Monitoring forest plantation projects crucial: Sabah Forestry Department

Daily Express

15-07-2025

Published on: Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Published on: Tue, Jul 15, 2025
By: Lagatah Toyos Text Size: Frederick planting a tree as a symbolic gesture to promote the greening concept of industrial forest plantations. TAWAU: The Sabah Forestry Department (SFD) will continue to monitor the implementation of all forest plantation projects in the state to ensure that all development activities adhere to the principles of Sustainable Forest Management. Chief Conservator of Forests, Datuk Frederick Kugan, said this is crucial in balancing environmental conservation and the state's economic development.
Advertisement He said this after visiting the plantation site of Kalabakan Borneo Resources Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Usahawan Borneo Group, in Serudong, where he also inspected the tree nursery. The visit, which aimed to better understand the breeding process and planting preparations on the ground, was also joined by his wife, Rosita Limy, and more than 30 senior SFD officers. During the visit, Frederick praised the company's excellent performance in sustainable forest management, describing it as a model company for forest plantation development in Sabah. According to him, the company manages a 23,610-hectare forest plantation area in the Serudong Forest Reserve — more than half of the total land approved for forest plantation development in Kalabakan. 'To date, the Sabah Forestry Department has approved over 40,000 hectares of land in Kalabakan for this purpose,' he said in a statement. He added that the company had planted various fast-growing commercial tree species, including Batai trees (Falcataria moluccana). 'This species has a short harvesting cycle and high economic value, which helps improve the productivity of forest plantations,' he said. He said that the use of fast-growing species like this contributes to the sustainable and economically balanced development of Sabah's forestry industry. Frederick added that Kalabakan Borneo Resources consistently upholds social and environmental responsibility in executing its projects. The company, he said, fully complies with the standards set by the department and has demonstrated a high level of management and implementation on the ground. Earlier, the delegation was welcomed by Usahawan Borneo Group Chairman, Datuk Seri Elbert Lim Yu Ming, along with the company's senior management team. They were given a detailed briefing on the company's planting plans, breeding techniques, and environmental conservation efforts. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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