Sharing Experience Across the GEC Community Network in Malaysia

With support from the Airbnb Community Fund, Global Environment Centre (GEC) organised a forum bringing together communities committed to environmental conservation. Members of the GEC Community Network (JKGEC) shared their experiences and knowledge of conservation work. Alongside discussions, participants displayed environmentally responsible products made by their communities. They also visited several sites in Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia, to see how local communities manage natural resources sustainably.

JKGEC Community Forum participants discussing challenges and solutions in environmental conservation

Held over three full days, from 17 to 19 August 2024, the GEC forum brought together 30 environmentally active communities from different regions. In addition to in-depth discussions, participants visited three sites: Taman Chemor Idaman, Klebang Selatan and Kampung Tonggang. Indonesian participants included the Makmur Jaya Women Farmers’ Group from Temiang Village, the BELATRAM Group from Tanjung Kuras and the Sekat Bakau Group from Buruk Bakul Village. Their participation added further perspectives to the exchange of knowledge and experience.

Community representatives from Sabah, Sarawak and Riau, Indonesia, with Yayasan Gambut and Global Environment Centre

The JKGEC forum offered members an opportunity to strengthen cooperation between communities. By sharing experiences, insights, challenges and solutions from their respective areas, participants created a collaborative space for mutual learning and support. These open discussions broadened understanding and generated new ideas for addressing complex environmental challenges.

Visit to KRT Klebang Selatan

The Klebang Selatan residents’ group demonstrated how food production can be combined with environmental conservation. Our visit highlighted their practical innovations. Drawing irrigation water from the river and using a solar-powered smart irrigation system, they protect the environment while producing cassava chips, sugarcane juice and fresh coconut water. Their commitment to sustainability extends beyond farming practices to keeping the river that sustains their activities clean.

The visit showed how community enterprises can generate substantial income. With 20 active members, the group can earn up to RM 10,000 per month during busy periods such as Ramadan. Its success in producing cassava chips and fresh drinks has improved members’ economic well-being and benefited the surrounding community. The enterprise has also created jobs and strengthened the local economy.

Visit to KRT Chemor Idaman

The KRT Chemor Idaman community group has taken the initiative to improve and care for the Kuang River. Members also practise urban agriculture, including hydroponics. Growing crops such as aubergine, papaya and okra helps meet some of their daily needs. Their farming activities are integrated with river conservation through sound waste management. They maintain drains, make compost and organise the sale of used oil. These efforts aim to keep the Kuang River clean and prevent environmental pollution.

KRT Chemor Idaman members understand the importance of river cleanliness. They recognise that improperly discarded waste can pollute not only the Kuang River but also connected waterways, including the Chemor, Pari, Kinta and Perak rivers, before reaching the Strait of Malacca. The group therefore actively works to prevent river pollution, including educating residents about proper waste management. Its work contributes to local conservation while helping protect the wider ecosystem.

Visit to the Orang Asli Community of Sungai Tonggang

A highlight of the visits was Sungai Tonggang Village in Tanjung Rambutan, Ulu Kinta, where the Orang Asli Sungai Seno’oi community has developed sustainable ecotourism. Drawing on the surrounding forests and rivers, the community offers visitors an experience that combines natural beauty with its cultural heritage. The community-managed Kayuh D’Tonggang ecotourism area is about an hour’s journey from Ipoh.

During the visit, participants experienced the natural surroundings and learned about Orang Asli culture. Alongside exploring the forests and rivers, they observed traditional snare-setting as one of the community’s livelihood practices. Local hosts also served traditional dishes and forest fruits, including durian, rambutan and cempedak. The experience deepened participants’ understanding of Indigenous community life and the importance of conserving nature.

Kayuh D’Tonggang provides both a distinctive visitor experience and an important source of local income. Since starting in 2023, the ecotourism initiative has generated more than RM 50,000, shared fairly among around 20 community members. Its experience illustrates how environmental conservation and economic development can support one another.

As reported by the New Straits Times in Kuala Lumpur, GEC Director Faizal Parish explained that the organisation’s river care programme has a national scope. It focuses particularly on protecting the Klang and Kinta river basins, which were selected as pilot areas to address the specific challenges facing each catchment.

The activities also gave participants opportunities to develop their creativity. They received practical training in using smartphones to document important moments during the visits, covering basic photography techniques and lighting. After the training, participants put their skills into practice by photographing subjects at the sites they visited.

Participants in the 2024 JKGEC Community Forum practising smartphone photography and video recording

To conclude the activities, Global Environment Centre held a photography competition. Participants were encouraged to capture inspiring environmental subjects and explore different perspectives and techniques. The competition aimed to produce engaging photographs that also communicated meaningful conservation messages. It provided an opportunity to recognise participants’ work and encourage them to continue developing their skills.