Over 83% of Malaysia's PFR under PEFC, places nation in world's top 10
Peninsular Malaysia Forestry director-general Datuk Zahari Ibrahim said the achievement also places Malaysia as the only tropical rainforest country in the top 10 globally in terms of certified forest area, surpassing major tropical countries such as Brazil and Indonesia.
'This achievement not only proves the effectiveness of state policies but also reflects the commitment to enforcement at the local level as well as the continued determination of JPSM (Peninsula Malaysia Forestry Department) in practising the principles of sustainable, responsible and competitive forest management on the global stage,' he said.
He was speaking at the closing ceremony of the Nakawan Rainforest Festival, held in conjunction with this year's state-level International Forest Day celebration, at the South Perlis District Forest Office Square, Sungai Batu Pahat Ecotourism Complex, near here, today.
The closing ceremony was officiated by the Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail. Also present was the Raja Perempuan of Perlis Tuanku Tengku Fauziah Almarhum Tengku Abdul Rashid.
Meanwhile, Zahari said that four new areas had been gazetted as PFR, making the total PFR area in the state of Perlis to 11,140 hectares last year compared to 10,870 hectares in 2023.
'Congratulations and well done to the state government for this commitment which should be used as an example to other states in increasing efforts to preserve and conserve priceless natural treasures,' he said.
He added that 114.72 million trees, comprising 1,972 tree species, had been successfully planted nationwide since the launch of the 100 Million Tree Planting Campaign.
Zahari also expressed his appreciation to the Perlis state government for the success of the campaign, which had recorded 1,039,759 trees planted as of May 22, exceeding the initial target of one million trees.
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New Straits Times
15-06-2025
- New Straits Times
Forestry DG: Permanent Reserved Forests in Peninsular Malaysia stable, slight growth since 2000
KOTA BARU: The total area of Permanent Reserved Forests (PRF) in Peninsular Malaysia has remained consistent and has even recorded a slight increase since 2000. Peninsular Malaysia Forestry Department director-general Datuk Zahari Ibrahim said while some PFR areas have been degazetted over the years to accommodate national development, the reduction was not significant. "Some areas of PFR in the country have experienced a reduction in size due to degazettement for purposes other than forestry. "However, in general, the size of PFR in Peninsular Malaysia has remained consistent and is increasing. "Some reduction has occurred due to degazettement for non-forestry purposes in line with national development. "These reductions are usually compensated with equivalent or larger replacements by state authorities, in line with Sections 11, 12, and 13 of the National Forestry Act 1984," he said. As of 2023, Zahari said the total area of PFR stood at 4,854,658.03 hectares, while non-PFR forest area covered 888,888.08 hectares, based on data from the Peninsular Malaysia Forestry Department. "Compared with 2022, there was an increase of 2,638.54 hectares in PFR area in 2023," Zahari said. He stressed that illegal logging or uncontrolled tree felling are not major contributors to PFR changes, and that forest governance continues to be managed according to established laws and frameworks. On May 28, it was reported that the shrinking of wildlife habitats is a major contributor to the rising number of human-wildlife conflicts in the Gua Musang district, with several incidents causing injuries among villagers. Galas assemblyman Mohd Syahbuddin Hashim said the issue, especially in Orang Asli settlements in the interior, had become increasingly worrying. He said one of the main causes was uncontrolled logging and agricultural activities that encroach on forest areas. He added that the conflict involved not just elephants entering villages, but also tigers attacking livestock and bears roaming through settlements. "We need a serious investigation into the root cause. However, it cannot be denied that unregulated logging and encroachment into wildlife habitats are major factors. "When the forests where these animals live continue to shrink, they have no choice but to enter human settlements in search of food and shelter," he said. Syahbuddin called on authorities to review the issuance of logging permits and establish buffer zones to protect villages from wildlife intrusion.
New Straits Times
01-06-2025
- New Straits Times
Malaysia among world's top countries for certified tropical rainforest areas
KANGAR: More than 83 per cent of the Permanent Forest Reserves (PRF) in this country have been certified under the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification or PEFC scheme to date, making Malaysia among the countries with the largest area of certified tropical rainforest in the world. Peninsular Malaysia Forestry director-general Datuk Zahari Ibrahim said the achievement also places Malaysia as the only tropical rainforest country in the top 10 globally in terms of certified forest area, surpassing major tropical countries such as Brazil and Indonesia. "This achievement not only proves the effectiveness of state policies but also reflects the commitment to enforcement at the local level as well as the continued determination of the Peninsula Malaysia Forestry Department in practising the principles of sustainable, responsible and competitive forest management on the global stage," he said. He was speaking at the closing ceremony of the Nakawan Rainforest Festival, held in conjunction with this year's state-level International Forest Day celebration, at the South Perlis District Forest Office Square, Sungai Batu Pahat Ecotourism Complex, near here, today. The closing ceremony was officiated by the Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail. Also present was the Raja Perempuan of Perlis Tuanku Tengku Fauziah Almarhum Tengku Abdul Rashid. Meanwhile, Zahari said that four new areas had been gazetted as PFR, making the total PFR area in the state of Perlis 11,140 hectares last year, compared to 10,870 hectares in 2023. "Congratulations and well done to the state government for this commitment, which should be used as an example to other states in increasing efforts to preserve and conserve priceless natural treasures," he said. He added that 114.72 million trees, comprising 1,972 tree species, had been successfully planted nationwide since the launch of the 100 Million Tree Planting Campaign. Zahari also expressed his appreciation to the Perlis state government for the success of the campaign, which had recorded 1,039,759 trees planted as of May 22, exceeding the initial target of one million trees. – BERNAMA
The Sun
01-06-2025
- The Sun
Over 83% of Malaysia's PFR under PEFC, places nation in world's top 10
KANGAR: More than 83 per cent of the Permanent Forest Reserves (PRF) in this country have been certified under the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification or PEFC scheme to date, making Malaysia among the countries with the largest area of certified tropical rainforest in the world. Peninsular Malaysia Forestry director-general Datuk Zahari Ibrahim said the achievement also places Malaysia as the only tropical rainforest country in the top 10 globally in terms of certified forest area, surpassing major tropical countries such as Brazil and Indonesia. 'This achievement not only proves the effectiveness of state policies but also reflects the commitment to enforcement at the local level as well as the continued determination of JPSM (Peninsula Malaysia Forestry Department) in practising the principles of sustainable, responsible and competitive forest management on the global stage,' he said. He was speaking at the closing ceremony of the Nakawan Rainforest Festival, held in conjunction with this year's state-level International Forest Day celebration, at the South Perlis District Forest Office Square, Sungai Batu Pahat Ecotourism Complex, near here, today. The closing ceremony was officiated by the Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail. Also present was the Raja Perempuan of Perlis Tuanku Tengku Fauziah Almarhum Tengku Abdul Rashid. Meanwhile, Zahari said that four new areas had been gazetted as PFR, making the total PFR area in the state of Perlis to 11,140 hectares last year compared to 10,870 hectares in 2023. 'Congratulations and well done to the state government for this commitment which should be used as an example to other states in increasing efforts to preserve and conserve priceless natural treasures,' he said. He added that 114.72 million trees, comprising 1,972 tree species, had been successfully planted nationwide since the launch of the 100 Million Tree Planting Campaign. Zahari also expressed his appreciation to the Perlis state government for the success of the campaign, which had recorded 1,039,759 trees planted as of May 22, exceeding the initial target of one million trees.
