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We all know logging in Borneo is causing huge environmental damage plus destroying the diversity of flora and fauna but it also is displacing ethnic minority tribes such as the Penan, who live the traditional hunter-gatherer way and cannot survive with the continued destruction of primary (and secondary) rainforest.

The BBC series Tribe recently highlighted the problems. The Penan live in make-shift rattan huts and every few weeks will relocate, often to go in search of new sago plants, which forms a large percentage of their diet. Their diet is also made up of local wild animals such as frogs, squirrels and boar, most of which are killed using the highly skilled blowpipes, a thin carved piece of wood dipped in poisonous tree sap. The destruction of native forest is decreasing the amount of forest dramatically for the forest people to live in and find food. Even the water is becoming undrinkable. The soil leaches into the river when trees near the riverbank are felled. The ground is no longer stable once their are no living trees for the soil to cling to.

Unfortunately minority groups often have little or no land rights and can be too small to fight large corporations. International Malayisian law states that the Penan do have land rights but logging companies are arguing this such as Sampling, who are currently logging in the Penan's area.

What can you do to help

Know the source of wooden products before you buy them.

Don't buy palm oil. Much of Borneo's forests are being destroyed and replaced with palm oil plantations. Palm oil is said to be the fuel of the future, replacing fossil fuels but this is a fallacy. Palm oil can be found in vegetable oil, chocolate, bread, crisps, lipsticks and detergents. Asda and The Body Shop have already banned palm oil products. Campaign for other supermarkets to do the same.

Join Survival - the movement for tribal people.

Write to the chief executive of the Malaysian Timber Certification Council, asking him to revoke the certification of Samling's Sela'an-Linau Forest Management Unit on Penan land:

Mr. Chew Lye Teng
Chief Executive Officer
Malaysian Timber Certification Council
19F, Level 19, Tower 1 Menara PGM
No. 8, Jalan Pudu Ulu, Cheras
56100 Kuala Lumpur
MALAYSIA

FAX: +60 3 9200 6008
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