Activist Komeok Joe, who heads Keruan, a grassroots Penan organisation, said that being semi-nomadic, the Penan in the 87,000ha site continue to have a strong connection with the forest.

“Culturally, the community still holds strongly to Penan traditions,” he said.

He said making Magoh a biosphere reserve could help protect the community’s semi-nomadic culture.

Last week, a group of them travelled over 500km to Kuching to hand over a petition seeking Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg’s consideration for their proposal.

The petition was signed by 96 Penans from 15 communities.

This is not the first time that the community has lobbied to have the site, nestled between Gunung Mulu National Park and Pulong Tau National Park, listed as a biosphere reserve.

In 1987, they made a similar attempt based on their desire to protect the forest.

Komeok said a Unesco status would prevent indiscriminate logging, noting that the community had, in the past, set up blockades to prevent logging companies from entering the forest.

“The lack of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) is a huge issue for many Penan villagers. Often Penan communities are not consulted at all and neglected by the logging company,” he said.

Magoh is also renowned for its high conservation value, featuring both primary and secondary rainforests.

It serves as a critical habitat for several endangered mammals, including pangolins, sun bears, and clouded leopards, as well as several rare species of hornbills.

Environmental NGO Bruno Manser Fond deputy director Johanna Michel said Magoh is still a hotspot of biodiversity and an important habitat for endangered species.

“A biosphere reserve will definitely prevent more logging, making it possible to keep it an important wildlife corridor between the Pulong Tau National Park and the Unesco World Heritage Site of Gunung Mulu National Park,” she said.