A Malaysian grassroot campaign amplifying environmental conservation activism.
What is Tanah Kita
Tanah Kita is a collective advocacy platform dedicated to amplifying the voices of those on the frontlines of environmental conservation in Malaysia. From the mountain spines of Crocker Range in Sabah and the river basins of Middle and Upper Baram, Sarawak, to the green lungs of the Klang Valley, the campaign aims to unite indigenous communities and urban residents in a shared mission to protect the natural landscapes that sustain us all.
Spanning various geographical landscapes, the campaign spotlights grassroots efforts to safeguard our environment. Whether it is the push for community-led stewardship by ancestral land guardians of the indigenous communities, the fight for Native Customary Rights (NCR) land recognition, or the battle against the de-gazettement of urban forests, Tanah Kita brings national awareness to local resilience.
Who We Are
Tanah Kita is a platform built on the belief that those closest to the land are its best protectors. We are a collective effort of 22 pioneering community-based organisations (CBOs) working across three diverse landscapes in Malaysia: the Crocker Range, the Middle and Upper Baram, and the Klang Valley.
By bringing together local knowledge, lived experience, and collective action, the network works to document land-related challenges, share community perspectives, and strengthen grassroots capacity to engage with environmental and land governance processes.
Find out the organisations by going to each landscape section below in this page.
How can I help
You can support the Tanah Kita campaign by staying informed, sharing our stories, and standing in solidarity with these organisations and the communities they represent. Or even better, join these organisations as volunteers and take part in their activities.
Help amplify community voices by sharing the content within your networks, and participating in public discussions on the issues we highlight. Whether you are a community member, researcher, media practitioner, or concerned citizen, your attention, support, and advocacy play a role in pushing for more sustainable Malaysia, where biodiversity are preserved, and local communities are respected.
CROCKER RANGE, SABAH
About Crocker Range
The Crocker Range (Banjaran Crocker) is a prominent and vital mountain range located in the western coast of Sabah, Malaysia, on the island of Borneo. It separates the West Coast from the Interior divisions of the state and is often nicknamed the “spine of Sabah.”
The mountain range contains the Crocker Range Biosphere Reserve (CRBR). Designated in 2014, the reserve covers an area of 350, 584 ha of terrestrial ecosystems and natural landscapes (*Sabah Parks), the largest of its kind in Malaysia.
The reserve encompassed three zones, the core zone (144,492 ha) contains the legally protected Crocker Range Park and three other forest reserves. The core zone is ecologically connected and surrounded by legally managed buffer zone (60, 313 ha) and transition zone (145,779 ha).
These areas serve as an important water catchment for surrounding population areas. There are estimated 99,101 people living in the three zones of the reserve with about 385 villages and 400 communities from 42 native ethnic groups and 200 sub-ethnic groups. (*GEF-SGP Malaysia)
the issues
The indigenous communities have been living in and around Crocker Range for generations. They have protected and conserve the biodiversity in the area notably using the Tagal system, a traditional community-based river conservation practice designed to manage, protect, and restore freshwater fish resources.
Community-based organisations (CBOs) there are leading conservation efforts from forest mapping to Tagal systems and sustainable eco-tourism, despite at times lacking government support, facing time-consuming policy reform, and struggling to reach the wider Malaysian public for support.
You can learn about their conservation efforts by checking out the video highlights embedded in this section, or click on any of the organisation logos below to check out their respective social media pages.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Community Based Organisations in the area
UPPER & MIDDLE BARAM, SARAWAK
About Middle and Upper Baram
The Middle and Upper Baram region is located in the remote, interior territories of northeastern Sarawak, Malaysia, centered around the upper reaches of the Baram River, the state’s second longest river. This area is critically important for its biodiversity, its vast tracts of tropical rainforest, and its unique cultural landscape, which is the ancestral home of several indigenous communities.
The Middle and Upper Baram covers an expansive area of 982,900 ha, where it is home to indigenous communities consisting of ethic groups such as Penan, Kenyah, Kayan, Lunbawang, Sa’ban etc. The area represent one of the most pristine rainforest landscapes in Southeast Asia. The river basin boasts a range of unique and important features that contribute to its biodiversity value. It encompassess various ecosystems, including tropical rainforests and freshwater habitats. (*GEF-SGP Malaysia)
The Issues
The indigenous communities that have lived here for generations have been preserving the area through the Tagang system, similar to Sabah’s Tagal system where it is designed to manage, protect, and restore freshwater fish resources.
Despite the presence of legally protected parks, wildlife reserves, and other protected areas, the area is still under several environmental threats, including deforestation & biodiversity loss due to logging and oil-palm used activities. The indigenous communities in the area also struggle to obtain recognition of Native Customary Rights (NCR) land to protect their ancestral land from encroachment.
Many in the communities there are working to sustain their nature-based livelihoods, as well as fighting for their indigenous rights. You can learn about their conservation efforts by checking out the video highlights in this section, or click on any of the organisation logos below to check out their respective social media pages.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Community Based Organisations in the area
KLANG VALLEY
About Klang Valley
The Klang Valley is a dynamic urban-natural mosaic located in the central heart of Peninsular Malaysia. While famed for its iconic skyline, the region is punctuated by vital “green lungs”, consisting patches of tropical rainforest that have survived decades of rapid development. These green spaces, such as Bukit Kiara, Bukit Dinding, and several others, serve as critical ecological buffers and recreational sanctuaries for millions of local residents.
Spanning several municipalities from Kuala Lumpur to Selangor, these green pockets are biodiversity islands an area packed with urban development. These green lungs regulate urban temperatures, manage stormwater runoff to prevent flash floods, and provide a home to diverse flora and fauna, including various endemic animal and plant species. For the urban population, these landscapes are also essential for mental well-being, physical health, and community connection.
The issues
For years, local residents and dedicated environmental activists have acted as the primary stewards of these spaces. Through community-led patrols, reforestation programs, and advocacy groups, they work tirelessly to monitor and maintain the integrity of these fragile ecosystems against the pressures of urbanisation.
Despite their ecological and social value, the Klang Valley’s green spaces face relentless environmental threats. Gazetted forest reserves are frequently de-gazetted or encroached upon for high-density residential projects and infrastructure development.
Many activist groups and residents’ associations are working to preserve what remains of the natural heritage for future generations. You can learn about their ongoing campaigns and conservation efforts by checking out the video highlights in this section, or click on any of the organisation logos below to visit their respective social media pages.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Community Based Organisations in the area
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