Bruno Manser Fonds (BMF)

About us

The Bruno Manser Fund (BMF), Association for the Peoples of the Rainforest, is a non-profit association based in Basel (Switzerland). It was set up in 1991 by the environmental activist Bruno Manser. Strategic responsibility is in the hands of a board with six members, while operational activities are handled by the executive director and a team of employees and volunteers.
The Bruno Manser Fund stands for fairness in the tropical forest. We are committed to campaigning for the conservation of the threatened tropical rainforests with their biodiversity and strive for the respect of the rights of the rainforest dwellers.
In consideration of the fact that the founder and long-standing chair, Bruno Manser, spent many years living with the Penan in the Malaysian federal state of Sarawak on Borneo, we are primarily committed to working for this people and for the protection of the Sarawak forests.

Our activities are comprised of projects and campaigns in Malaysia and Switzerland.
The Bruno Manser Fund's strategic objectives are:
• Respect of all human rights, especially those of the indigenous peoples
• Conservation of the forests, including their biodiversity
• Support for alternative development options and alternative income
• Support for the Penan by providing them with assistance in the fields of health, education and infrastructure
• Combatting corruption and commitment for transparent governance
• Documenting indigenous cultures of Malaysia, especially of the Penan
• Raising awareness as regards tropical-forest destruction and the rights of indigenous peoples

Campaigns:
• Switzerland against palm oil
• Stop the Chop
• Stop IKEAs cheap tricks!
• No highway through the rainforest
• Protection of the Mulu rainforest
• Corruption in the tropical-timber trade
• Renewable power sources instead of hydroelectric dams
• Save the Carpathian Forest
• The Baram Peace Park

Projects:
• Empowerment
• Indigenous land rights
• Mapping and cultural documentation
• Renewable energies in the rainforest
• Forest Restoration
• Land Use and Resources
• Preschools for the Penan
• Infrastructure projects

Dany Demuth is the Marketing and Fundraising Officer at the Bruno Manser Fonds (BMF).

For other net participants we can offer an expert guidance through trained staff, give an expert opinion, procure expert information and establish new contacts in the field of our work.