It is widely accepted that millions of rural people depend on forests for their livelihood, and that forests provide a "safety net" particularly important to the poor. Thus, deforestation and forest degradation are seen as main threats for the future of poor forest people. To assess the actual role and importance of forests to forest people, the Bulungan research forest where Cifor is conducting research since 1999 is a privileged area as it hosts the largest population of Punan hunter-gatherers of Borneo.