Kuching, 14 January 2022: Forest restoration efforts in Jagoi Heritage Forest, Bau district, by the community are seeing positive results of high tree survival rates after 1,000 native tree species were planted a year ago.

The community, led by its Jagoi Area Development Committee (JADC) joined hands with Peterson and Control Union, Forest Department Sarawak (FDS) and WWF-Malaysia in the six-month reforestation project.

“The first tree survival assessment was done by JADC, and assisted by post-graduate students and staff from Institute of Biodiversity and Environmental Conservation (IBEC), Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), three months after the planting in December 2020. ArcGIS Survey123 (a form centric data collection application) was used to collect the data,” said JADC Chairman Professor Dr Gabriel Tonga Noweg during a site visit recently.

A total of 774 trees were assessed and recorded between March and April last year. Graph produced through Survey123 shows a 95% survival rate from the first survival assessment result of the 774 trees assessed, he said.

The project, covering 1.8 hectares of degraded and landslide areas, was aimed at enriching forest cover in degraded areas, maintaining forest connectivity, and conserving the forest-culture-history of the Bidayuh in this community conserved area. The enrichment will hopefully help the community in their application for Green List recognition from IUCN. This effort is leveraging on the FDS’s drive on forest landscape restoration, which The project was funded by Peterson and Control Union, and FDS sponsored 1,000 saplings.

On 7 January, JADC, Peterson and Control Union, FDS and WWF-Malaysia erected a signboard to mark the successful completion of the project in Jagoi Heritage Forest which is popularly known as Bung Jagoi. They also took part in the second tree survival assessment.

To commemorate this significant day, Peterson and Control Union live-streamed the event for their staff who could not attend.

In December 2020, Peterson & Control Union committed financial support to the reforestation effort as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) special project in conjunction with the organization’s 100th-anniversary celebration that year.

General Manager of Control Union, Supun Nigamuni, said, “We are very happy the project was able to proceed amid the continued pandemic concerns and we are thankful to JADC, WWF-Malaysia and Sarawak Forest Department for all the support extended make this a reality. What we have seen in Jagoi is a testament how communities can thrive while protecting their heritage and their nature and it’s our duty as corporate citizens to facilitate such endeavors.”

Head of Sarawak Conservation Programme WWF-Malaysia, Dr Jason Hon mentioned that all parties that include private, government and civil societies could collaborate effectively on forest landscape restoration efforts in Sarawak. “We hope that the model in Jagoi could be replicated to other communities, with support from both private and government sectors. We are thankful to both the Forest Department Sarawak and also Peterson & Control Union for making this happen at Jagoi.”

“Nevertheless, the project would not have been possible without the full commitments from the Jagoi community themselves, who see the values in maintaining the forests here,” he said. “Bung Jagoi communities have been taking care of their heritage forests for a long time and they demonstrate a good example of community conservation efforts. Their initiative to pursue Green List recognition further demonstrates their commitment.”

Bung Jagoi is among the five sites in Malaysia that initially applied for the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Green List of Protected and Conserved areas, it is also a heritage site for the Bidayuh of Jagoi in Bau District and one of the popular hiking spots for the locals. It is hoped that other communities can observe the efforts of the Bung Jagoi community and follow their steps in conserving and protecting our valuable forests.

General Manager of Control Union, Supun Nigamuni cutting the signboard’s ribbon to mark the partnership in Bung Jagoi reforestation effort. Looking on from left are FDS Assistant Director Azahari Omar, JADC Chairman Professor Dr Gabriel Tonga Noweg, Head of Sarawak Conservation Programme WWF-Malaysia, Dr Jason Hon and community elders. © Zora Chan / WWF-Malaysia

One for the album with everyone. © Zora Chan / WWF-Malaysia

A staff member from Control Union is happy to ‘meet’ one of the trees planted along the main trail to Bung Jagoi peak. © Zora Chan / WWF-Malaysia

Control Union staff members taking part in the second tree survival assessment using ArcGIS Survey123 during the site visit. © Zora Chan / WWF-Malaysia

-Ends-

Note to the media:
1. All quotes are to be attributed to the designated persons quoted in this media release.
2. Should you require more information, please contact the following persons. However, please take note that they are not the official spokespersons for the organisations in question, and as such, their names must not be mentioned in the article you intend to publish.

Contact persons:
Aida Lydia Anak Angkau, Auditor cum Marketing; Control Union
Tel: +6013 802 0381
Email: alaangkau@controlunion.com

Professor Dr Gabriel Tonga Noweg, Chairman, Jagoi Area Development Committee (JADC)
Tel: +60 16-889 0620
Email: gabriel.noweg@gmail.com

Zora Chan, Communications Manager, WWF-Malaysia (Sarawak Conservation Programme)
Email: schan@wwf.org.my

About Peterson & Control Union:
Control Union specialises in inspection and certification of food, animal feed, textiles, minerals, forest products, biomass, biofuels and oil and gas-related equipment, as well as integrated logistics for these markets. They are active in over 70 countries and are part of a network of independently operating service companies that mainly works under the trade names Peterson and Control Union. Control Union (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd is the Malaysian subsidiary of Control Union operating in Malaysia since 1987 services clients in both East and West Malaysia and around the world. Control Union Malaysia Sdn Bhd is accredited for RSPO (ASI-ACC-069) for the scope of P&C (Single Site & Group) and SCCS worldwide and also accredited for MSPO, ISO 17021, ISO 17065, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 17020, MTCS-FMC by the Department of Standards Malaysia (DSM).. For more information, please visit www.petersoncontrolunion.com.

About Jagoi Area Development Committee (JADC):
Jagoi Area Development Committee (JADC) was set up around 2010 as a central body to represent the Jagoi Bidayuh community in Bau. The committee comprises all community leaders (village heads) from 10 village communities and some prominent individuals from within the area. The committee monitors and addresses issues related to the community's socio-economic well-being, education, cultural values and tradition, land security and environmental health. JADC aims to manage the Jagoi Heritage Forest in a sustainable manner as it provides ecosystem services such as clean water, minor forest products and ecotourism benefits. JADC collaborates with both government agencies and non-governmental organizations on matters of common interests, especially towards the development of the community. For more information, please visit www.facebook.com/bungjagoi

About Forest Department Sarawak (FDS):
Forest Department Sarawak is an agency with a vision to be globally recognized in Sustainable Forest Management – managing its 3.9 million hectares of permanent forest estates sustainably and continuing to generate revenue for state development. Being established 100 years, our roles are to manage and develop forest resources for socio-economic and environmental sustainability through the implementation of forest management certification. We are now taking bold steps to ensure all long term forest timber licenses (FTL) to be certified by 2022. We will continue to progress in planting high quality and fast-growing trees species in achieving 1 million hectares of planted forest by 2025 as a step to lessen the pressure on natural forest.

About WWF-Malaysia:
Established in 1972, WWF-Malaysia is part of WWF, the international conservation organisation. Working
to sustain the natural world for the benefit of people and wildlife, WWF-Malaysia’s efforts to conserve nature focus on six major goals - forests, oceans, wildlife, food, climate and energy, as well as freshwater – and three key drivers of environmental problems – markets, finance and governance. Our mission is to stop the degradation of the earth’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. Find our latest news here

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High Tree Survival Rates in Bung Jagoi’s Forest Restoration Efforts