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Sabah Landscape, Malaysia

Harmonising sustainable economic development, forest conservation, decent work opportunities and resilient livelihoods for communities, anchored in a farmer-centric landscape model

Sabah Landscape, Malaysia

Harmonising sustainable economic development, forest conservation, decent work opportunities and resilient livelihoods for communities, anchored in a farmer-centric landscape model

Sabah Landscape, Malaysia

Harmonising sustainable economic development, forest conservation, decent work opportunities and resilient livelihoods for communities, anchored in a farmer centric landscape model.

The state of Sabah has among the most biodiverse forests in the world. It is home to Bornean Pygmy Elephants, Orangutans, Rafflesia flowers and many other species. The state also has about 1.5 million hectares of planted oil palm plantations. This makes it the second largest planted area in the country. The palm oil sector also relies heavily on a migrant workforce, who often live with their families in plantations. Over 30,000, independent farmers live in Sabah, who are dependent on their land and oil palm trees for their livelihoods.

Earthworm has been working in Sabah since 2011; engaging oil palm farmers, mills and plantations to address issues like smallholder resilience, biodiversity conservation and workers' welfare. In 2021, this work transitioned to a landscape programme. The goal of the Sabah Landscape programme is to harmonise sustainable economic development, forest conservation, decent working opportunities and community livelihoods, anchored in a farmer-centric landscape model. The landscape area encompasses Beluran, Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Telupid and Tongod districts.

Key Objectives For 2025

Supply Chain Transformation

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Forest Protection

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Farmer Resilience

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Workers & Families

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Impact To Date

We engaged 168 new smallholders through livelihood improvement activities.

We worked with a company to improve the welfare of 486 children living in 2 plantations through a pilot project.

We are supporting local partners to monitor and reduce human-elephant conflict over 9,547 ha of elephant range.

Our work is supported by:

Associated Funder

Field Partners

  • Agrovet Citra Trading
  • KLK Sawit Nusantara (Formerly IJM Plantations)
  • Malaysian Palm Oil Board
  • MEGES Nature Farm Enterprise
  • Sabah Labour Department
  • Sabah Wildlife Department
  • Seratu Aatai

Our Field Team

Prasad Vasudevon

Sabah Landscape Coordinator

Masturah Sulaiman

Field Manager

Mohd. Dehya Mahadin

Field Lead - Income Diversification

Jeremiah Kual

Field Lead - Agronomy

Lakarim Lanika

Field Lead - Agronomy

Juhana Johnny

Field Lead - Human-Wildlife Coexistence

Nurfarhani Abdul

Field Coordinator - Labour & Human Rights

Sabah is one of the key ecosystems where Earthworm Foundation works through its landscapes approach.

Key Commodities

Click on the icons to learn more about Earthworm's work on the commodity:

Downloads

Dec 18, 2020

Child Risk Assessment Framework 2020

pdf. 2.9 MB

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May 23, 2019

Children in Plantations Directory 2019

pdf. 2.1 MB

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Jun 21, 2019

Children in Plantations of Sabah Report 2018

pdf. 2.1 MB

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Feb 22, 2019

Children in Plantations of Sabah 2017 report

pdf. 8.6 MB

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Dec 1, 2023

Landscapes Annual Impact Report 2022 Final

pdf. 3.1 MB

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News & Stories

Oct 8, 2024

Earthworm Foundation Convenes Roundtable Discussion on Ethical Recruitment in Sabah

World Elephant Day Celebration 2024: Empowering Youth, the Guardians for Human-Elephant Coexistence in Sabah

Feb 28, 2023

Farmer in Sabah, Malaysia Gains Access to Government Aid