Preliminary observations on indigenous knowledge and the uses of natural resources in Banting and Padawan

This paper discusses preliminary findings of the study on indigenous knowledge of various cultural, religious, medicinal and culinary uses of the natural resources found in two different indigenous communities in Sarawak, namely the Iban of Banting and the Bidayuh of Padawan. Structured interviews were carried out with each household head in the selected villages to determine indigenous knowledge of these communities on the usage of and reliance on natural resources. Through focus group discussions, indigenous knowledge on the various uses of identified natural resources is still available in these two communities. Their dependence on natural resources as building materials, food and, in the economic aspects still exist. However, their dependence on natural resource is diminishing. The indigenous knowledge gap between the old and younger generation of both Iban dan Bidayuh areas has also been identified. Most of the young people are no longer practicing traditional way of life because they are more comfortable with the modern way of life today. In addition, most Iban people in Banting, and the Bidayuh in Padawan have embraced Christianity and practiced modern way of life

Traditional handicrafts and the use of natural resources among the Iban of Balai Ringin, Serian,

This study investigates the possible gaps in current indigenous knowledge in the use of natural resources, specifically in traditional handicraft making. The Iban women are known for their traditional weaving skills. However, due to various reasons, this knowledge is declining. Through interviews and focus group discussions, the knowledge on the types and availability of resources in the respective areas, as well as the gap of knowledge in resource use and management between the older and younger generations and its cause were identified. Through observation, while traditional baskets and mats are still used by the Iban today, most of the traditional handicrafts made using natural materials seen in the longhouses are relics from the past, made by previous generations. The scarcity of raw materials such as rattan and wood has resulted in the decline of the production of such handicrafts. Though the skills of making these baskets especially among younger generation are eroding, the cultural significance of this basket among Iban community should not be forgotten

BORDER SAFETY : KAMPUNG MONGKOS TEBEDU SERIAN SARAWAK

This case study was conducted in Kampung Mongkos, a village located within the Serian parliamentary constituency and close to the border between Malaysia and Indonesia. The proximity of this village to this international border renders it an area prone to activities contrary to both international and domestic laws. During the site visit and interview session, the researcher acquired information on security vulnerabilities, which the Malaysian government needs to address. Among these vulnerabilities is the issue of smuggling involving both humans and merchandises. Despite the fact that Kampong Mongkos is the closest village to the border, the security post of the Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine (CIQ) of Malaysia is located not in this village, but in a village approximately seven kilometres from the border. Therefore, this study emphasises on the importance of raising the level of security along the Malaysia-Indonesia border, particularly with regards to Kampong Mongkos

Community-Based Natural Resource Management: The Case Study of Tagang System in Ulu Engkari and Tringgus, Sarawak

In recent years, there has been increasing interest in collaborative or community-based resource management in place of top-down approach to management of natural resources. Community-based natural resource management has been implemented in many places globally, with varying results although it shows an effectiveness overall. This study aims to investigate the potential sustainability of existing co-management conservation practices in Sarawak by looking into the tagang system implemented in two different rivers in Sarawak, Sungai Engkari in Lubok Antu and Sungai Pedie, Tringgus, Bau. This study looks into the aspect of social capital in these two communities and demonstrates its importance when it comes to the sustainability of a community-based natural resource management project. This study also looks into the drivers and motivational factors of the communities’ involvement in community-based resource management practices. The indigenous communities in Ulu Engkari and Tringgus still rely on the availability of natural resources in their daily life. As the communities are closely related to their natural environment, changes in the environment will affect their livelihood strategies, thus their indigenous knowledge revolves around the utilisation and management of the natural resources that surround them. Long-term sustainable resource management is made possible with a collaborative effort between local communities and government agencies, with clearly defined roles in order to achieve a balanced relationship among those involved. Government agencies play a key role in assisting the communities by providing material assistance and training. The horizontal relationship among members of the community is also important as it instils as sense of responsibility towards each member of the community as well as a shared ownership of the resources. This study has shown that the various types of social capital available plays an important role in community-based natural resource management endeavours in Ulu Engkari iii and Tringgus as it encourages cooperation and collective action. The role of social capital should be given consideration in policy-making and strategies regarding natural resource management practices in Sarawak

Assessing the potential impacts of mining on the socioeconomic activities in Sungai Jonjang catchment area : A perceptual study

(The objective of this study is to assess how mining operations are perceived by the affected communities. The factors examined in this study were demographic characteristics and the variables of community awareness and the residual impact generated from mining activities. Land utilization was an important factor studied as a majority of respondents rely on agriculture activities and forest products for their livelihood). The respondents were highly concerned about their loss of livelihood due to mining activities. 87.27% responded positively to concern regarding displacement and loss of land. This shows that a majority are aware of the direct impact of open cast mining. The majority (89.1 %) agreed to preserve the nearby forest as community forest. The loss of flora and fauna, aquatic pollution, and, changes of landscape are also major concerns of the community in terms of environmental impacts

Preliminary Observations on Indigenous Knowledge and the Uses of Natural Resources in Banting and Padawan

This paper discusses preliminary findings of the study on indigenous knowledge of various cultural, religious, medicinal and culinary uses of the natural resources found in two different indigenous communities in Sarawak, namely the Iban of Banting and the Bidayuh of Padawan. Structured interviews were carried out with each household head in the selected villages to determine indigenous knowledge of these communities on the usage of and reliance on natural resources. Through focus group discussions, indigenous knowledge on the various uses of identified natural resources is still available in these two communities. Their dependence on natural resources as building materials, food and, in the economic aspects still exist. However, their dependence on natural resource is diminishing. The indigenous knowledge gap between the old and younger generation of both Iban dan Bidayuh areas has also been identified. Most of the young people are no longer practicing traditional way of life because they are more comfortable with the modern way of life today. In addition, most Iban people in Banting, and the Bidayuh in Padawan have embraced Christianity and practiced modern way of lif