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.
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