ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the historical antagonism between the Kampung Bundu Tuhan indigenous community and the related authorities over rights issues in the context of World Heritage inscription process. It presents the World Heritage and rights-based approaches workshop held in Oslo, Norway from 1–3 April 2014. Malaysia is home to four World Heritage sites, two of which are recognised for their cultural values, and two – Kinabalu Park and Gunung Mulu National Park – for their natural ones. The Park is administered by the board of trustees of Sabah parks, a statutory body under the ministry of tourism, culture and environment Sabah. The Sabah forestry department's resulting community forestry projects symbolised a radical change from a 'confrontational' to a 'collaborative' or joint-management approach. Findings from the fieldwork, however, revealed three main factors that triggered this radical change in approach: changes in the state forestry department's management approach; recommendations in technical cooperation studies; and personal intervention by then-deputy director of Sabah parks.
