Kuching, Wednesday, 15 April 2009 – Ministry of Planning and Resource Management, Forest Department, Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC), Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) and Harwood Timber Sdn. Bhd. show homage to World Forestry Day today, with an official launch for the commemoration in Sarawak, themed “Love Our Forests” and a hype of activities.  Internationally, the day is celebrated throughout the world on March 21, to highlight the importance of forests and its benefits for the society.

Officiating the launch, Datuk Amar Hj. Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, Minister of Planning and Resource Management II and Minister of Public Utilities was speaking on the sustainable forest management practices in Sarawak, Awang Tengah emphasised that Sarawak has since 90 years ago embarked on systematic and sustainable forest management.  He reiterated "the Government has incepted its Statement of Forest Policy in 1954. This visionary policy gives weight to environmental, economical and social aspects of forestry”.  He added that often enough, this fact is not highlighted and in reality this has paved the way to sustainable forest management while at the same time continue to contribute to the State economic growth.

He further added, "The State Government has set a target of 6 million hectares of forest as Permanent Forest Reserve and 1 million hectares as Totally Protected Areas for the purpose of national parks, wild life sanctuaries and natural forest reserves.  These are clear testimony of the State commitment at sustainable forest management”.  Awang Tengah also highlighted on increased trans-border cooperation via the establishment of Trans-boundary Conservation Areas (TBCA) with Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam which involves Pulong Tau National Park, Kayan Mentarang National Park, Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary and Betung Kerihun National Park.

At the international front, Awang Tengah said  that the Government has endorsed 170 Multilateral Environment Agreements (MEAs), 33 of which are forestry-related such as Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Cartegena Protocol on Bio-safety, Kyoto Protocol, Convention on Wetland of International Species especially Waterfowl Habitat (RAMSAR), Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and ASEAN Agreement on Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.

He further added in relations to certifications of forest management units “65 Forest Management Units (FMUs) has been identified with a total combined areas of 4, 435 million hectares.  Of this, 2 FMUs achieved certifications, the Suling-Selaan FMU (under MC&I 2001) and Anap-Muput FMU (under MC&I 2002), while others are in various stages of certification process”.  Awang Tengah said, while the certification process for FMUs are on voluntary basis, the Government will continue to render assistance and give encouragement to concession owners for the certification purpose.

In strengthening forest-related workforce, said Awang Tengah “among steps that had been taken was to strengthen capacity and cooperation of forest-related agencies – the Forest Department, Sarawak Forestry Corporation and Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC).  He thanked various enforcement agencies for example Royal Malaysia Police Department, Malaysian Armed Forces, Royal Malaysia Customs and Excise Department and others in successful handling and mitigation of illegal loggings and other related activities.  Via technologically advanced enforcement tools such as Monitoring, Enforcement and Protection System (MEPS) and Logs Tracking System (LoTS), forest resources will be better protected he said.

Awang Tengah revealed that under the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) “Wood-based industry has been identified as 1 of 10 main industries to be developed by 2030 under SCORE” which projected the availability of 110,000 new jobs once implemented.  Accordingly, the State has issued 42 Forest Plantation License totalling 1.3 million hectares which will be one of the driving force for development of SCORE.

Datu Hj. Len Talif Salleh, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Planning and Resource Management, Director of Forests, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Sarawak Forestry Corporation and General Manager of STIDC highlighted on latest scientific expedition to Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary collaborative efforts between Forest Department, Malaysia Science Academy and UNIMAS and recently concluded workshop - ITTO Workshop: Sharing Experience in Conservation Management and Community Participation whereby public involvement and engagement are highly valued especially to shed lights into forest management perspectives and documenting findings.

Len Talif said on the forest related services front, “effective April 1, 2007, Sarawak is the first State to introduce Park Guide Training and Licensing System for park guiding services at national parks and nature reserves throughout Sarawak”.  To date, he said a total of 162 park guides have been issued with Provisional Park Guide License, while another 72 park guides were issued Park Guide License.  On this move, Len Talif reminded that park guides are not only responsible to share information and knowledge on national parks, but also impart and instil on others biodiversity conservation values.

On the topic of conservation of wildlife, Len Talif disclosed that starting from May last year, Sarawak Forestry Corporation has embarked on another of its conservation flagship program – Turtle Adoption.  This conservation-based eco-tourism product said Len Talif offers limited seats for nature lovers to experience conservation works and hands on training with regards to turtle conservation, at the same time contributes to the turtle conservation fund for the State.

Len Talif also touched on appointment of Honorary Wildlife Rangers which serves as ‘the eyes and ears’ of the Governement, to report on forest forest-related matters and assisting the Government in various initiatives aimed at promoting awareness and protection of forest resources.

Said Len Talif “With the restructuring of Forest Department and other forest related agencies such as STIDC, SFC, Harwood Timber last year, enforcement activities has been amplified”.  These activities include patrolling of various log checking stations and aerial patrolling at national parks.

Nature n’ U Program which will be organised on April 18, 2009 in conjuction with World Forestry Day by SFC is organised to nurture environmental awareness and inculcate sense of love towards forest resources among school children.

More than 300 people of various agencies attended the World Forestry Day launch.   In conjunction with the commemoration, a week-long activities are scheduled, such as:

• Handing Over of Seedlings to schools and Surau at Sarawak Tree Improvement Centre (April 13, 2009) – Sibu
• Futsal Open Double Knock Out Match (April 13, 2009) Arena Hall - Kuching
• Exhibition, Forest Research Centre (April 15, 2009) - Kuching
• Blood Donation Campaign (April 15, 2009), Hospital Sibu – Sibu
• Blood Donation Campaign (April 15, 2009), Hospital Kapit – Kapit
• Futsal Open Final & VIPs Match (April 15, 2009), Arena Hall – Kuching
• Badminton Championship, (April 15, 2009), Dewan PPBS, Samariang – Kuching
• Nature n’ U: Cave Xplorer II (April 18, 2009), Wind Cave and Fairy Cave, Bau – Kuching