FWD: Two-phase logging in Kedah with ‘heli-harvesting’

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This article is from thestar.com.my

URL:

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2002/11/19/nation/asttree & sec=nation

 

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Tuesday, November 19, 2002

Two-phase logging in Kedah with ‘heli-harvesting’

By ANTHONY TAN

 

KEDAH: The proposed logging by using helicopters over 122,798ha within

Kedah & #146;s forest reserves will be carried out in two phases over a period of

10 years.

 

State Housing, Local Government and Agriculture Committee chairman Datuk Ahmad

Bashah Md Hanipah said the first phase would cover 72,934ha of the Ulu Muda

Forest Reserve while the second phase of 49,864ha would be in the forest

reserves of Chebar, Padang Terap, Pedu, Bukit Saiong and Bukit Keramat.

 

& #147;Each phase will take five years, & #148; he told Azizan Abdul Razak (PAS

& #150; Sala) at the state assembly yesterday.

 

He said access roads would still have to be built to transport the logs out of

the forest under the & #145;heli-harvesting method & #146; and the ratio for the

roads were 5.7m per ha compared to 40m per ha needed under conventional methods.

 

He said helicopters would be used to lift the felled logs to the roads.

 

Ahmad Bashah said heli-harvesting was better than conventional logging as it

caused less damage to the environment, forest resources and bio-diversity.

 

& #147;There is a possibility that the logging cycle could be reduced from the

current 30 years to 10 or 15 years through heli-harvesting, & #148; he added.

 

To a supplementary question from Azizan, he said Sarawak-based WTK Holdings Bhd

was chosen for the project because the company had the experience in

heli-harvesting, adding that the service could be terminated if the firm did not

adhere to conditions under the concession.

 

Replying to Saifudin Nasution (Keadilan & #150; Lunas), Ahmad Bashah said the

state government was aware that the National Forestry Council had limited

logging to 2,600ha a year for each state under the Eighth Malaysian Plan but the

limit was only applicable to conventional methods.

 

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Syed Razak Syed Zain said only three trees per 0.4ha

would be allowed to be cut with the trees marked by the Forestry Department.

 

He said it was better for the state to derive income from the trees rather than

let them die a natural death.

 

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