KUCHING: A discussion session on Research and Development (R&D) with Plantation Industries was organised by Forest Department Sarawak (FDS) here recently.
The session was chaired director of Forests Datuk Hamden Mohammad. Representatives from Sarawak Timber Association (STA), Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) and members from the Licence for Planted Forests (LPFs) also participated in this event.
Output of R&D on industrial forest conducted by government agencies and universities were shared through presentations by officers from FDS, STA and STIDC.
LPF members were also actively involved in the discussion and sharing of research work session.
Among some issues/concerns raised during the meeting were on source of planting materials; pest and disease attacks; soil study and site-species matching; co-operation from all involved parties; as well as data and information sharing among all researchers and licensees.
This discussion is to kick-start a series of discussions and brainstorming in the future, to identify the gaps of all R&D on industrial forests in Sarawak and to put forward a strategic R&D framework for the development of industrial forest plantation in Sarawak.
