Latest news with #MTCS
Borneo Post
28-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Sarawak maintains 7.65 mln ha of forest cover, says Deputy Premier
Awang Tengah stated that of this total, about 1.83 million ha have been certified under the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS), which is recognised by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). — Photo by Mazidi Abd Gani KUCHING (May 28): Sarawak has successfully maintained forested areas covering 7.65 million hectares (ha), accounting for approximately 62 per cent of the state's total land area, said Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan. The Deputy Premier stated that of this total, about 1.83 million ha have been certified under the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS), which is recognised by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). 'Sarawak is currently undergoing a transformation towards a green development model, focusing on sustainable forest management through certification, biodiversity conservation, and the digitalisation of operations. 'This is essential to ensure that the state's forest resources are utilised through sustainable natural capital management,' he said during his ministerial winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting here today. As part of its digitalisation efforts, Awang Tengah said the Sarawak Forest Department has developed and adopted satellite and Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies through the Enterprise Forest Information Management System (EFIMS). 'Additionally, the Forest Licence Portal which includes the Electronic Removal Pass (ePASS) module, has been introduced to replace the use of Pre-Printed Removal Passes. 'Meanwhile, the Sarawak Logs Tracking and Forest Revenue System (Revlog) is used for transparent and efficient monitoring of forest revenue and timber traceability,' he added. Awang Tengah said these initiatives position Sarawak as a leader in sustainable tropical forest management, in line with the core principles of the Timber Legality Assurance System (TLAS), including compliance with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
Borneo Post
11-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
FSC maintains ties with Samling amid controversy over forest certification
FSC) has decided to continue its association with Samling Global Limited, on the condition that the company addresses concerns related to its forest operations. MIRI (May 11) The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has decided to continue its association with Samling Global Limited, on the condition that the company addresses concerns related to its forest operations. The decision, issued in April this year, is contingent upon Samling implementing a verified corrective action plan to address alleged breaches of forest management standards and compliance. The case arose from a Policy for Association (PfA) complaint filed in 2023 by a coalition of non-governmental organisations including SAVE Rivers, Gerenai Community Rights Action Committee (GCRAC), KERUAN Organisation, The Borneo Project, and Bruno Manser Fund. The complaint cited possible violations within Samling's forest concessions, sparking a thorough review led by an independent expert panel. In response, the FSC commissioned an independent Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis to examine concession areas in Sarawak. While the data did not confirm the full scope of the allegations, it did point to risks of further High Conservation Value (HCV) forest degradation. 'Due to the limitations of using GIS to analyse social conflicts, it was not possible to cover the full breadth of allegations, especially those related to the violation of traditional and human rights,' said FSC in the statement. 'However, the GIS analysis did indicate the possibility of further risks of HCV destruction and conversion.' The FSC decision panel highlighted the importance of addressing these risks and instructed that a verified remedy process be put in place as a condition to uphold Samling's association with FSC. Samling, in its statement dated April 29, welcomed the FSC's decision and reaffirmed its commitment to engaging with stakeholders to improve its sustainability performance. The company's Malaysia Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS) certificates, endorsed by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) remain valid. However, the FSC panel did identify a violation outside the certified area, deemed 'small in scale' relative to the total area reviewed. 'The Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC) stated that it has concluded its own investigation in 2021, and considered the complaint resolved,' said Samling. 'Samling remains firmly committed to having constructive dialogues with FSC and all relevant stakeholders as we continue to enhance our sustainability performance,' it added. The case has drawn varied responses. Jettie Word, executive director of The Borneo Project, criticised the MTCS certification, claiming Samling's operations violated both state law and international standards. Koemok Joe, a Penan leader and executive director of the Keruan Organisation, welcomed the outcome; while Bruno Manser Fund's executive director, Lukas Straumann, urged Sarawak Forestry to conduct further investigation. Forest Stewardship Council samling
Borneo Post
09-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Sarawak Forest Dept welcomes FSC's conditional continuation with Samling Group
In a statement, FDS said the decision, announced last April 25, which followed an assessment by an independent expert panel, affirms the ongoing improvements and commitment by Samling towards sustainable forest management in Sarawak. KUCHING (May 10): The Forest Department Sarawak (FDS) has welcomed the Forest Stewardship Council's (FSC) recent decision to retain its association with the Samling Group, subject to conditions. In a statement, FDS said the decision, announced last April 25, which followed an assessment by an independent expert panel, affirms the ongoing improvements and commitment by Samling towards sustainable forest management in Sarawak. FDS reiterates that the allegations brought forth by several civil society organisations, both local and international, do not reflect the actual situation on the ground. 'These claims are misleading, inaccurate, and fail to acknowledge the continuous progress and transparency shown by licensed forest operators under the monitoring and regulation of the Forest Department,' it said. The complaint, as noted in the FSC decision, involved forest areas not certified under FSC, but under the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS), which is endorsed by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). Importantly, the Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC) had already completed its investigation and closed the matter in 2021, confirming the validity of the MTCS certificates. The FSC Panel did find a small-scale violation outside certified areas but concluded that it was not sufficient to justify disassociation, given the overall scale and context, reaffirming that most of the operations met compliance expectations. FDS said it recognised Samling's continuous efforts to enhance environmental and social governance, especially in stakeholder engagement, certification compliance, and sustainable forestry practices. 'These efforts align with Sarawak's Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030,' they said. FDS also urged non-governmental organisations (NGO) and stakeholders to engage constructively and truthfully, grounded in evidence and facts. While they remain open to transparent dialogue, they will not condone the dissemination of baseless accusations that undermine the integrity of Sarawak's forestry sector and its internationally recognised certification systems. Forest Department Sarawak Forest Stewardship Council lead Samling Group
