Socio-Economic Importance.
|
THE SARAWAK MUSEUM JOURNAL |
|
Title :
Socio-Economic Importance. |
|
Author :
Gabriel Tonga Noweg |
|
Abstract:
Seventeen village communities within and around the limestone hill complex south of Bau Town were the subjects of a baseline socioeconomic study. The main objective of the study was to assess the economic significance of the limestone forest complex to the local communities. A total of 198 household heads were sampled and surveyed based on a set of structured questionnaire; local leaders were also interviewed separately to obtain information common to each community studied. The results indicated that the majority of the village households were farmers either operating on a part-time or full-time basis. About 30% of these sampled households owned land rights at the base of the limestone hills. A significant proportion of the community depended on the forest for various purposes. Both plant and animal resources were harvested from the forest, mainly for personal uses althoughsome produce was sold to the market. The most important produce from the limestone area was that of birds’ nests. Some 65% of the sampled households were involved or had share in the collection and sale of the produce. The community’s response to the proposal to put the limestone areas into conservation use was mixed. While they supported the idea of conservation in general, they were also concerned that it would affect their existing right of access to the forest, which they regarded as their traditional domain. Ecotourism development was viewed positively as an activity compatible with conservation but forecasted to be less beneficial to the local communities compared to commercial tour operators.
|
| DOI: XXXX |
|
How to cite:
Gabriel Tonga Noweg. (2004). Socio-Economic Importance. The Sarawak Museum Journal, LIX (80): 25-40 |
|
References
|
