Project Women Empowerment Trees was formed in 2006, when LEAP (Land Empowerment Animals People) and PACOS (Partners of Community Organisations) Trust met with women from two villages (kampungs) from the Pitas district in the Malaysian state of Sabah, at the northern tip of Borneo. This area has experienced major loss of forest, watershed degradation and disempowerment of women communities and families due to loss of economic and social structures, as large numbers of the rural populations (mostly men and young people) move to cities for work and livelihood. The result of the discussion with the women was agreement to participate in an initiative which aimed to share experiences, knowledge and resources, with a vision of international collaboration and local action – in the name of women’s empowerment, ecological sustainability, social responsibility and economic viability. This initiative was thus formed by LEAP, PACOS and women from the two villages as well as with agreement from the official Village Council Chairmen and Village Heads.

The mission of the group is to create and implement a programme to plant indigenous trees to restore impoverished land, improve critical watersheds and provide economically viable crops. In this way, the revitalising of the Pitas district of Sabah by the comunities themselves, in particular the women, through reforestation and reclaiming of village reserves and watershed or riparian reserves, and also by re-energising indigenous wisdom and traditions, will create viable economic mechanisms that encourage self-determination and self reliance and enable the sustainability of livelihoods.

The main activities of the group involve establishing nurseries to plant trees on 500 hectares of degraded land under a reforestation plan. This comprises seedling tending and tree planting, followed by fruit harvesting and sale, harvesting and sale of other economic crops, planting of craft making plants (eg bamboo) and craft production.