The Voices of the Rainforest project review in month nine signifies an excellent trajectory

The Voices of the Rainforest team at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia organised a project review workshop at the Bangi Resort Hotel, in the state of Selangor, Malaysia, from 16th to 18th December 2024. The workshop aimed to reflect on the Voices of the Rainforest’s operations over the past nine months.

Fieldwork research assistants—Mrs Qayherah Ahmad Zam Zam, Ms Nur Iman Kamarudin Azhar, and Ms Shazleeza Izlyn Yusaimi—presented the progress of their ethnographic data collection with indigenous communities in the states of Perak (Jahai), Pahang (Semai), and Johor (Jakun). They commenced their ethnographic data collection in October 2024 and are expected to complete it by the end of February.

Despite challenges related to communication, logistics, and access to remote locations, the fieldwork research assistants successfully gathered initial data on traditional ecological knowledge related to climate change. Under the close supervision of Dr Zanisah Man, they received support in rapport-building strategies with indigenous communities, managing differences in interpretations from key informants, and maintaining a structured focus on ethnographic data collection aligned with the project’s objectives.

The workshop also focused on the development of a systematic literature review led by Dr Izzati Abdullah. This review aims to examine emerging research trends, methodological approaches, and significant gaps in traditional ecological knowledge and climate change research, which will be instrumental in the curriculum development process. The systematic literature review is currently in the screening stage, processing hundreds of articles extracted from high-quality, peer-reviewed journals. Dr Syafiq Mat Noor and Dr Siti Nur Diyana Mahmud are overseeing this work to ensure rigour and relevance.

The three-day Voices of the Rainforest review outlined the next phases of project operations, including Phase 3, which involves creative and arts-based fieldwork with indigenous children. The development of a creative and arts-based protocol will commence in February 2025, with the first data collection set to take place in the indigenous communities of Jahai, in the state of Perak in April 2025. In total, it is anticipated that 240 children from 12 indigenous schools will participate in the creative and arts-based fieldwork.

In conclusion, the month nine project review demonstrates significant progress for Voices of the Rainforest. The project is currently in Phase 2 – Ethnographic Fieldwork, with Phase 3 – Creative and Arts-Based Fieldwork set to begin soon. This progress highlights that Voices of the Rainforest remains on track to achieve its objectives.