On Today Show
— Baru Bian, the ADUN of Ba’kelalan – The Uncertain Future of Carbon Trading: Concerns of Sarawak's Indigenous People
— Paul Wan from Long Lama – Baram Residents Question Inaction on Flood-Prone Roads
— Meor Razak, SAM research & field officer – SAM and Segari Network Defend Coastal Ecosystem from Industrial Threats

Topik Pada Hari Ini
— Baru Bian, ADUN Ba'kelalan – Masa Depan Yang Tidak Pasti Perdagangan Karbon: Kebimbangan Orang Asal Sarawak
— Paul Wan dari Long Lama – Penduduk Baram Menyoal Tidak Tindakan Mengenai Jalan Yang Kerap Dilanda Banjir
— Meor Razak, Pegawai Penyelidikan dan Lapangan SAM – SAM dan Rangkaian Segari Mempertahankan Ekosistem Pantai Daripada Ancaman Industri

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Baru Bian, the ADUN of Ba’kelalan
*The Uncertain Future of Carbon Trading: Concerns of Sarawak's Indigenous People*
Recently, Baru Bian, the ADUN of Ba’kelalan representing the PDP party, officiated at the Asia Carbon Conference on March 15, 2023. During the event, the Premier of Sarawak projected that carbon credits could generate an annual income of RM315 million to RM1.039 billion for Sarawak. The state has the potential to create carbon sinks, promote carbon sequestration, and implement tree-planting schemes for carbon credits. However, the current question is whether the acquisition of indigenous lands or forests will trigger more conflicts and disputes, or whether the indigenous people will be compensated or given a share in carbon trading.
Acknowledging carbon trading as a new and increasingly important issue in Sarawak, Baru Bian has taken steps to seek further clarification from several NGOs, including a briefing from Professor Pauline Bala. According to the information he obtained, the concerns of the indigenous people are whether they will be involved, what percentage of returns they will receive, and how carbon trading will be conducted.
According to the Sarawak Forest Ordinance (Forest Carbon Activities) 2022, the Sarawak government will impose a 5% tax on carbon trading, with the remaining 95% of carbon trading revenue determined by binding agreements between the companies conducting carbon trading and the owners of the forests and lands where the carbon is sourced. Baru Bian noted that the potential of an area varies according to the quality of the forest in that area, meaning the returns to the forest owners depend on the terms agreed upon in the contract between both parties.
Baru Bian added that a week ago, a company approached him and informed him that the upcoming agreement could potentially split the carbon trading revenue 50/50 between the company and the forest owners. What is good about carbon trading, according to Baru Bian, is that no more logging licenses or LPF (License for Planted Forests) will be issued in the carbon trading areas, and the forests will be 100% protected.
Regarding the prohibition of any activities in forests gazetted for carbon trading, this depends on the negotiations finalized in the agreement. He pointed out that the carbon trading agreements in Sabah had many weaknesses, which should not be repeated in Sarawak. Furthermore, carbon trading will also provide compensation to the forest owners for refraining from activities in the carbon forests and for the local community’s efforts in forest conservation.
For now, Baru Bian is positive that carbon trading will benefit the local people, companies, and the Sarawak government.
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