This chapter examines the role of social forestry in Sabah, Malaysia, as a key approach to linking forest conservation with community development. It highlights how social forestry initiatives—such as agroforestry, forest restoration, and joint forest management—help address challenges including land encroachment, shifting cultivation, and rural poverty. The chapter emphasizes the importance of community participation, Indigenous knowledge, and mechanisms such as free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) in achieving sustainable forest management. While social forestry has improved livelihoods and forest protection, persistent challenges remain related to funding, land rights, and equitable benefit sharing, underscoring the need for integrated, inclusive, and long-term governance approaches.
This work is licensed under CC-BY 4.0
This work is licensed under CC-BY 4.0
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Publication year
2026
Authors
Yahya, H.; Martin, R.A.; Johnlee, E.B.
Language
English
Keywords
agroforestry, community forestry, community involvement, ecosystem services, forest conservation, forest management, land tenure, livelihoods, local communities, nontimber forest products, social forestry
Source
Forest Governance and Social Forestry in Sabah, Malaysia: Context, actors and institutions. CIFOR-ICRAF: Bogor, Indonesia and Nairobi, KenyaGeographic
Malaysia




