Quo vadis development: assessing the livelihood of indigenous people’s communities in Malaysia and the potential for community‑based conservation effort

• Main Authors: Zen, Irina Safitri, Saleh, Mohd. Nazeri, Afrizal, Teuku, Yaumidin, Ummi Karomah, Titisari, Prima Wahyu, Hendrayani, Yani
• Format: Article
• Language: English; English; English
• Published: Springer 2020
• Subjects: GR Folklore; HD101 Land use; HM701 Social systems; HM706 Social structure; HT Communities. Classes. Races; HT401 Rural groups. Rural sociology; HT51 Human settlements. Communities
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/81681/1/81681_Quo%20vadis%20development_authors%20copy.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/81681/3/81681_Quo%20vadis%20development_WOS%20early%20access.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/81681/19/81681_Quo%20vadis%20development_Scopus.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/81681/; https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10668-020-00813-y
• Institution: Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia

New development activity brings its various impacts for indigenous people often prompting their relocation to a new area. The 1977’s relocation of indigenous people in Royal Belum, Perak State, Malaysia, as part of its rural spatial development, questions on their livelihood in a new resettlement area and their relationship with nature within the current context of development. Despite the provision of basic facilities and infrastructure and the introduction of mono-crop cultivation and agriculture for the indigenous people, they are still practicing the ‘slash and burn’ method and performing their nomadic forest-based lifestyle. This contributes to their living below the poverty line. This present study explains the coexistence of indigenous people in the context of physical development vis-à-vis conservation effort in the Royal Belum. As neglected issue of interactions and conflicts between indigenous peoples and biodiversity conservation, this study outlined the potential of indigenous people’s community-based practices based on the factors: (1) self-belonging of Royal Belum Forest; (2) biodiversity conservation concerns; (3) sustainable development supporter; and (4) wildlife concerns. The indigenous people close relationship with the nature offers a unique stewardship function for co-creation and co-management practices of community-based sustainable ecotourism and agriculture for further enhancement of their livelihood. This effort will support the socio-economic of national physical spatial plan as well as the co-development of conservation of Royal Belum world natural heritage.