Taskforce Against Kaiduan Dam (TAKAD)

In 2010, TAKAD was formed by nine villages (Terian, Babagon Laut, Timpayasa, Tiku, Buayan, Pongobonon, Kalanggaan, Kionop and Longkogungan) in Ulu Papar who are dedicated to defending the rights of the Dusun community and their customary land. The biggest challenge facing the community is the development of a mega-dam known as the Ulu Papar/Kaiduan Dam.  

The proposed dam site is part of the Crocker Range Biosphere Reserve, an area of rich biodiversity including 42 freshwater fish species. In 2009, the Sabah State government nominated the region for UNESCO’s The Man and the Biosphere (MAB) programme, which aims to enhance human livelihoods, while improving human livelihoods while safeguarding natural and managed ecosystems.  

TAKAD emphasises that the dam threatens indigenous villages, ancestral land, natural resource, and their culture, contradicting MAB programme goals. The community has advocated for the government to adopt alternative development plans that are both environmentally friendly and sustainable. 

To halt the dam’s development, TAKAD aims to continue working on community mapping with villages located along the Papar. This participatory mapping documents customary land areas, culture sites, settlements, sacred spaces, burial grounds, hunting and gathering sites, and the historical Salt Trails. 

© Chris Scarffe

TAKAD’s mission is to protect the Papar river, along with the livelihoods and culture of those who depend on it. A key aspect of this is documenting the Tagal system, a traditional river management practice that includes regulated extraction and zoning to sustain the river’s health. Documentation strengthens proof of the community’s practices in safeguarding their territories and natural resources. 

Another important activity is organising community-level awareness campaigns. By delivering participatory workshops with the communities, TAKAD strive to find inclusive solutions and future planning with the communities. Increasing awareness among the indigenous youth, they hope to empower a new generation of leaders who can continue to protect the traditional knowledge, biodiversity, and community rights in Sabah, particularly the Dusun community living in the upstream and downstream of Papar river.   

Synchronicity Earth’s Freshwater programme is supporting TAKAD to highlight the vital role of Indigenous Peoples in conserving this unique environment and the natural resources the community rely on.