MIRI: The forest and timber sector should adapt to new technologies as Sarawak is embracing the industrial revolution (IR) 4.0 era, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.
The state government, he said, was willing to consider allocating more funds to ensure that departments and related industries adapt to the latest digital technology, for example, in areas such as research and development, enforcement, forest management and even wood processing.
Tengah was speaking at Sarawak Forest Department’s (SFD) excellence service awards here on Thursday night.
“In terms of sustainable forest management, Sarawak is way ahead as we are equipped with high-tech equipment compared to counterparts in other states.
“I am proud to say that the Sarawak Forest Department’s usage of technological equipment is the benchmark for other forest agencies in aspects such as enforcement and research.”
Meanwhile, on the Forest Landscape Restoration programme, Awang Tengah called on the SFD to work together with local councils apart from the local communities and the private sector to make Sarawak greener.
Earlier, SFD director Datu Hamden Mohammad revealed that under the Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) initiative, as of October 2020, a total of 14 Forest Management Unit (FMU) areas obtained the certification, totalling 1.4 million hectares.
“This shows our forest management complies with international policies involving sustainable forest management.”
On the Forest Landscape Restoration programme, which was launched last year by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, he said: “Within the next five years, we’re going to have 35 million trees planted statewide.”
