(MY) letter on lforest management in Sabah

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Forest management requires more time

 

WITH reference to the letter " Abuse of timber concessions amounts to theft of

assets " (NST June 18), the Ministry of Primary Industries would like to clarify

the following issues.

 

The State Government of Sabah is committed to Sustainable Forest Management

(SFMs).

 

Thus, the State has been divided into different Forest Management Units (FMUs)

and it has adopted a five-pronged policy action plan, namely: l conservation

through management of all forest areas; l reforestation; l intensive research

and development; l re-investment of funds into the forests; and, l upgrading of

manpower and training programme for SFMs.

 

Towards this end, in 1997 a number of organisations from the private sector

signed the Sustainable Forest Management Licence Agreement (SFMLA) with the

State Government to manage the FMUs in accordance with SFM principles for a

period of 100 years.

 

The SFMLA holders are required to comply with the following conditions: l manage

the concession area in accordance with SFM principles; l prepare a Forest

Management Plan (FMP), Tree Plantation Management Plan, Annual Work Plan and a

Comprehensive Harvesting Plan; l employ eco-friendly harvesting methods such as

Reduced Impact Logging; and, l undertake enrichment planting, forest

rehabilitation and silviculture.

 

So far many of the SFMLA holders have already submitted their forest management

plans to the Sabah Forestry Department.

 

In addition, a number of the SFMLA holders are in fact implementing some of the

other above activities. They are not hawking around their concessions as stated

in the letter.

 

SFM is an evolving process and requires time and huge investments. It cannot be

achieved overnight. It has to be recognised that there are implementation issues

which require reviews and adjustment by the appropriate authority.

 

This is to ensure attainment of the desired objective. The Sabah State

Government will continue to work with the SFMLA holders to address any problems

and constraints faced by them to achieve sustainable forest management. We hope

that this clarification can dispel some of the misconceptions regarding the

FMUs.

 

HASMAH AHMAD for Ministry of Primary Industries