News about the campaign
October 2025
Timber politics and corruption, not NGOs, are causing disharmony at the community level in Sarawak, says the Bruno Manser Fonds
Swiss NGO refutes allegations by Malaysian state government and calls for an anti-corruption investigation into granting of a 170,000-hectare logging concession - Baram River communities under increasing pressure to agree to give up their forest resources to outsiders.
Who will speak for Baram?
Protecting Indigenous rights and world-class heritage requires openness, not silence
CSO Platform for Reform urges end to restrictions on NGOs and human rights defenders
Malaysian authorities halt human rights investigation at Borneo logging hotspot
Malaysian Human Rights Commission SUHAKAM stopped by Sarawak government from visiting Penan village of Ba Data Bila, drawing criticism from local activists.
September 2025
Switzerland to quit International Timber Organization
UN timber body loses key member state after Malaysia project failure. "ITTO is no longer a credible institution when it comes to forest conservation and sustainable tropical forestry", says BMF director Lukas Straumann.
Explosive logging video questions Sarawak Premier's green credentials
Global campaign launched to save Malaysian Borneo's last primary rainforests - Sarawak Premier Abang Johari under fire over ties to Malaysian timber tycoon.
Sarawak Premier challenged by forest activists in Paris
Bruno Manser Fonds launches "Save the Baram forest" campaign at UNESCO headquarters.
July 2025
Penan Community Member Urgently Calls Sarawak Premier to Halt Destructive Logging in Upper Baram
A member of the Penan Indigenous community from Ba Data Bila in Upper Baram has issued urgent protest letters to Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Tun Openg and the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM), demanding an immediate halt to ongoing logging operations by Borneoland Timber Resources.
June 2025
Logging Conflict Escalates in Sarawak as Penan Take a Stand
As Malaysian timber group Borneoland Timber Resources strips 4,000 tonnes of timber each month from protected forest, Indigenous communities have responded with blockades to defend their land.
May 2025
Sarawak Natives File Court Action to Stop Logging in Protected Forest
Penan communities from Malaysian Borneo challenge large-scale logging operation in Sarawak’s Upper Baram region.
Bruno Manser Fonds denies baseless allegations by Sarawak minister over ITTO project failure
Government policy change over logging core protection zone is the real reason for the termination of the ITTO-supported Upper Baram Forest Area (UBFA) in Malaysian Borneo.
October 2024
International Flagship Project Sunk by Sarawak Forestry Agency
Lack of transparency and breakdown in communication cause cancellation of International Tropical Timber Organization’s (ITTO) showcase operation in Malaysian Borneo.
August 2024
Growing local opposition to logging in Baram forest
Save our forest and stop the logging - Baram Penan communities send clear message from the forest to Sarawak’s capital.
July 2024
Massive logging operation undermines Malaysia's international credibility
Malaysian Borneo’s last primary rainforests under threat despite international conservation promises.
15.01.2026
Logging Operations Halted After Strong Indigenous Resistance in Upper Baram
Penan Community of Sawa Ali Forces Temporary Stop to Borneoland Timber Resources’ Logging Activities
19.12.2025
11 Penan Residents Considering an Appeal to the Malaysian Court of Appeal
(Miri, Sarawak — December 18, 2025) Eleven Penan residents representing communities in Ulu Baram are weighing an appeal to the Malaysian Court of Appeal after the Miri High Court dismissed their challenge to logging licences issued by the Sarawak Forest Director and approved by the Minister of Natural Resources and Urban Development.
27.11.2025
Long Semiyang Lodges Police Report against Borneoland Resources Sdn Bhd
A group that represents the majority of Long Semiyang has taken a decisive stand today by lodging a police report at the Miri Central Police Station against Borneoland Resources Sdn Bhd, condemning the company’s logging activities in their Native Customary Rights (NCR) land.
12.11.2025
Sarawak Government Ducks Indigeenous Activists in Japan
Director of Forests cancels Osaka Metropolitan University talk to avoid answering questions over deforestation — as Sarawak Premier receives Japan’s top honour for “environmental leadership”
09.11.2025
Civil Society Calls on Japan to Halt Funding for ITTO Projects in Sarawak Amid Human Rights and Corruption Allegations
Kuala Lumpur / Tokyo, 10 November 2025 — A coalition of civil society organizations has called on the Government of Japan to immediately suspend funding for International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) projects in Sarawak, Malaysia, following serious allegations of human rights violations, corruption, and environmental destruction linked to projects implemented by the Forest Department Sarawak (FDS).
06.10.2025
Timber politics and corruption, not NGOs, are causing disharmony at the community level in Sarawak, says the Bruno Manser Fonds
Swiss NGO refutes allegations by Malaysian state government and calls for an anti-corruption investigation into granting of a 170,000-hectare logging concession - Baram River communities under increasing pressure to agree to give up their forest resources to outsiders.
06.10.2025
Who will speak for Baram?
Protecting Indigenous rights and world-class heritage requires openness, not silence.
03.10.2025
CSO Platform for Reform urges end to restrictions on NGOs and human rights defenders
CSO Platform for Reform expresses deep concern over the recent imposition of official approval requirements for NGO engagement with communities in Upper Baram.
02.10.2025
Malaysian authorities halt human rights investigation at Borneo logging hotspot
Malaysian Human Rights Commission SUHAKAM stopped by Sarawak government from visiting Penan village of Ba Data Bila, drawing criticism from local activists.
23.09.2025
Switzerland to quit International Timber Organization
UN timber body loses key member state after Malaysia project failure. "ITTO is no longer a credible institution when it comes to forest conservation and sustainable tropical forestry", says BMF director Lukas Straumann.
14.09.2025
Explosive logging video questions Sarawak Premier's green credentials
Global campaign launched to save Malaysian Borneo's last primary rainforests - Sarawak Premier Abang Johari under fire over ties to Malaysian timber tycoon.
09.09.2025
Sarawak Premier challenged by forest activists in Paris
Bruno Manser Fonds launches "Save the Baram forest" campaign at UNESCO headquarters.
07.07.2025
Penan Community Member Urgently Calls Sarawak Premier to Halt Destructive Logging in Upper Baram
A member of the Penan Indigenous community from Ba Data Bila in Upper Baram has issued urgent protest letters to Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Tun Openg and the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM), demanding an immediate halt to ongoing logging operations by Borneoland Timber Resources.
04.06.2025
Logging Conflict Escalates in Sarawak as Penan Take a Stand
As Malaysian timber group Borneoland Timber Resources strips 4,000 tonnes of timber each month from protected forest, Indigenous communities have responded with blockades to defend their land.
21.05.2025
Sarawak Natives File Court Action to Stop Logging in Protected Forest
Penan communities from Malaysian Borneo challenge large-scale logging operation in Sarawak’s Upper Baram region.
20.05.2025
Bruno Manser Fonds denies baseless allegations by Sarawak minister over ITTO project failure
Government policy change over logging core protection zone is the real reason for the termination of the ITTO-supported Upper Baram Forest Area (UBFA) in Malaysian Borneo.
15.10.2024
International Flagship Project Sunk by Sarawak Forestry Agency
Lack of transparency and breakdown in communication cause cancellation of International Tropical Timber Organization’s (ITTO) showcase operation in Malaysian Borneo.
27.08.2024
Growing local opposition to logging in Baram forest
Save our forest and stop the logging - Baram Penan communities send clear message from the forest to Sarawak’s capital.
08.07.2024
Massive logging operation undermines Malaysia's international credibility
Malaysian Borneo’s last primary rainforests under threat despite international conservation promises.