MIRI: Nineteen papers were presented during a two-day Industrial Forest Plantation seminar, which commenced today (Nov 4) here, with the physical participation of 200 members of various government agencies, higher learning institutions and licence holders of planted forest (LPF).
Present to officiate at the event was Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
There are also participants from Sabah, Peninsular Malaysia and other countries who attended the seminar through Zoom.
The event has four plenary sessions, namely Current Development in International Forest Plantation; Current Development of Research and Development in Sarawak Plantation; Community, Technology and Certification; and Other Potential Industrial Tree Species.
In the first session, representatives from China, Indonesia and Sabah will be presenting.
“Two presenters from China will be sharing their experiences in hybrid breeding of Eucalyptus and on Paulownia, one of the most talked about fast-growing species, ” said Sarawak Forest Department (SFD) director Datuk Hamden Mohammad.
“We also look forward to hearing from Indonesia on the prospect of dipterocarp plantation for future timber supply, while our friend from Sabah Softwood will be sharing on the prospect of profitable tree plantation in Malaysian Borneo,” he added.
During the second session, participants will be updated on the Research and Development (R&D) in Sarawak Plantation.
Dr Farid of Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) will talk about the survey and assessment of Acacia mangium wilt diseases in Sarawak, and Dr Wickneswari of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) will be presenting her study on genomic resources for accelerating acacia breeding.
Sarawak’s own researcher Millicent Abdullah of SFD will be updating on the taxa and seed source trial programme.
“We will also be listening to the use of technology to map the incidence of pests and diseases in forest plantation in Sarawak. This will be presented by researcher Jessica Diana of SFD,” Hamden said.
Research works by GP Pusaka on species choice and breeding strategy will also be presented and Francois Blignaut of Samling Reforestation will talk about the importance of R&D in growing sustainable industrial tree plantation.
The third session will see three presentations — Industrial Forest Plantation Certification by David Marsden of Samling, Development of Volume Table for Planted Trees by Ajmal of SFD and Conflict Resolution From Daiken’s Experience by Friendie Su of Daiken.
In the last session, participants will learn about other potential industrial tree species.
EL Low of Green Afforestation International Network Sdn Bhd will talk about China’s experience in Paulownia and Prof Madya Dr Mohd Zaki Hamzah of Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Serdang will present a case study done at Selangor Fruit Valley.
Professor Dr Jegatheswaran of UPM will talk about the potential of Paulownia for furniture industry and the last presentation will be on the forest plantation in Sabah with emphasis on selected indigenous tree species Anuar Mohamad of Sabah Forestry Department.
