47
Hunting of animals such as mousedeer and porcupines are strictly on when needed. The
same applies for collecting agarwood, while collecting herbs for medicinal purposes is
only for one’s own use or their family’s use.
Table 2 illustrates the details of the main sources of forest products harvested by the
indigenous community and the amount of income derived from the resources based
on the interviews with the respondents. The income from the sales of forest products
(plants and animals) for a period of 1 month amounted to RM1,000 at the most. If
harvesting was carried out for 1 week, the villagers could earn RM500 to RM600.
For a 2–3 days’ work, the earnings would only be RM40 to RM60.
In an extract from the interview with Shidki, he stated that:
Income generated from the sales of forest products such as plants and animals would be
RM1,000 at the most, but if one enters the forest for a week he could earn about RM500 to
RM600 (current exchange rate RM1 is about USD0.25).
In addition, they also earned side income from the sale of herbal plants for medicinal purposes. The results of interviews with Fahmi revealed the daily and weekly
income total from selling agarwood (Table 3).
Income earned from the sales of agarwood is at the most RM13 per day, but if one enters
the forest two to three days in a week he could earn RM40 to RM60.
From the interviews, the results indicated that the indigenous community had inherent traditional modus to conserve the forests for the benefit of their future generation. The respondents seemed to have intricate knowledge about agarwood. They
had deep biogeography acumen that enabled them to identify harvest-ready plants.
For instance, to ensure that a tree was ready to harvest, a thorough inspection was
done on the core of the tree bark. If there was no sign of an aloe core or resin content, the tree would be left for 3–6 years. Only trees with matured resin content were
harvested. This due diligence showcased their approach in conserving forests for
future generations. From the interview with Shidki:
To identify the right agarwood, the method is to cut to see the inside of the tree to ensure it
has a core. If there is no core, the tree will be left (intact) and will need another five to six
years before we can come back here to collect it.
The interviews with Fahmi also confirmed the same description:
To identify the right agarwood, the method is to cut to see the inside of the tree to ensure it
has a core. If there is no core, the tree will be left (intact) and will need another three to four
years before we can come back here to collect it.
Table 3 Average income of
the indigenous community
from selling forest products
Description
Income
Plants and animals in a month RM1,000.00
Agarwood in a week
RM40.00 to RM60.00
Agarwood in a day
RM13.00
The Importance of Forest Resources as a Source of Income for the Orang Asli…
Hunting of animals such as mousedeer and porcupines are strictly on when needed. The
same applies for collecting agarwood, while collecting herbs for medicinal purposes is
only for one’s own use or their family’s use.
Table 2 illustrates the details of the main sources of forest products harvested by the
indigenous community and the amount of income derived from the resources based
on the interviews with the respondents. The income from the sales of forest products
(plants and animals) for a period of 1 month amounted to RM1,000 at the most. If
harvesting was carried out for 1 week, the villagers could earn RM500 to RM600.
For a 2–3 days’ work, the earnings would only be RM40 to RM60.
In an extract from the interview with Shidki, he stated that:
Income generated from the sales of forest products such as plants and animals would be
RM1,000 at the most, but if one enters the forest for a week he could earn about RM500 to
RM600 (current exchange rate RM1 is about USD0.25).
In addition, they also earned side income from the sale of herbal plants for medicinal purposes. The results of interviews with Fahmi revealed the daily and weekly
income total from selling agarwood (Table 3).
Income earned from the sales of agarwood is at the most RM13 per day, but if one enters
the forest two to three days in a week he could earn RM40 to RM60.
From the interviews, the results indicated that the indigenous community had inherent traditional modus to conserve the forests for the benefit of their future generation. The respondents seemed to have intricate knowledge about agarwood. They
had deep biogeography acumen that enabled them to identify harvest-ready plants.
For instance, to ensure that a tree was ready to harvest, a thorough inspection was
done on the core of the tree bark. If there was no sign of an aloe core or resin content, the tree would be left for 3–6 years. Only trees with matured resin content were
harvested. This due diligence showcased their approach in conserving forests for
future generations. From the interview with Shidki:
To identify the right agarwood, the method is to cut to see the inside of the tree to ensure it
has a core. If there is no core, the tree will be left (intact) and will need another five to six
years before we can come back here to collect it.
The interviews with Fahmi also confirmed the same description:
To identify the right agarwood, the method is to cut to see the inside of the tree to ensure it
has a core. If there is no core, the tree will be left (intact) and will need another three to four
years before we can come back here to collect it.
Table 3 Average income of
the indigenous community
from selling forest products
Description
Income
Plants and animals in a month RM1,000.00
Agarwood in a week
RM40.00 to RM60.00
Agarwood in a day
RM13.00
The Importance of Forest Resources as a Source of Income for the Orang Asli…