, a gazetted Forest Reserve, Totally Protected Area (TPA) or legally established conservation zone under Sarawak law.

“Rather, it was an initiative promoted through civil society engagement and supported by an ITTO-funded project,” it said.

The department stressed that the proposed geographical coverage did not confer a new legal conservation status, alter existing land-use classifications or impose a blanket prohibition on lawful forestry activities.

“Forestry activities within licensed areas remained subject to State laws, licence conditions, approved Forest Management Plans and regulatory oversight,” it added.

On concerns over the representation of Indigenous communities, FDS said the aspirations of the Penan, Kenyah, Kelabit and Saban communities in Upper Baram must be recognised independently.

“Indigenous communities have their own voices, perspectives, priorities and development aspirations,” it said, adding that they should not be portrayed as passive participants or instruments of external advocacy.

The department also called for transparency from organisations claiming to represent these communities, particularly regarding their representation mandates, funding sources and tangible benefits delivered to local residents.

“Forest conservation and Indigenous rights must be pursued with genuine commitment and accountability. They should never be used as instruments to advance organisational interests, external agendas or fundraising activities at the expense of the communities they are intended to support,” it said.

Addressing the termination of the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO)-supported UBFA project in October 2024, FDS said the decision should not be interpreted as a failure of Sarawak’s forest governance or commitment to sustainable forest management.

It explained that the termination followed significant implementation challenges, differences in stakeholder expectations and differing aspirations concerning the project’s direction.

The Sarawak government, through FDS as the executing agency, had requested termination through established project governance arrangements.

“The termination of the project was an administrative and project implementation decision. It did not constitute a determination concerning the legality of forestry operations within the wider UBFA area,” the department explained.

On allegations involving Borneoland Timber Resources Sdn Bhd (BTR), FDS said the company’s operations must be assessed against its forestry licences, approved operational boundaries, licence conditions and applicable State laws.

“The existence of logging activities within a licensed forest area does not, in itself, constitute evidence of illegal logging.

“Allegations, media reports or interpretations of satellite imagery alone should not be treated as conclusive proof of regulatory violations,” it stressed.

FDS also emphasised that the High Court dismissed a judicial review challenging the validity of BTR’s timber licence in December 2025, saying the outcome should be acknowledged when assessing claims concerning the licence’s legal status.

The department said it would continue its regulatory oversight and take appropriate action if breaches of forestry laws, licence conditions or approved management requirements were discovered.

On concerns about timber trade with Japan, FDS pointed out that the organisations involved had acknowledged they had not established whether timber from BTR’s operations had entered the Japanese market.

“In the absence of verified evidence establishing such a trade connection or demonstrating non-compliance with applicable timber legality requirements, calls to classify Sarawak as a high-risk timber-sourcing region are premature and unjustified,” it said.

FDS maintained that timber-sourcing assessments must be based on credible and traceable information, including timber origins, licensing arrangements, supply-chain documentation and regulatory findings.

Reaffirming Sarawak’s commitment to sustainable forest management, the department said the State remained committed to maintaining its Permanent Forest Estate, strengthening its network of TPAs, conserving biodiversity and improving the socio-economic well-being of Indigenous communities.

“We firmly believe that forest conservation, sustainable utilisation of natural resources and Indigenous community well-being are complementary objectives, not competing interests,” it said.

FDS added that constructive international cooperation and engagement with civil society must be grounded in facts, transparency, accountability and mutual respect.

“Forest conservation and community development must be built on facts, mutual respect and genuine partnership, not on misleading narratives or agendas imposed by external interests,” the statement concluded. — DayakDaily