BELAGA, Oct 30 2025: Indigenous communities have won a major victory in their campaign to stop deforestation on their native lands in Belaga district, according to Celine Lim, managing director of SAVE Rivers, an indigenous and environmental rights advocate.
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Celine Lim: Since late 2024, Kenyah and Penan residents have maintained a blockade and organised a campaign demanding that the company stop clearing forest within their territories.
She said after clearing over 1,000 hectares of natural forest for oil palm in the last year, the plantation company has committed to a moratorium on further clearing in the disputed area.
She added the community leaders have also reported that an palm oil mill, the last remaining mill purchasing from the plantation company within 50 kilometres, has suspended sourcing from the plantation company.
She said this created a major barrier for the plantation company to sell their fruits into commercial palm oil supply chains.
“The moratorium and suspension come after mounting local opposition and international scrutiny,” she said in a statement today.
Celine noted that the Borneo Project has identified multiple significant global buyers, including major consumer brands that list the palm oil mill in their public supply chain disclosures.
“These companies were alerted to ongoing deforestation and conflict with local communities, generating increased scrutiny in the supply chain and pressure on the mill to suspend ties with Urun Plantations.
“After nearly two years of standing firm, in spite of experiencing constant gaslighting narratives, these results are a vindication of the communities’ claims.
“The fact that plantation company is now halting forest clearing and seeking engagement with the affected communities is a testament to the power of local resistance and international solidarity,” Celine stressed.
According to her, since late 2024, Kenyah and Penan residents have maintained a blockade and organised a campaign demanding that the company stop clearing forest within their territories.
She said the community leaders are now hopeful that a deal can be brokered whereby cleared forests are restored and threatened habitats are rehabilitated.
“While the halt in deforestation is an important milestone, systemic issues remain. Reforestation is a complex and long-term commitment.
“If the company agrees to address their deforestation liability through community engagement, forest rehabilitation and other conservation projects, the company may be reintegrated into the supply chain,” she said.
Jettie Wood, the executive director of the Borneo Project, said:“We welcome this positive turn of events, but the damage to over a thousand hectares of forest cannot easily be undone.”
She noted that the company continued clearing forest in violation of the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) and the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) standards for many months after being alerted to the problem.
“It’s only now, after losing market access, that they’ve changed course. This is a clear sign of deeper flaws in the palm oil industry,” she suggested.
Jettie said the affected communities are still waiting for a decision from MSPO, after submitting a complaint against the plantation company in May.
