Miri, Sarawak - WWF-Indonesia, WWF-Malaysia and the Forum of Highland Indigenous Peoples (FORMADAT) yesterday (26/3) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to build a stronger and more formal partnership in the Heart of Borneo (HoB) region. This is part of a new approach to expand coalitions and collaboration with civil society for conservation. Under the MoU, FORMADAT and WWF are working together to promote conservation and sustainable development in the Kelabit, Maligan and Krayan Highlands; as well as working towards a sustainable future in the homelands of local indigenous communities in the Heart of Borneo.

This initiative by FORMADAT, supported by WWF, includes improving sustainable agricultural practices, promoting local products, community-based cross-border ecotourism, as well as helping to establish a fair cross-border trade network as a manifestation of better market access and promoting sustainability activities. With WWF's support, FORMADAT will continue to work for the conservation of water resources (such as rivers and springs) and community forests, the protection of cultural historical sites - including the protection of collective intellectual property rights of indigenous peoples in the highlands.

This cooperation is in line with the HoB Initiative's green economy vision which aims to transform economic practices by valuing natural capital. It is expected that this economic practice can increase benefits for communities that still depend on natural resources. Concretely, the practice of developing green local economic activities such as premium agriculture by smallholders, responsible ecotourism, and sustainable natural resource management and nature conservation.

The signing of the MoU between WWF and FORMADAT was done by Dr. Efransjah (CEO of WWF-Indonesia), Dato' Dr Dionysius Sharma (CEO of WWF-Malaysia), Penghulu Sigar Sultan (Chairman of FORMADAT Malaysia) and Lewi Gala Paru (Chairman of FORMADAT Indonesia).

"FORMADAT is the first civil society organization to establish a partnership with WWF in Indonesia's border with Malaysia in the HoB region," said WWF-Indonesia's Director of Policy, Sustainability and Transformation, Budi Wardhana, who attended the signing ceremony. "In the future, WWF hopes to establish the same partnership with other community organizations, for the sustainable and equitable development of the Heart of Borneo," he continued.

FORMADAT's partnership with WWF-Indonesia has been established since 2004. While with WWF-Malaysia, FORMADAT's partnership only began in 2008, with the development of a community engagement program in the HoB Initiative. FORMADAT's vision is to support sustainable forest utilization and environmental protection in the HoB highlands. As a cross-border organization, FORMADAT is registered in accordance with the country's legislation, and is known as FORMADAT Sarawak and FORMADAT Sabah in Malaysia, as well as FORMADAT Indonesia.

For more information, please contact:

• Cristina Eghenter, Social Development Strategy Leader, WWF-Indonesia
• Yeoh Lin Lin, Head of Communications, WWF-Malaysia
• Alicia Ng, Senior Communications Officer, WWF-Malaysia

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