Penan Peace Park opened in Malaysia

The Penan Peace Park in Malaysia has been officially opened in the state of Sarawak, with members of local indigenous communities attending the ceremony to protest against logging in the area.

Rainforest communities fight for native areas

The Environment News Service (ENS) reported that Penan leaders "unanimously declared their intention of conserving their last remaining primeval forests as a nature reserve", according to the Bruno Manser Fund.

In total, 17 Penan communities are set to fight the government of the state for the rights to the land, which is an area used by a large Malaysian timber company.

The former regional chief of the Upper Baram area James Lalo Kesoh said that the Penan people have been living in the rainforests in the area for centuries and noted that the native people's "entire cultural heritage" is contained within the forest.

The peace park has a Japanese influence, according to All Malaysia, and has "beautiful pavilions".

Written by Sandra Mann. ADNFCR-2073-ID-19484970-ADNFCR