About Us

About Advokasi Pribumi Sarawak

Advokasi Pribumi Sarawak or APS is a non-government organisation set up to champion sustainable forest management and safeguard the interest of native communities in Sarawak.

APS is led by Nigel Raymond, who is of Kayan background and from the Baram area in Sarawak.

APS focuses on three key areas, namely:
1. Advocating to support natives by sharing information and forming alliances
2. Critically analysing polices relating to the rights of natives
3. Capacity building to protect natives, by working with relevant groups, associations and organisations

Mission

The mission of APS is to educate and disseminate accurate information on sustainable forest management, while advocating for the conservation and restoration of forest ecosystems. APS also works to defend the rights, traditional knowledge and sustainable livelihoods of the natives in Sarawak.

What is Sustainable Forest Management

Sustainable Forest Management or SFM focuses on conserving the natural habitats of plants and animals and respecting the rights of forestry workers and local communities. Growing and harvesting timber sustainably provides valuable income and work opportunities whilst conserving the forest for future generations.

The United Nations General Assembly in 2007 recognises SFM as a dynamic and evolving concept that aims to maintain and enhance the economic, social and environmental values of all types of forests for the benefit of present and future generations, considering the following seven thematic elements as a reference framework: (1) extent of forest resources; (2) forest biodiversity; (3) forest health and vitality; (4) productive functions of forest resources; (5) protective functions of forest resources; (6) socio-economic functions of forests; and (7) legal, policy and institutional framework.