KUCHING: Any proposal to gazette Ulu Trusan in northern Sarawak as a totally protected area (TPA) should include consultation with the local villagers, says Ba'Kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian.
He said the locals objected to the drawing of boundaries for the proposed TPA which were too close to their villages, denying them access to the forest for their basic needs.
"Those of us who live in towns and cities may not understand the way of life of village-dwellers who depend on the forests for many things.
"Any proposal must take into consideration the livelihood of the people who rely on the forests.
"If need be, they must be allowed to retain certain rights like hunting, gathering of jungle produce, taking timber for domestic use and fishing in the rivers," he said when debating the 2025 state budget in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly on Wednesday (Nov 13).
Baru called for full consultation with the villagers to hear their concerns before any decisions are made in gazetting the Ulu Trusan TPA.
He said exemptions should be made for the villagers so that their livelihood is not disrupted by the proposed TPA.
