[01] Muhammad Adha Shaleh, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences, International Islamic University of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. [02] Miriam Karen Guth, Roland Close, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom. [03] Syed Ajijur Rahman, Department of Food and Resource Economics, Section of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark; School of Environment, Natural Resources and Geography, Bangor University, Bangor, United Kingdom; Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Bogor, West Java, Indonesia.

The success of local forest conservation program depends on a critical appreciation of local communities. Based on this understanding, the present study aims to explore people’s perspective of forest conservation in a context of changes in their living landscape at South East Pahang Peat Swamp Forest (SEPPSF), Malaysia. Nine in-depth interviews were conducted with Orang Asli Jakun living in SEPPSF using open-ended questions. Local communities have positive perspectives toward the forest conservation program, despite massive environmental changes in their living landscape. This study suggests that a successful forest conservation program in SEPPSF will require an in-depth understanding of the Jakun people livelihood and their needs in their living environment. Findings from this study provided an avenue for future researchers to carry out studies of the relationship between the Jakun people and SEPPSF.

Peat Swamp Forest, Orang Asli Jakun, Forest Conservation, Community

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