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Text of speech by YAB Chief Minister In conjunction with the International Day of Forests 2016

26th March 2016: 10.30 a.m. Waterfront, Kuching

[Forestry in Sarawak]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

International Day of Forests is a day to celebrate and raise awareness on the importance of all types of forests and trees to human life and living things. Forest area covers wide type of forests area such as hill mixed dipterocarp forests, peat swamp forests, mangrove forests and others.

Sarawak’s forests provide its people with ecosystem services that include climate regulation, catchment protection, clean water and control of erosion, sedimentation and flooding. Sarawak’s natural forests have the high plant diversity due to the great variety of habitats.

There are about 3,000 known tree species and 40% of Sarawak plant species are endemic to Borneo. There are about 185 mammal species, 530 bird species, 166 snake species, 104 lizard species and 113 amphibian species in the State.

In providing the clean water to the state, the forests areas are the headwaters of the major rivers that are ideal for sustainable hydropower development.

The Sarawak Government promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources through integrated watershed management in order to maximise economic and social welfare and equity without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystem and the environment.

Forest products and values are crucial to the State and in the lives of the people of Sarawak. Rural population obtain food such as wild meat, fish and vegetables; materials to construct houses and make handicrafts; traditional medicines and cash income from collecting and selling non-timber forest products such as wild fruits and vegetables, rattans, oils, dammar, Gaharu, etc.

The forest’s cultural, recreational, spiritual and aesthetic values have significant influence on urban as well as rural population and are the foundation of the eco-tourism industry.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is in fact known to all of us that timber industries have contributed significantly towards the socio-economic development of the State as well as a source of foreign exchange earnings. In 2015, the Government received forest revenue amounting to RM617.36 million with export earnings from timber and timber products about RM6.57 billion. Japan and India is our largest market, accounting for 39% and 19% respectively. The sector employs some 90,000 men and women directly and 150,000 more indirectly.

[Forest Management in Sarawak]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Recognizing the value and the significant role of Sarawak’s forest to the state’s socio-economic development and the community, the State Government is committed towards ensuring that the State's forest resources are sustainably managed.

We take pride in our forests, which are systematically managed according to principles established by international bodies such as International Tropical Timber Organization’s (ITTO) and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). Our goal is to manage our forests in a manner that is environmentally responsible, socially beneficial and economically viable.

The State Government has drawn up a concrete land use policy which takes into consideration all aspects of economic development, social well-being and environmental balanced and integrity. This policy includes three (3) main sector i.e forestry, agriculture and other land uses.

For forestry, the Government has targeted 6 million hectares of land area as Permanent Forest Estates and 1 million hectares as Totally Protected Areas. Up till now, we had achieved about 4.35 million hectares or 72.5% of State land mass as the Permanent Forest Estates whereas for Totally Protected Areas, we has achieved about 0.85 million hectares.

I would like to stress here that Sarawak has its own laws and system to manage Sarawak’s forests. The Forests Ordinance is a law to provide for the protection and management of our forests and to regulate the extraction of forest produces. Forests land designated as Totally Protected Area (TPA) which comprise of national parks, nature reserves and wild life sanctuary are managed under the National Parks and Nature Reserves Ordinance, 1998 and Wild Life Protection Ordinance, 1998.

I have indicated in several occasions, the State Government has declared war against illegal logging. The State Government has reviewed and repealed the Forests Ordinance, 1958 to provide for effective measures against illegal activities in our forests.

The new Forests Ordinance (Cap 71), 2015 was enacted to provide for more deterrent penalties for forest offences, strengthen provisions relating to seizure and disposal of illegal timber and any equipment, machineries, vessel or vehicles used in the commission of such offences and to equip enforcement agencies with greater power to investigate offences and to facilitate such investigations.

The Government’s enforcement agency led by Forest Department Sarawak has taken several initiatives and stern action to combat illegal logging. Since taking over as Chief Minister in 2014, relentless effort to curb illegal logging has resulted in 241 cases with 90,873 cubic meters of logs seized in 2014. These numbers significantly drop to 208 cases with 47,060 cubic meters of logs seized in 2015, signalling the beginning of the end of rampant illegal logging activities. Furthermore, 33 sawmills are forced to close after being deprived of cheap illegal logs supply. Up till now, eight (8) people has been convicted and penalised for various forest offences and 27 suspects has been arrested in 2015.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

To save preserve more of our forests the Government is actively constituting more forest area to be Totally Protected Area such as national parks, nature reserves and wildlife sanctuaries. I have made a directive that any forest area that has been identified as proposed totally protected area will take precedence over renewal of Forest Timber Licences. This is to ensure the State will achieve 1 million hectares of Totally Protected Area by 2020. Thus far, 40 National Parks, 14 Nature Reserves and 6 Wildlife Sanctuaries with a total area of 853,836 hectares, including water bodies have been gazetted. I strongly believe our policy of forest conservation coupled with the effective management of our forests will continue to provide tangible and intangible benefits to the State and its Rakyat.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In order to sustain perpetual forest resources, I believe in the idea of Sustainable Forests Management, and made it a must for the Big Six timber companies in the State to have at least one of their Forest Management Unit to be certified under accredited certification body by 2017.

As of now, 33 forest timber licences with an area about 2.5 million hectares has indicated their intention to be certified. I want assurance from the licensees that there is no turning back from on their commitment toward forest certification. As I have already announced during the seminar in 2014, the 60 years tenure will be granted as an incentive for the FMU certification. However, they would have to be certified throughout the tenure; otherwise their license will be terminated.

Forest Department is closely monitoring these committed licensees on their progress towards certification. They are required to submit their comprehensive Forest Management Plan according to the action plan that has been set by Department. We will suspend their operations if they fail to submit their Forest Management Plan accordingly. This will lead to termination of their Forest Timber Licence if they fail to comply with the directive. This is a serious business, and I really mean it.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The future outlook of the forests will transcend beyond timber. This mean there will be opportunity to transform the dependency on timber production to capitalising on ecosystem services as a new source of wealth to the State. We welcome any interested parties who can help us to realise these ideas.

Let me reiterate that the State Government is willing to cooperate with any Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) and International bodies in preserving Sarawak’s Forests, ensuring sustainable exploitation of State resources, combating illegal logging and corruption in the timber industry if they are sincere and have the common agenda with the State Government.

Thank you.