DCM lauds Forest Department for reforestation efforts
KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing commends the Sarawak Forest Department for its reforestation efforts.
He said he was especially very pleased with the greening concept, which the department had been practising towards a healthy environment.
Masing said he was informed that out of 7.7 million hectares of forest-covered areas in Sarawak, 2.1 million hectares are planted forest.
“This tree plantation is needed in order to ‘feed’ our industrial needs.
”Apart from planting industrial trees like acacia and eucalyptus, big areas are devoted to the planting of indigenous species like ‘meranti’, ‘belian’, ‘engkabang’, ‘selangan batu’ and many others.
“These are fruit-bearing species, which provide food for our wildlife that thrive in our forests,” Masing, also Minister of Infrastructure and Ports Development, said in a statement issued in connection with a briefing conducted by Sarawak Forest Department director Datu Hamden Mohammad at his (Masing’s) office yesterday.
Adding on, Masing acknowledged that while catering for Sarawak’s industrial needs, the Forest Department also held the responsibility of keeping the biodiversity of the nation’s flora and fauna alive.
However, he heard the feedback about locals not keen on being involved in the reforestation programmes, and it was also difficult to get foreign workers.
“Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi has suggested the Forest Department to parcel out areas of planted forests; thus, allowing the locals to be involved in planting, rather than just giving those areas only to big firms,” he said, referring to the federal Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs and Kapit MP.