Saracarbon Two-Day Communities Workshop in Collaboration with UNIMAS on NbS.

(Marudi, 25th) With the recent award of the first Carbon License by the Sarawak Government to Saracarbon, a 2 day workshop and engagement session involving representatives from SaraCarbon, Resident & District office Marudi, Telang Usan and Beluru, UNIMAS, NGOs and Community leaders from 50 longhouses and Kampongs within and around the licenses area has started on 24 February 2025 at Dewan Suarah Marudi.

The Honourable Datuk Gerawat Gala, Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department and State Assembly representative for Mulu  Constituency, The Honourable Datuk Dr Penguang Manggil,

Deputy Minister for Public Health, Housing & Local Government and State Assembly representative for Marudi Constituency, The Honourable Dato Dennis Ngau, State Assembly representative for Telang Usan constituency, Mr Yap Fui Fook, Chief Operations Officer for Samling and Tuan Galong Luang, Resident of Miri Division were among those present.

The 2 day engagement session was to for SaraCarbon to brief and create awareness among stakeholders especially the local community leaders about the area covered by SaraCarbon’s license, the activities that are planned to be carried out, the opportunities for involvement of the local communities and potential socio economic benefits for the communities within and near the perimeter of the licensed area.

In his speech at the opening of the engagement session, Datuk Gerawat Gala emphasised on the need for regular (not just once) engagement session with all stakeholders especially the local communities affected to ensure the success of the project.

He advised Saracarbon to give accurate and complete/comprehensive information to the community leaders, NGOs and other stakeholders about the Carbon project so that there will be no room for speculative judgments and spreading of misleading and false information.

He urged community leaders, NGOs and other stakeholders to take the opportunity to get the right and complete information about the project and ask questions if they are not clear. The community leaders need to have a good grasp and understanding of the Carbon project and how it may affect their community as these community leaders have to explain and brief their rakyat about the project and how it might affect them and the opportunities for the rakyat.

Datuk Gerawat also mentioned that this SaraCarbon project being the first in Sarawak will become the precedent for other similar projects. This project is part of the Government’s policy to grow our green economy which emphasise of environmental sustainability and sustainable management of our natural resources. This project is also in line with our Post Covid Development Strategy by 2030 in which one of our development thrust towards achieving a prosperous and high income State is to ensure environmental sustainability.

Datuk Dr Penguang suggested for SaraCarbon and UNIMAS to conduct briefings and engagement sessions with affected communities using their own dialect eg using Iban language when engaging with the Iban community and using Kiput language when engaging with the Kiput  community to ensure the people understand as the subject matter (Carbon trade) is a very new thing and very technical in nature.

Event Highlights:
● Interactive Communities Workshops: Hands-on sessions led by Dr Poline and a team of social experts to educate participants on the principles and applications of Nature-Based carbon cycles Solution and its impact to the communities
● Panel Discussions: Engaging conversations with thought leaders, policymakers like YBs on the role of NbS in building climate-resilient communities.
● Community supports Saracarbon and share their experiences and success stories in implementing NbS projects for economic empowerment (handicrafts and traditional kuihs).

YB Datuk Gerawat Gala reiterated that NCR land, which is often mentioned by NGOs, is not included in this project area, as he visited the aerial view of the Marudi Baram landscape, which is mainly peatland. He urged the communities not to be misled by NGOs on grey issues such as land claims and to collaborate.

YB Datuk Dr Penguang Manggil quotes the community needs to see bigger picture to also include Baram in this project rehabilitation, you have to explain to the communities there is no cash involved; this projects benefits for communities are in kind.

Prof Dr. Poline: "Today’s event is significant in nurturing multi-directional dialogues between Saracarbon, the policy makers (YBs), policy implementers (Resident, District Officers, Sarawak Admistrative officer SAO), community leaders and researchers that have an interest in  nature-based solutions through forest conservation in Baram.

Samling Chief Operating Officer Ye Hoi Phoo (fifth from left) with Datuk Gerawat, Datuk Penguang Manggil, Datuk Dennis Ngau, and other representatives in a commemorative photo.