Dfference in understanding, definition of forestry cause of RimbaWatch's projected forestry loss

KUALA LUMPUR,  March 25 (Bernama) -- The Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia has expressed hope that all parties will not be overly concerned over the projected loss of forests reported by RimbaWatch recently.

Its director-general Datuk Mohd Ridza Awang said that the statement that over 2.3 million hectares of forests in Malaysia would be logged in an article titled “Negeri Hutan Hujan Malaysia” published by the non-governmental organisation (NGO) as inaccurate due to a difference in understanding.

“The department found that when RimbaWatch used a different definition from the one used by the department or the government, especially the definition of ‘forest’ and RimbaWatch’s understanding of ‘deforestation’ and ‘forest plantation’.

“In fact, under the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation), forest plantation is an activity that can be carried out within set forestry controls and practices.

“The difference and contradiction found caused the projection made by RimbaWatch about the loss of forests in Malaysia to be too great till it reached 2.3 million hectares,” he said in a statement here today.

Mohd Ridza said Malaysia, as a member of the United Nations (UN) always adhered to the UN standard, and also reported forestry data every five years under the Forest Resource Assessment (FRA)  coordinated by the FAO. 

He explained that the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) were two periodic forest data reports under international conventions.

The department is also in line with the National Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry, the Sabah Forestry Department and the Sarawak Forestry Department’s statements that the government is committed in maintaining at least 50 per cent of the country’s land with forests and tree cover.

“That commitment was made at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1992 and since then various efforts have been implemented to ensure that commitment is achieved.

“These include a 15-year moratorium on approval of new forest plantations in Permanent Forest Reserves in Peninsular Malaysia,” he said, adding that the government was strengthening the National Forestry Act 1984 by including public hearings and the simultaneous re-gazettement and replacement of de-gazetted Permanent Forest Reserves. 

He said that the department would rely on the support and cooperation of state governments and other stakeholders to continue to preserve forested areas, especially in Peninsular Malaysia.

-- BERNAMA