The project, covering a total of 300 hectares...involves the planting over a period of 10 years from 2007 of local hard-wood species...which the Japanese say is part of their contribution in dealing with global warming...The idea was initiated by the Japan-Malaysia Association and sponsored by Kinoshita Group, one of Japan's biggest housing construction companies...The Bidayuh landowners...carried a huge banner which read: 'We are the land-owners. Get our permission to plant trees/consult us’...Another banner read: 'Plant trees in Japan. Respect indigenous land rights in Sarawak’.