S’wak all for sustainable Permanent Forest Estates

http://tribune.my/prime/2511-swak-all-for-sustainable-permanent-forest-estates.html

S’wak all for sustainable Permanent Forest Estates

Thursday, 09 September 2010 12:51

KUCHING: The Sarawak Government is committed towards ensuring that the State’s Permanent Forest Estates are sustainably managed.

In the case of illegal logging, it is very much under controlled.

The State Government does not condone any illegal harvesting and irresponsible forest management. However, it must also face the reality that there are no countries in this world that can absolutely ensure that illegal felling of timber did not happen. Even the countries in Europe are no exception.

Giving this assurance was Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management and Minister of Public Utilities, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, through a statement received here yesterday.

“We take pride in our forests, which are systematically managed according to principles established by the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO).

Our goal is to manage our forests in a manner that is environmentally responsible, socially beneficial and economically viable.

“The Forest Department is entrusted with forest management, forest protection, and the efficient and effective utilisation of forest resources.

It is responsible for protecting the state’s forest assets and the preservation and conservation of the state’s flora and fauna,” he added.

He added: “Samling was in the news lately due to the media statement issued by the Norwegian Government Pension Fund announcing its divestment of their shares in the company. Samling is a long term player and has been in operation in Sarawak for well over four decades. The state government wishes to allay fear about the company’s alleged irresponsible activities.

Samling is one of the most responsible companies in the state and has adhered to the stringent conditions of concession agreements and licences. Over the years, the company has demonstrated its commitment to sustainable forest practices.

“Samling is also a caring organisation and its corporate social responsibility is second to none. Much efforts and assistance has been done by the company towards the communities living within the area of operation. Samling has built roads and bridges to improve transportation and accessibility between villages and towns for forest communities.

“One project involved the construction of two major roads and bridges: one linking Pa Dallih with Pa Mada to the north, and another linking Bario settlements, and benefiting 14 remote Kelabit villages. The infrastructure projects were undertaken at the request of local communities, and had been given the approval by the state government.

“Allegation of Samling’s encroachment into the sovereign territory of Indonesia is a figment of the Council of Ethics’ imagination. It i s publ i c knowledge i n Sarawak for indigenous communities to regularly cros s the Indones ia- Sarawak borders without valid documents to visit family members on either side. The satellite image in the Council of Ethics Draft Recommendation captures these border crossings. It shows a settlement on the Indonesian border with dirt trails leading to Sarawak to facilitate inter-border communication, and barter trade between communities on both sides of the border.

“Also, upon further investigation, the Council’s satellite imagery which shows “evidence of past logging in the buffer zone” appears to be a cloud cover and not “disturbed areas covered by new vegetation” as claimed by the Council.

“The state government also vouches for Samling’s EIA performance – it has met all EIA requirements and approvals set out by the Sarawak Forest Department.

“The state government views the public defamation of Samling as disturbing especially when it is based on biased, uncollaborated and incomplete information.

“These allegations will have serious repercussion towards the well-being of the state and the timber industry at large. It also undermines the Sarawak Forest Department’s role in promoting responsible tropical forestry, and the continuous improvements it has made in its journey to achieve best practices in sustainable forest management,” the statement ended.