Rivers, forests and mountains have flourished under the stewardship of Indigenous peoples for generations. But when the precious land and forests on which we depend are taken from us, we lose our identity, our source of life and our culture.
The source of SAVE Rivers
This is where my organisation, SAVE Rivers, finds its purpose. We’re a local organisation supporting Indigenous communities in Sarawak, a Malaysian state on the island of Borneo, to protect their ancestral land, rainforests and rivers.
We started as a network of Indigenous communities resisting a proposed mega hydro dam that would have displaced 20,000 people. Members staged blockades at strategic entry points to the site and it became the longest running
blockade in Malaysian history.
Since then, SAVE Rivers has grown into a multi-faceted coalition focused on Indigenous peoples’ rights and environmental protection.
The need for development done right
For many generations we depended on our rainforests and ecosystems without needing major industrialised deforestation. But these days, with developers and other outside entities granted permits, our homes and our way of life are under threat – from polluted rivers and felled trees to eroded land and frequent floods.
We’re not against all development, but we are against development that doesn’t include us in its design and withholds information from us. Our homes aren’t mere resources for the rest of the world’s consumption and profit – I’m sure you feel the same about your own. We demand sustainable development that starts with genuine consultation with rightsholders like us.
SAVE Rivers, save the planet
We believe there’s a direct link between securing Indigenous land rights and the solutions to climate change. This is because Indigenous peoples are the best forest defenders by virtue of their rich generational knowledge. They should be at the forefront of efforts to protect these areas, which are so vital to the health of our planet.
During the United Nations climate talks, COP 30, we'll be calling for justice for communities on the frontlines of climate breakdown in the UK and overseas. The impacts of climate change are not dealt equally, and those who’ve done least to cause the global crisis are paying the highest price. Rich countries that have driven the crisis, like the UK, one of the world’s biggest historical polluters, have a responsibility to support those on the front lines. In the UK, that means strengthening the country’s weak national adaptation plan to ensure it’s designed fairly with those most at risk in mind. Internationally, the UK must contribute its fair share towards international climate finance, which will support the countries least able to pay for climate action and benefit us all in the collective effort to safeguard our future.
How can you get involved?
Watch the video
In April, we were honoured to host Celine and 8 other forest defenders together with allies in the CUT coalition. The centrepiece of their busy schedule was a moving “Rainforest Lifelines” ceremony in London and Manchester – a powerful expression of solidarity and resilience, communicating the urgent need to protect threatened rainforests and homelands in Borneo and beyond.
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Demand UK companies are held accountable for the devastation they cause in their supply chains.
This article first appeared in the Autumn 2025 edition of our bi-annual magazine "Earthmatters".
