Community impact and current drivers of deforestation

Deforestation is clearing Earth’s forests on a massive scale, resulting in land degradation. Forests still cover about 30% of the world’s land area, 44.7% of Peninsular Malaysia and 27% of the state of Johor. The table below provides a breakdown of forested areas. In Peninsular Malaysia, 200,225 hectares of forest was cleared between 2010 and 2015 primarily for oil palm and rubber plantation expansion. The rate of deforestation in those five years was 0.66% of forest per year.¹

Global companies committed to No Deforestation, No Development on Peat and No Exploitation of People and Communities (NDPE)² have worked to transform their value (supply) chains, including engaging palm oil mills and Fresh Fruit Bunch (FFB) suppliers, since 2013. Nevertheless, satellite imagery of forest cover changes demonstrates that deforestation continues to occur. This Kumacaya project calls for monitoring proposals from Civil Society Organisations (CSO) who operate in the North East Johor region (refer Boundary Map below) to report on the community impact and current drivers of deforestation over a 6-month period.

Project proposals that address the following questions are considered:

• Who is clearing natural forests? Where, how and why are they clearing natural forests?

E.g. logging companies, plantation corporations, smallholders, hand tools, tractors, for oil palm plantation and profit, to grow food for family

• What might happen in the future? Are there plans for development, what are they and by whom?

E.g. sale of logs, produce oil palm for global brand, property development, indigenous village

• Are there local communities whom are affected by this natural forest clearing, how?

E.g. indigenous, settlers, migrants, loss of homes and relocation, access to sustenance