Kuamut Rainforest Conservation, Malaysia

Kuamut performs strongly on Climate by avoiding emissions that would have resulted from intensive logging. Without the project, an estimated 16 million tCO₂e would have been released over 30 years. Instead, the forest is now protected and managed as a long-term carbon sink, demonstrating both credibility and impact in its climate contribution.

Utilising a combination of plot-based and remote sensing methods to analyse carbon stocks provides a robust understanding of the project's successful practises. The project area is recovering from a heavily logged past. The most recent round of extensive logging occurred between 2004 and 2010. A high intensity of degradation is important to consider as soil carbon loss can ultimately turn into a carbon source. This is supported by studies within the Malaysian Borneo region.

The promoted protection and preservation of the existing biodiverse forest ecosystem. The Kuamut rainforest is of particular importance as it connects to globally important world protected areas; the Maliau and Danum Valley. Of the species that occupy this area, there is a significant amount that are on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. This includes 910 animal, fungi, and plant species. 

The Kuamut Project scores the highest in the nature pillar. The rainforest is a critical long-term refuge and a key connecting corridor. The trigger species that find refuge within this area are stable populations of rare, threatened, and endangered (RTE) species. Examples of this are the Bornean orangutan and the Bornean elephant; to name a few.

Not only is this area a stable refuge, but also, a critical buffer zone and key biodiversity corridor. This allows wildlife to disperse and expand their range. This ultimately improves their genetic viability.

While community benefits are more limited than its ecological outcomes, Kuamut still delivers meaningful social impacts. The project provides local employment in forest management and conservation, with efforts to involve women and reduce inequalities. 500 (out of which 300 are female) community members are expected to have improved skills and/or knowledge resulting from training provided as part of project activities over an estimated period of 5 years of the project implementation.

Around 914 (out of which 457 are women) people are expected to experience increased water quality and/or improved access to drinking water because of project activities. 1500 community members (out of which 800 are women) are also expected to receive improved well-being because of project activities and benefit positively in terms of health benefits.