Len Talif: Mangrove licence holders statewide will need Permit to Enter Coupe before beginning operations
File photo of a mangrove forest in Bako.
KUCHING (May 23): Mangrove licence holders across Sarawak will soon be required to apply for a Permit to Enter Coupe (PEC) before they can begin operations, said Datuk Len Talif Salleh.
The Deputy Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment said at present, PEC is already being enforced in the Sarikei area, particularly the Rajang Basin.
He explained that the PEC is an official document issued by the Sarawak Forest Department to logging licence holders, including those with mangrove licences, before they are allowed to operate.
'The PEC is part of the management and control process for logging operations, ensuring that all related activities are carried out legally and in compliance with established regulations and standard operating procedures.
'Before a PEC is issued, licensees are required to submit a Forest Engineering Plan, which includes a General Harvesting Plan and a Detailed Harvesting Plan.
'However, for mangrove licence areas, only the General Harvesting Plan is required,' he said during the question-and-answer session in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) here today.
He pointed out a PEC is valid for nine months and allows licensees to commence logging within designated harvesting blocks, ensuring that all activities are regulated and systematic.
He was responding to a question from Azizul Annuar Adenan (GPS-Tanjong Datu), who had asked about PEC enforcement for mangrove licence holders.
Len Talif said the Forest Department held a PEC briefing session for mangrove licence holders on Feb 10 at the Kuching Regional Forest Office.
'The renewal of mangrove licences must comply with DF Circular No. 2/2019 (Restoration Programme within Licensed Area), which requires replanting of mangrove trees in equal or greater numbers than those harvested.
'Starting from the Sarikei area, particularly in the Rajang Basin, and eventually be enforced throughout Sarawak,' he said.
When responding to a supplementary question, Len Talif outlined the key benefits of PEC enforcement for mangrove areas.
'First, it ensures that mangrove wood resources in Sarawak are managed systematically and sustainably by limiting logging areas based on a reasonable harvesting cycle and enforcing a minimum cutting diameter of no less than 10cm DBH (diameter at breast height),' he explained.
He noted that extraction is monitored through pre-harvest stock inventories, helping to prevent over-harvesting and ensuring long-term resource availability.
'This is also to prevent logging outside licensed areas and curbs illegal logging activities in mangrove forests,' he said.
In addition, Len Talif said the PEC framework will enhance coastal conservation efforts and strengthen governance in mangrove forest management, aligning with Sarawak's climate change mitigation strategies.
'Ultimately, it ensures that mangrove logging is carried out in a controlled and orderly manner, minimising ecological impact while supporting the sustainability of the mangrove wood industry and the socioeconomic wellbeing of local communities,' he added. lead Len Talif Salleh Permit to Enter Coupe
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