Sarawak highlights, Malaysia

About 70% of Sarawak is under natural forest cover. Sarawak's forests are one of their most important resources and assets and are also home to an enormous variety of species of flowers, plants, insects and animals.

In order to safeguard its precious natural heritage, Malaysia has set aside many areas as parks and wildlife reserves. With natural forest management and the conservation of wildlife, birds and marine life, nature reserves have been established through a network of protected areas. Almost one and a half million hectares of conservation areas are protected by legislation.

Examples are Bako and Mulu National Parks which have their own set of rules and regulations to protect the animals, plants and the environment generally. This ensures that visitors behave responsibly and minimal damage is inflicted onto the environment. Sustainability of the national parks is obviously essential for the wildlife and plantlife and also ensures, and benefits, future visitors and generations. Local people also benefit, an example is the local boatmen from Kampong Bako (Bako village).

The Ulu Ai project (which commenced in 1987) offers an alternative to the usual "staged" forms of cultural tourism. It forges a holistic partnership between hosts and visitors, who experience the local lifestyle on the host's own terms, enjoying upriver Borneo life and focusing on society and environment, rather than performances and demonstrations.

The experience is neither intrusive nor undignified, benefiting hosts, visitors and local wildlife. Travellers to remote Ulu Ai stay as guests of the longhouse-dwelling Iban people, who benefit economically by serving as boatmen, guides and helpers, and through accommodation payments. Our local agent has provided equipment, soft loans and training to support local entrepreneurship, and started an educational fund for longhouse children. Also a group of the tribe's girls and boys are now being trained to become local guides at the longhouse which will help their English and confidence and provide them with an income.

The project conserves local resources; for example, incentives are offered for protecting Sarawak's last remaining wild orang utan population. The community also plans to create a 100 acre locally managed nature reserve, with the agent's assistance.