SANDAKAN – Sabah’s huge forests are no longer just for timber, but for other economic opportunities as well.
This is the state government’s new message to investors in its bid to open up the exploitation of the forests there for other income-generating purposes.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said there is a need to heighten research and development in the forestry to help achieve this.
“Activities based on the concept of ‘forest beyond timber management’ must be intensified in the effort to create new revenues from the forest,” he said.
“These activities include eco-tourism, payment of ecosystem services, mangrove and fisheries, carbon transaction, non-timber such as herbs, and the pharmaceutical industry.”.
Hajiji was speaking at the launch of the state-level International Forest Day at the state Forestry Department headquarters in the Khazanah Forest Reserve here today.
Sabah has the largest forest area in the country, accounting for 65% of the 18 million hectares of forest in Malaysia, followed by Sarawak with 62% and Peninsular Malaysia with 44%.
No less than 3.8 million hectares, or 52% of Sabah's total area, have been gazetted as forest reserves, parks, and wildlife sanctuaries.
Hajiji gave an assurance that the state government would not relent in its efforts to restore degraded forests throughout Sabah this year.
“About 101,038ha of degraded forests have been identified for reforestation in Sabah," he said, adding that about 63,000ha has been replanted with a cost of RM316 million.
Under the 12th Malaysia Plan, the state government is to channel federal allocations amounting to RM26.6 million for the management and reforestation programmes in several forest reserves, he said.
These include the Deramakot, Tangkulap-Pinangah, Ulu Segama, Trusmadi, Gunung Rara, Kalabakan, Timimbang, Botition, and Sugut forest reserves.
Hajiji also said that through the campaign to plant 100 million trees under the Malaysian Green Agenda, a total of 333,903 trees have been successfully planted in Sabah up till March this year.
Sabah has set a target to plant 40 million trees in the span of five years, kick-started with the planting of six merbau trees in the compound of the state administrative complex early this year.
Hajiji also noted that Sabah has received allocations totalling RM4 million this year for nursery development and public awareness campaign, RM2.5 million for replanting and conservation of mangrove forests, and RM6 million for the Heart of Borneo initiative.
‘Totally protected areas’ not just trophies
Earlier, state forest chief conservator Frederick Kugan said in his speech that the department has been putting a lot of effort to increase the size of areas marked as “totally protected areas” (TPAs) in Sabah from 26% of Sabah’s total land (amounting to 1.9 million hectares) to 30% (2.2 million hectares) by 2025.
“However, TPAs are not kept as trophies. Instead, efforts are currently underway to capitalise on the forest conservation efforts by exploring the potential of generating revenues from non-wood forest products such as eco-tourism, payment for ecosystem services, medicinal plants and carbon through the implementation of the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation agenda.
“The conservation agenda is being used to support the development of relevant sectors, particularly the Sabah Jurisdictional Certified Sustainable Palm Oil Initiative.
“This is crucial to ensure that the state’s oil palm, including the agroforestry ventures within prior designated areas in forest reserves, will always have a market that can contribute to the state’s revenue and indirectly support the state’s conservation agenda,” he said.
Later, the chief minister presented tree seedlings to representatives from government agencies, higher learning institutions, and NGOs under the tree planting campaign.
He also planted a belian tree (Eusideroxylon zwageri) at the compound of the Forestry Department office.
Also present was Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam and state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin. – The Vibes, April 8, 2021.
