Malaysia: The Nature Guardians that Never Stop Listening

An ancient treasure

Located on the island of Borneo, Sarawak is Malaysia's largest state. A total of 62% percent of its landmass is made up of rainforests and, at an estimated 140 million years old, Sarawak rainforest is among the oldest rainforests in the world.

Its natural ecosystem also provides food, shelter, and habitats to approximately 10,000 species of plants and a wide array of animals, ranging from the world's smallest squirrel – the pygmy squirrel – to the largest land mammal in Asia – the Asian elephant – and, of course, the iconic but endangered Borneo orangutan.

Orangutan in Sarawak, Malaysian

However, illegal logging, deforestation, and the expansion of plantations have severely impacted the climate, ecosystem, and biodiversity of the rainforest, placing many species at risk of extinction.

Studies have shown that should current trends continue without an effective intervention plan, the rainforests in Sarawak (and those in other parts in the world) will vanish completely in less than 100 years.

In their fight against illegal deforestation and to protect the area's rainforests and its inhabitants, the Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA), Forest Department Sarawak, and Sarawak Forestry Corporation have teamed up with the NGO Rainforest Connection (RFCx) and Huawei Malaysia to carry out the Rainforest Guardian Research Project.

Ears open

Launched in November 2021, the project covers a protected area of 30km².

It uses RFCx's solar-powered Guardian devices in conjunction with Huawei's cloud and AI technologies to detect the sounds of illegal logging, including chainsaws and vehicles, in real time. Each device is equipped with microphones and antennas that collect sound data from the rainforest, which is transmitted through wireless networks to cloud where it is analyzed by AI-powered analytics.

Guardians have the capacity to run for 24/7 for two years and they are placed in the forest’s canopy where they cannot be seen by illegal loggers or poachers.

Using the power of ICT, we now have a more effective way to understand the situation in the rainforests and better protect it. We listen, we hear, and we will act. Chong Chern Peng
Account Director, Huawei Enterprise East Malaysia

The impact of the pandemic

For Sarawak, the pandemic added a unique layer of complexity due to local movement control orders, which required a new approach to conservation. After all, illegal loggers remained active, causing alarm among local rangers who understand the urgency of protecting the local ecosystem.

TECH4ALL partners Rainforest Connection (RFCx), who developed the Nature Guardian solution, provided online training to Sarawak's local rangers. Given that traveling was not possible, the online platform enabled seamless communication through the Rainforest Listening Terminal.

Rangers receiving remote training from RFCx teams

On alert

In November 2023, five Guardian devices were replaced in different locations across the coverage area, with all devices connecting to satellite instead of relying on SIM cards.

As of the end of 2023, the project had logged over 14,500 hours of sound data and generated 55 system alerts, allowing Sarawak rangers to investigate in near real time.

At the same time, the animal vocalizations recorded by the system can help researchers and conservationists better understand the behavior of animals, enabling them to develop more effective conservation measures.

Technology has opened a new chapter for conserving the rich biodiversity and beauty that characterizes the Sarawak rainforest.