FORMADAT, the Forum of Indigenous Peoples of the Borneo Highlands (Indonesia-Malaysia) was named one of the winners of the 2015 Equator Prize announced at the UN Secretariat in New York, Monday, September 21 local time.

This year, the Equator Prize was awarded to 21 local and indigenous community initiatives from a total of 1461 nominations from 126 countries received by The Equator Initiative. The Muara Tae Indigenous Community in East Kalimantan and the Belitung Environmental Care Group in Sumatra were also among those honored this year. The awarding of the 2015 Equator Prize will be held in conjunction with the UNFCCC COP 21 in Paris.

FORMADAT as a cross-border community forum, Indonesia - Malaysia, was established in 2004 building on the common historical and cultural ties among the Lundayeh/Lun Bawang, Kelabit, and Sa'ban indigenous peoples living in the highland region of the Heart of Borneo (Heart of Borneo). The forum aims to integrate conservation and development, and ensure development in the region preserves the environmental and socio-cultural character of its people.

The upland landscape of the Heart of Borneo region is traditionally an interweaving of farmland, natural forests, rivers and cultural sites. The region is traditionally the rice paddy farming region of Borneo Island. The farmers developed a unique rice paddy farming system in the interior of Borneo where in general in the traditional agricultural interior most of them practiced shifting cultivation. The group has prioritized growing local rice species such as adan and preserving local fruit trees. Outside of agriculture, FORMADAT manages a solar-powered Tele-Center communication center that has been in operation since 2011. Together with E-Bario and E-Ba'Kelalan in Malaysia, this initiative supports information exchange as well as supporting local ecotourism.

"What FORMADAT started in September 2003 when envisioning and discussing this concept has shown a very strong long-term vision to realize sustainability and security for their homeland and communities," said Cristina Eghenter, Deputy Director Social Development WWF Indonesia. "The Equator Prize 2015 is a well-deserved recognition of FORMADAT's efforts to advance a local model for sustainable and equitable development built on a strong cultural foundation," Cristina continued.

FORMADAT Indonesia Chairman, Lewi G. Paru said, "FORMADAT is a forum in our own backyard to serve the interests of all who live together in the highlands on the border of the Borneo Highlands. It brings us together in one friendship, one thought, one journey to safeguard our home, our rights, our environment and our culture."

Note to Editor:

1. Further information about FORMADAT can be accessed at: http://www.wwf.or.id/en/about_wwf/whatwedo/pds/social_development/formadat/
2. More information about the Equator Prize can be accessed at: http://equatorinitiative.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=889&Itemid=1093&lang=en
3. More information about the Equator Prize can be accessed at.

For more information, please contact:

Cristina Eghenter, Deputy Director for Social Development, WWF-Indonesia
Email: mailto:ceghenter@wwf.or.d Phone: +62 813 47121590