Latest news with #ATFP
The Sun
10 hours ago
- General
- The Sun
Raja Musa Forest Reserve recognised as ASEAN Peatland reference site
KUALA SELANGOR: The Raja Musa Forest Reserve here has been selected by the ASEAN Task Force on Peatlands (ATFP) as a regional reference site for peatland conservation and restoration efforts. ATFP chairman S.R. Siva Kumar said the site was chosen in recognition of the success achieved by the Selangor government and relevant parties in transforming the area, which had been degraded by illegal logging and farming, into a model of integrated peatland conservation acknowledged at the international level. 'Today, delegates from seven countries participating in the 10th ATFP Meeting, including Indonesia, the Philippines, and Laos, were brought here to witness firsthand our efforts in rehabilitating peat forests. 'From the feedback received, many of the visitors, comprising policymakers and scientists, expressed admiration for what has been achieved here and are keen for us to share our approach to peatland conservation,' he said. Siva Kumar, who is also the Biodiversity and Forestry Management Division secretary at the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry, was speaking during the ATFP delegation's site visit to the forest reserve today. He stressed that peatland conservation should be a collective priority due to its vital environmental role, particularly as a significant carbon sink. Malaysia is hosting and chairing the 10th ATFP Meeting from June 24 to 26 at Novotel, Putrajaya, as part of its ASEAN chairmanship this year. Meanwhile, Selangor Forestry Department director Azhar Ahmad said the visit served not only to showcase the state's efforts but also to introduce the work and initiatives of various agencies involved in peatland conservation. 'This site was selected because Selangor is implementing an effective Integrated Management Plan (IMP) for its peat swamp forests, which has yielded positive impacts for the state. 'In addition, this location is one of the research landscapes under the Sustainable Management of Peatland Ecosystems in Malaysia (SMPEM): Rehabilitation of Raja Musa Forest Reserve project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD),' he added. Located in Bestari Jaya, the Raja Musa Forest Reserve was gazetted on Jan 8, 1990, covering an area of 23,486 hectares. It also serves as a production forest, research site and wildlife protection zone. In September 2017, the forest reserve received recognition under the Queen's Commonwealth Canopy (QCC), designating it as a conservation area for future generations.
New Straits Times
11 hours ago
- General
- New Straits Times
Raja Musa forest reserve recognised as Asean peatland reference site
KUALA SELANGOR: The Raja Musa Forest Reserve here has been selected by the Asean Task Force on Peatlands (ATFP) as a regional reference site for peatland conservation and restoration efforts. ATFP chairman S.R. Siva Kumar said the site was chosen in recognition of the success achieved by the Selangor government and relevant parties in transforming the area, which had been degraded by illegal logging and farming, into a model of integrated peatland conservation acknowledged at the international level. "Today, delegates from seven countries participating in the 10th ATFP Meeting, including Indonesia, the Philippines, and Laos, were brought here to witness firsthand our efforts in rehabilitating peat forests. "From the feedback received, many of the visitors, comprising policymakers and scientists, expressed admiration for what has been achieved here and are keen for us to share our approach to peatland conservation," he said. Siva Kumar, who is also the Biodiversity and Forestry Management Division secretary at the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry, was speaking during the ATFP delegation's site visit to the forest reserve today. He stressed that peatland conservation should be a collective priority due to its vital environmental role, particularly as a significant carbon sink. Malaysia is hosting and chairing the 10th ATFP Meeting from June 24 to 26 at Novotel, Putrajaya, as part of its Asean chairmanship this year. Meanwhile, Selangor Forestry Department director Azhar Ahmad said the visit served not only to showcase the state's efforts but also to introduce the work and initiatives of various agencies involved in peatland conservation. "This site was selected because Selangor is implementing an effective Integrated Management Plan (IMP) for its peat swamp forests, which has yielded positive impacts for the state. "In addition, this location is one of the research landscapes under the Sustainable Management of Peatland Ecosystems in Malaysia (SMPEM): Rehabilitation of Raja Musa Forest Reserve project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)," he added. Located in Bestari Jaya, the Raja Musa Forest Reserve was gazetted on Jan 8, 1990, covering an area of 23,486ha. It also serves as a production forest, research site and wildlife protection zone. In September 2017, the forest reserve received recognition under the Queen's Commonwealth Canopy (QCC), designating it as a conservation area for future generations.
