Webinar: How the Landscape Approach is Improving Livelihoods and Protecting Biodiversity in Sabah

Earthworm Foundation hosted a webinar about how the landscapes approach is improving peoples' livelihoods and protecting biodiversity in Sabah, Malaysia.

Some of the key points from the webinar:
• Supporting smallholders to transform their practices is key for companies with responsible sourcing commitments.
• We have engaged with more than 900 smallholders in Sabah, supporting them to improve their farm productivity.
• From a sample of these smallholders there has been an 18% increase in the volume-harvested crops.
• Sabah hosts the highest number of non-Malaysian migrant workers in the country.
• We are organising activities with companies to strengthen the safety of children in plantations.
• Elephants walk through plantations, resulting in crop raids and loss of farmer income, at times endangering both elephant and human life.
• With Sabah Wildlife Department, Seratu Aaatai & HUTAN, we supported the formation of the Human Elephant Co-Existence committee & Community patrolling team.
• 7,580 hectares is being monitored and managed for the protection of elephants & crops.
• Smallholders reported a 48% decrease in crop loss due to elephant raids.
• Over next five years we aim to scale up our smallholder support activity to reach and impact a minimum of 5,000 smallholders.
• Doing so can showcase how a balance between sustainable economic development, forest conservation, decent work opportunities and resilient livelihoods for communities can be achieved.