"Whereas the rainforests of Borneo have been the homeland of the Penan people since time immemorial"
ISBN 0-895123-07-0
Whereas the Penan have been the careful stewards of this forest without damaging it, and we are still dependent upon it for our food medicines, building materials, water sources and birthing pools. All ensuring our spiritual wellbeing.
Whereas the Penan rainforests are the richest on earth, containing more species than any other. Unique species that represent a world heritage of unparalleled genetic and pharmaceutical potential.
Whereas logging is destroying the Penan forest faster than any other of commercial logging in the world and;
Whereas our proper repeated requests to the government of Sarawak and Malaysia to share our forestlands and recognise our rights have fallen on deaf ears, and our peaceful defence of our homeland has met with arrests and imprisonment.
Be it resolved that the Penan Association, acting on behalf of all sarawak Penan people, calls upon all nations to support the immediate establishment of a Biosphere Reserve to protect Sarawak's last remaining primary forest, its unique wildlife and the Penan's right to their traditional way of life.