If bird's nest harvesting at the Niah National Park were to cease, it will lose its value as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, says SFC general manager

NIAH, Sept 29 2026: The state government will continue to allow bird's nest harvesting at the Niah National Park under a monitored licensing system, as stipulated in the Wildlife Protection Ordinance and the Bird's Nest Rules.

Caption: SFC general manager Abang Arabi Abang Aimran (centre) says  if bird's nest harvesting were to cease, a value of Niah Caves as World Heritage Site would be lost, as it is a practice passed down through generations among the local Niah community.


Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) general manager and controller of Sarawak National Parks and Nature Reserves Abang Arabi Abang Aimran said bird's nest harvesting is a heritage feature of Niah Caves that contributed to the national park's recognition as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site.

“If bird's nest harvesting were to cease, a value of this World Heritage Site would be lost, as it is a practice passed down through generations among the local Niah community.

“For this reason, the Sarawak government will continue to allow bird's nest harvesting to be carried out under a monitored licensing system, as stipulated in the Wildlife Protection Ordinance and the Bird's Nest Rules,” he 
said in a statement.

He added there are currently only 11 bird's nest harvesting licenses remain active, compared to the 89 licenses previously recorded.

“Active license holders comply with the Niah Caves bird's nest harvesting management system introduced in the 1990s through the Danida Project," he said in a statement today.

“Harvesting activities are permitted during two seasons annually: the first quarter and the last quarter of the year,” Abang Arabi added.

Regarding the issuance of new licenses, Abang Arabi said that opportunities are limited because no new areas within the Niah Caves or Gunung Subis blocks have been identified as productive for bird's nests.

He said SFC is also collaborating with the Sarawak Museum Department to address environmental issues within the caves, such as moss growth on the walls, which could affect the quality of the bird's nests. 

“Bird's nests from Niah Cave were once renowned for being among the highest quality; therefore, the cave environment must be preserved to ensure the harvesting tradition continues,” he said.

He said a total of 1,010.78 kilograms of bird's nests were recorded as harvested at Niah Cave between August 12, 2025, and March 31 of this year.