1. Empower Communities as Forest Guardians
Support community-based forest management programmes so local people benefit from conservation and eco-tourism. Example: Create incentives for longhouses and rural villages to protect surrounding forests rather than clear them.
2. Boost Climate-Smart Agriculture
Promote organic farming, traditional paddy varieties, and integrated pest management to reduce chemical use.
Encourage small farmers to adopt agroforestry systems that combine crops with trees to improve soil health and biodiversity.
3. Make Sarawak a Renewable Energy Hub
Expand clean energy sources like solar, micro-hydro, and green hydrogen in both rural and urban areas.
Prioritise projects that do not compromise forests or indigenous lands.
4. Develop Circular Economy Industries
Support businesses that recycle waste into useful products – such as composting agricultural residues or converting plastic waste into construction materials.
Reduce landfill dependency and create green jobs.
5. Protect Cultural and Biodiversity Hotspots
Legally safeguard traditional knowledge, medicinal plants, and high-biodiversity areas.
Establish living heritage centres where younger generations can learn about Sarawak’s forests and culture.
Sarawak on the World Map: Sustainability, Science & the Soul of Borneo
“We are more than just a dot on the map – we are a voice rooted in tradition, speaking to the future.”
The World is Watching Sarawak
When the World Economic Forum (WEF) listed Sarawak among the world’s Top 36 Transitioning Industrial Clusters this month, it marked a turning point. For decades, we’ve been viewed as a peripheral player – remote, rich in resources, but not central to global conversations. Now, our state is being recognised alongside other regions spearheading the shift toward sustainable industries and climate solutions.
This recognition reflects years of calculated investment in renewable energy, carbon-offset initiatives, hydrogen development, and forward-looking industrial strategies. But global acknowledgment is only the beginning. The real question is: How will Sarawak turn this momentum into meaningful action for its people and its environment?
The Laboratory of Borneo: Where Nature Meets Innovation
Sarawak is blessed with one of the world’s richest tapestries of biodiversity. Our mangroves, rivers, peat swamps, and rainforests are not just beautiful landscapes – they are living laboratories filled with solutions waiting to be discovered.
From natural compounds in medicinal plants to the traditional knowledge passed down by indigenous healers, we have within our borders an abundance of ideas and innovations that the world is searching for. The challenge lies in ensuring that we protect and study these resources responsibly, rather than lose them to unchecked development or short-term exploitation.
From Tanjung Manis to the World
Earlier this month, the state government launched its ESG-focused development plan for Tanjung Manis, complete with a new airport upgrade, a logistics hub, and promises of carbon-neutral agro-industrial activities. It’s ambitious and futuristic – but we must also ask: For whom is this development?
As we transform Sarawak into a “green economy” hub, we need to ensure that our rural communities, indigenous groups, and small-scale farmers are not left behind. Their knowledge, resilience, and stewardship of the land are the very foundation of this transformation.
Let’s be clear: There is no sustainable Sarawak without an equitable Sarawak.
From Forest Trails to Future Generations
In many remote corners of Sarawak, elders still walk the forest trails, carrying with them knowledge of plants, rivers, and soils that has been passed down for generations. They can point out which root relieves fever, which leaves repel pests, and which tree signals the changing seasons.
But much of this wisdom is at risk of disappearing. Younger generations are increasingly drawn to urban centres, leaving fewer opportunities for these traditions to be taught and practised. This quiet erosion of knowledge is one of the greatest challenges we face as a society.
Our state is gaining recognition for its sustainability initiatives and green development plans, but true progress must include the people who have long cared for our forests and rivers. Rural communities, indigenous elders, and small farmers hold knowledge that can guide us toward a future where our growth is balanced with care for the land.
If we lose this wisdom, we lose more than cultural heritage – we lose practical solutions for living sustainably in a changing world. Passing down these lessons to the next generation isn’t just about protecting tradition; it’s about ensuring Sarawak remains resilient and self-sufficient in the decades ahead.
Which Road Will We Take?
Sarawak is now at an important crossroads.
One road will lead us to real, meaningful sustainability – where the government, scientists, and local communities work hand in hand. This is the road where we protect our forests and rivers while building a strong economy that benefits everyone, from people in the city to those living deep in the kampung.
The other road may look shiny at first but could bring the same problems we’ve seen before: big projects that focus only on profit, “green” labels that are just for show, and development that leaves rural communities behind.
We must choose carefully. Progress isn’t only about having more factories or higher income. Real progress is when our forests are still standing, our rivers are clean, and our communities are thriving.
Sarawak has what it takes to lead the way – not just in Malaysia, but in the world. But we need to do it together, with honesty and respect for the land and for one another.
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune. The writer can be reached at ab_fauziah@upm.edu.my.
