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Resilience in a community. the story of Orang Asli of Royal Belum-Temengor Forest Complex, Perak. Rural Research & Planning Group (RRPG) 5 th International Conference and Field Study in Malaysia 2014, 26-28 August, INFRA Bangi , Malaysia.
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Resilience in a community the story of Orang Asli of Royal Belum-Temengor Forest Complex, Perak Rural Research & Planning Group (RRPG) 5th International Conference and Field Study in Malaysia 2014, 26-28 August, INFRA Bangi, Malaysia KhairulHisyamKamarudin. Ibrahim Ngah.KhamarrulAzahariRazak.MohdSafuan Ibrahim . Anwar Harun
content Some thoughts on ‘resilience community’ Orang Asli of Royal Belum-Temengor Stories of two communities Conclusion
Royal Belum State Park and Temengor Forest Complex (RBTFC) associated with the conservation of its mega biodiversity resources in Malaysia. • Recently, RBTFC came into the limelight UNESCO world heritage site.
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/05/10/Dream-of-Unesco-listing-for-Belum-forest-Najib-calls-for-study-of-forests-heritage-and-economic-val/http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2014/05/10/Dream-of-Unesco-listing-for-Belum-forest-Najib-calls-for-study-of-forests-heritage-and-economic-val/ PLUS 1
“Indigenous people and their communities and other local communities, have a vital role in environmental management and developmentbecause of their knowledge and traditional practices. States should recognize and duly support their identity, culture and interest and enable their effective participation in the achievement of sustainable development” (Earth Summit, 1992: 13) PLUS 2
PLUS 1 Indigenous Knowledge System (IKS) – recognition from Earth Summit (1992) Adherent to sustainable development principles vs Modernization/ Development Conservation / carrying capacity / limit to growth? PLUS 2 Disappearance of traditional values and practices Infrastructure development and support services Threaten the local biodiversity and resources Housing quality, job opportunities, income Create further new problems Training, human capital development Abandonment of traditional practices and knowledge on resource management Where to go from here?
Orang Asli(Orang Asal) the oldest community ever known to inhabit the peninsular land, (historical record dated back to 25,000 years ago), live in interior rural area with an intimate contact to nature. • RBTFC context associated with high levels of poverty and low levels of development. • Community’s ability to survive resiliently in today’s socio-economic environment jeopardized in a long term? if they failed to solve the current internal and/or external socio-economic weaknesses bring in the interest for study (on resilient community).
Big Q: have the nature and its inhabitants (the Orang Asli in this context) being included in the regional conservation and development plan?
Some thoughts on resilience community • Arise from the need to develop understanding on how people would respond to internal and external disturbances, either caused by natural or human-induced disasters. • Rural communities facing complex socio-political and economic disturbances drastic drop of rubber price affected the farmers, small holders, and workers caused farmers to abandon their rubber plantations forcing them to migrate to search for alternative means of living.
Community resilience and vulnerability measure using economic, social and environmental capitals. Source: (an adaptation from Wilson, 2010)
a ‘resilient community’ can be described as a community which is able to create and maintain the balance needs in economy, social, and environmental capitals in a long run (Kamarudin et al., 2014: 170)
Orang Asli of Royal Belum-Temengor
A photo of the village houses in Kampung Sungai Tiang; only in deteriorating state and have not experienced significant physical improvement since 10 years ago.
Free time activities in Sungai Tiang Training -Kelulutbeehives in KampungSemelor
Findings from the Environmental Capital Survey (Both Villages)
Supply of water is shared among a few houses in KampungSungai Tiang
Weak Economic Capital Community resilience/vulnerability represented by economic, social, and environmental capitals of the two villages. Source: (Research Fieldwork, 2014) • Strong Social Capital • Weak Environmental Capital Conclusion
Main Sponsor Co-Sponsor Rural Research & Planning Group (RRPG) 5thInternational Conference and Field Study in Malaysia 2014, 26-28 August, INFRA Bangi, Malaysia National Conference on Royal Belum 2014 02-03 December 2014, Belum Rainforest Resort, Gerik (www.utm.my/royalbelum/)