Latest news with #SarawakForestDepartment
Borneo Post
25-05-2025
- General
- Borneo Post
Some 700 native trees planted in Simunjan to support Greening Sarawak campaign
A Sarawak Forest Department personnel conducts a tree-planting demonstration to a group of students KUCHING (May 26): Approximately 700 native tree saplings were planted during a tree planting programme held at the Sabal Forest Reserve in Simunjan last Saturday, as part of the 'Greening Sarawak' campaign. The initiative was led by the Sarawak Forest Department in collaboration with the Japan Malaysia Association (JMA), and sponsored by the Kinoshita Group through JMA. 'The initiative saw the planting of 700 native tree saplings comprising Kapur Bukit and Bintangor Laut species, contributing to ongoing efforts to restore degraded forest areas and enhance biodiversity in Sarawak,' said the department in a statement. More than 100 participants including department staff, volunteers from JMA, teachers and students from SMK Balai Ringin, lecturers and students from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), and members of the local community contributed to the programme's success. The department highlighted that the event demonstrated a strong spirit of collaboration among government agencies, educational institutions, non-governmental organisations, and international partners. 'This is also part of Sarawak's broader commitment under the Greening Sarawak Campaign, a significant step toward building a more sustainable and climate-resilient future,' it added. greening activities Sarawak Forest Department tree planting
Borneo Post
23-05-2025
- General
- Borneo Post
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
Borneo Post
09-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Tuyut gets new Mini FoSCC to boost forest compliance, enforcement in rural Sarawak
Hamden signs a plaque to officiate the event while others look on. MIRI (May 9): The Sarawak Forest Department has launched a new Mini Forest One Stop Compliance Centre (FoSCC) in Tuyut to enhance sustainable forest management and strengthen enforcement in remote areas. The ceremony was officiated by the Forest Department Sarawak director Datu Hamden Mohammad, who expressed gratitude to all attendees and partners involved in establishing the facility. 'The presence of this mini FoSCC is highly meaningful in supporting the JHS' continuous efforts to manage forests sustainably and with integrity,' he said. The newly launched facility will serve as a vital platform for license holders and forest officers, streamlining processes related to compliance, enforcement, and timber audit. First introduced in 2017, the FoSCC concept decentralises forest department operations, particularly in rural areas, to reduce the need for long-distance travel among stakeholders. The Tuyut branch is part of a broader initiative under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), which includes the upgrading of five FoSCCs. These upgraded centres feature mobile container-based offices equipped with solar power, clean water supply, basic furniture, and ICT facilities. 'This initiative also aims to address compliance gaps and prevent revenue leakages in forest revenue management while improving environmental conservation overall,' Hamden added. He stressed that regular patrols, transparency, and strong governance remain central to the department's efforts to combat illegal logging and promote good forestry practices. To date, 30 FoSCCs and six Forest Checking Stations (FCS) are operational and play a key role in daily enforcement and licensing activities. Hamden expressed hope that the new facility would benefit both the department and the surrounding community by promoting more efficient and responsible forest management. 'Let us continue to work hand in hand – government agencies, local communities, and all stakeholders – to safeguard Sarawak's forests for future generations,' he said.
Borneo Post
30-04-2025
- Borneo Post
Forest Dept foils RM275,000 illegal logs smuggling in Bintulu, five detained
The lorries loaded with illegal logs seized by SFD during the raid. KUCHING (April 30): The Sarawak Forest Department (SFD) foiled an attempt by five men to smuggle illegal logs using tipper lorries in the Kemena Industrial Estate area of Bintulu last Friday (April 25). SFD director Datu Hamden Mohammad said the operation was carried out around 8.20pm during routine patrols by enforcement officers. 'There were five lorries found loaded with illegal logs of various species and sizes. Four local men and one Indonesian were detained,' he said in a statement. Checks revealed that the lorry drivers were unable to produce valid timber ownership documents issued by the department. All five lorries and their timber cargo — estimated to be worth RM275,000 — were seized and taken to the Bintulu Regional Forest Office for further investigation. The suspects would be charged under Section 96 of the Forests Ordinance, 2015 (Cap 71) for unlawful possession of forest produce. Hamden reaffirmed the department's commitment to combating illegal logging and timber smuggling across Sarawak. Bintulu illegal logs Sarawak Forest Department smuggle
The Star
30-04-2025
- The Star
Timber smuggling bid using dump trucks foiled in Bintulu
KUCHING: The Sarawak Forest Department has foiled an attempt to smuggle illegal timber using dump trucks near the Kemena Industrial Estate in Bintulu. Its director Datuk Hamden Mohammad said five men, comprising four locals and one foreign national, were arrested in a raid at 8.20pm on Friday (April 25) when department personnel were conducting prevention and enforcement activities around the estate. "They found five dump trucks carrying timber of various species and sizes. "All the drivers failed to produce valid timber possession documents from the department," he said in a statement on Wednesday (April 30). Hamden said the enforcement personnel then seized the dump trucks and illegal timber, valued at an estimated RM275,000. The seized items were brought to the Bintulu regional forest office for further action. Hamden added that the suspects will be charged in court under Section 96 of the Sarawak Forests Ordinance for unlawful possession of forest produce. "We remain committed in our efforts to curb timber smuggling and illegal logging in Sarawak," he said.