Barnama
11 hours ago
- General
- Barnama
Raja Musa Forest Reserve Recognised As ASEAN Peatland Reference Site
KUALA SELANGOR, June 25 (Bernama) -- The Raja Musa Forest Reserve here has been selected by the ASEAN Task Force on Peatlands (ATFP) as a regional reference site for peatland conservation and restoration efforts. ATFP chairman S.R. Siva Kumar said the site was chosen in recognition of the success achieved by the Selangor government and relevant parties in transforming the area, which had been degraded by illegal logging and farming, into a model of integrated peatland conservation acknowledged at the international level. 'Today, delegates from seven countries participating in the 10th ATFP Meeting, including Indonesia, the Philippines, and Laos, were brought here to witness firsthand our efforts in rehabilitating peat forests. 'From the feedback received, many of the visitors, comprising policymakers and scientists, expressed admiration for what has been achieved here and are keen for us to share our approach to peatland conservation,' he said. Siva Kumar, who is also the Biodiversity and Forestry Management Division secretary at the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry, was speaking during the ATFP delegation's site visit to the forest reserve today. He stressed that peatland conservation should be a collective priority due to its vital environmental role, particularly as a significant carbon sink. Malaysia is hosting and chairing the 10th ATFP Meeting from June 24 to 26 at Novotel, Putrajaya, as part of its ASEAN chairmanship this year. Meanwhile, Selangor Forestry Department director Azhar Ahmad said the visit served not only to showcase the state's efforts but also to introduce the work and initiatives of various agencies involved in peatland conservation. 'This site was selected because Selangor is implementing an effective Integrated Management Plan (IMP) for its peat swamp forests, which has yielded positive impacts for the state.
Associated Press
13-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Sterling Solutions Announces Mass Timber Shaft Wall System
PHOENIX, Ill., May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sterling Structural, a leading manufacturer of cost-effective, pre-fabricated mass timber and hybrid structural systems in North America, announced a modular Shaft Wall System for new construction. The system supports all major elevator manufacturers or egress stair designs and enables builders to save time and cost from elevator wall shafts without sacrificing fire safety or structural integrity, all while reducing embodied carbon compared to concrete or masonry shaft walls. The new system features pre-fabricated Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) panels for shaft walls—and, in some cases, roofs—along with coordinated connection details and all necessary hardware. Sterling's project management team coordinates deliveries, sequencing panels for easy installation, whether the project uses platform or balloon framing. 'It's easy to overlook the elevator shaft when considering building materials for a project,' said Michaela Harms, Vice President of Mass Timber at Sterling Structural. 'Yet it's often the easiest, most cost efficient and quickest way to reduce cost and embodied carbon across a project. Our new system makes it turnkey to construct your shaft walls from domestically sourced and manufactured, sustainable CLT that reduces cost and time to installation without sacrificing performance, structural integrity or fire resistance.' CLT-based wall panels outperform traditional masonry shaft walls in several ways. Unlike poured concrete or masonry, CLT is: Sterling Structural's CLT-based panels and systems were recently used at a Candlewood Suites Hotel at Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The six story, 207-room 122,000 square foot building was constructed almost entirely from mass timber, including the elevator and stair shafts. The facility was designed to meet the highly restrictive military Anti-Terrorism and Force Protection (ATFP) requirements under the Privatized Army Lodging program. 'We've been incredibly impressed with how much time this product saves during the installation of CLT mass timber walls, especially for stair and elevator shafts. Not only does it eliminate the need for interior drywall to meet the 2-hour fire rating—which is a huge win—but it also integrates seamlessly with all the structural systems we work with, including cold-formed steel, precast concrete, and traditional metal deck systems,' said Lee Grawcock, a Senior Project Manager with MLP Solutions, the project installer. 'It also streamlines site work by not having to schedule a mason/concrete subtrade. The installation process is straightforward and efficient, making it a real game-changer for our carpenters to drive the critical path of our projects.' Sterling's TerraLam® structural product line provides a competitively priced, mass timber panel that is designed for seamless integration into wall, floor, and roof applications. Sterling Structural serves as a one-stop shop for mass timber or a hybrid structural shell. Its panels are certified to the PRG 320 performance standard by the International Code Council; are Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Chain of Custody certified third-party verified by SCS Global; have an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) third-party verified by EPD Hub; carry a Red List Free™ DECLARE ® label through the International Living Future Institute. About Sterling Structural Sterling Structural is a division within Sterling Solutions, America's leading manufacturer of sustainably-sourced, domestically-produced, high-quality and cost-effective Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) mats, panels and systems. Our TerraLam® structural product line provides a competitively priced, mass timber panel that is designed for seamless integration into wall, floor, and roof applications. Sterling Structural serves as a one-stop shop for mass timber or a hybrid structural shell. Our panels are certified to the PRG 320 performance standard by the International Code Council; are Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) Chain of Custody certified third-party verified by SCS Global; have an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) third-party verified by EPD Hub; carry a Red List Free™ DECLARE ® label through the International Living Future Institute. Sterling has manufacturing facilities in Phoenix, Ill., and Lufkin, Tex., with an annual production capacity of 700,000 cubic meters. More information is available at A photo accompanying this announcement is available at Media Contact John Williams, Scoville PR for Sterling +1-206-660-5503, [email protected]
