KUCHING: At least 63 per cent of land has been conserved in Sarawak even though its logging and timber industry is now more than 100 years old.
“It was possible because the state has a sustainable forest management policy which is balanced with the state’s development plans,” said Sarawak Forest director Hamden Mohammad.
The Forest Landscape Restoration Programme implemented today is widely promoted by the global community in addressing deforestation issues due to competition with development activities that must be carried out, he said at the launch of the programme at Sabal Agro-forestry Centre in Simunjan yesterday.
He also pointed out that it is one of the programmes that has been planned to restore the integrity of the forest ecosystem and improve the well-being of the degraded forest.
This initiative has long been implemented, he recalled, but the concept of implementing the restoration programme today is even more comprehensive because of discussions held at the Sarawak Forest Restoration Forum in March 2017.
After the forum, the Sarawak Forestry Department took proactive measures to enhance the delivery of the programme, such as redeveloping tree nursery sites at Sabal Agroforestry Centre, Sarawak Tree Improvement Centre at Jalan Oya in Sibu and at the Forest Research Centre in Niah, Miri.
“Through all the nurseries, we now have approximately 300,000 saplings of various indigenous species ready to be provided for the tree planting programmes or campaigns, including for distribution to any party needed to make the programme a success,” he said.
The department, he continued, had implemented tree planting programmes across the state with cooperation from all parties including non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and local communities.
“For the record, since 1990 until today, a total of 634 million trees have been planted throughout Sarawak,” he revealed.
“Apart from tree planting, the department also implemented outreach programmes aimed at promoting the importance of environmental conservation and greening of the land.”
The event also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Sarawak Forest Department and various parties including Shell Bhd, Sarawak Energy Bhd and Japan-Malaysia Association to preserve and conserve the state’s environment.
Among those present at the event were Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Assistant Minister Datuk Len Talif Salleh,
