BACKGROUND
Protocols for the management and care of important resources such as
water catchments, forests, rivers, as well as forest and aquatic life have
already existed in Terian since a long time ago, but only in oral form.
Fortunately, the younger generation in this village have been exposed to
environmental issues that are becoming critical in Malaysia and hotly
discussed globally. The younger generation has seen this unwritten
protocols as an important heritage that should be documented and
practised in the management and protection of water catchment areas.
This Terian Community Protocol on water catchment protection practices
has been produced through the cooperation of the Terian community with
guidance from PACOS Trust. The production of this protocol is very
important to the Terian community in our efforts to ensure the continuity
of our management and protection of our water catchments that will be
continued by the next generations to come.
This protocol will be used and put to practice, and will serve as a guide to
the Terian community and other communities who are fighting for the
sustainability of water catchment areas through management and
protection based on traditional knowledge and practices or more
commonly known as the 'Gompi Guno' concept by village folk. In addition,
this protocol that has been made into a book, will benefit the younger
generation as a reference and additional knowledge in the care and
management of this very precious treasure, and as step in passing down
knowledge to future generations.
The Terian community really hope that the government will start to realize
the important contribution of the community in the care and management
of nature that has contributed greatly to forest sustainability especially
water catchment areas in Sabah and has given a positive impact to
environmental issues such as global warming, preservation of flora and
7|Terian Dusun Community Protocol