SANDAKAN: Activities based on the concept of Forest Beyond Timber Management (FBTM) must be intensified in the effort to create new revenues from the forest.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor said these activities included eco-tourism, payment of ecosystem services, mangrove and fisheries, carbon transaction, non-timber including herbs and pharmaceutical industry.
“The forest is no longer just for timber but it is more than that. We can generate more economic opportunities particularly those based on green sustainability by protecting and conserving our natural forests,” he said.
“New income resources from the forest needs to be explored and maximised through research and development (R&D) activities,” he said.
Hajiji said R&D support was crucial in ensuring a successful implementation of the sustainable forest management and natural forest ecosystem restoration system in Sabah.
Speaking to launch the state-level International Forest Day at the State Forestry Department Headquarters in the Khazanah Forest Reserve here Thursday, he stressed that the State Government will continue to fully support forest and natural ecosystems conservation.
Such stand was reflected in the five-year Halatuju Sabah Maju Jaya that was launched recently, where among its main thrusts was empowerment of the infrastructure network and green sustainability.
He assured that the State Government through the Forestry Department would not relent in its reaforestation effort to restore degraded forests throughout Sabah this year.
“About 101,038 hectares (ha) of degraded forests has been identified for reaforestation in Sabah,” he said, adding that about 63,000 ha of the degraded forest has been replanted with the cost of RM316 million.
Under the 12th Malaysia Plan, the State Government would also channel allocation amounting to RM26.6 million for the management and reaforestation programmes in several forest reserves, he said.
Among the forest reserves included Deramakot, Tangkulap – Pinangah; Ulu Segama; Trusmadi; Gunung Rara, Kalabakan; Timimbang, Botition; and Sugut in Beluran.
Sabah has the largest forest area accounting for 65 per cent of the 18 million ha forest areas in Malaysia, followed by Sarawak with 62 per cent and Peninsular Malaysia with 44 per cent.
No less than 3.8 ha or 52 per cent of Sabah’s total area have been gazetted as forest reserves, Sabah Parks and wildlife sanctuary
Meanwhile, Hajiji said through the 100 million trees planting campaign under the Malaysian Green Agenda, a total of 333,903 trees have successfully been planted in Sabah as of March this year.
Sabah has set a target to plant 40 million trees in the span of five years that was kickstarted with the planting of six Merbau trees in the State Administrative Centre compound early this year.
Hajiji also expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for its support and sensitivity to Sabah’s forest conservation efforts.
According to him, this year, Sabah had received allocations RM4 million 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.
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 office.
Also on hand Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Jafry Ariffin and State Forest Chief Conservator Frederick Kugen.-pr/BNN
