討論森林永續管理‧250森林局成員交流

配合聯合國森林論壇設定2011年為“國際森林年”，大馬森林局今日於馬六甲舉行第16屆大馬森林局研討會，討論如何加強森林管理以及確保森林的永續生存。

阿都拉曼（右）贈送紀念品於佐瑟古律（左3）；左起柏魯瑪及末尤諾斯。（圖：星洲日報）

今次的研討會議共有250名來自全國各地的森林局成員，並提呈36項言論及18種海報，以提供森林永續管理的最新資訊。

眾嘉賓品嚐森林產品之一的保健茶；左起佐瑟古律、阿都拉曼、柏魯瑪及末尤諾斯。（圖：星洲日報）

大馬56.4%國土為森林地

天然資源與環境部副部長丹斯里佐瑟古律今日代表部長拿督斯里道格拉斯出席研討會，在會上代讀道格拉斯的講稿。

他說，許多國家的森林地被開發發展基建設施，而我國目前仍維持56.4%的國土為森林地，國民應當引以為榮。

他說，我國是一個發展中國家，免不了會開發森林地，可是至今仍保有大片的森林地，可說意義重大。

研討會進行至9日

這項研討會是從今日起進行至本月9日，大會邀請甲首長拿督斯里莫哈末阿里為研討會主持開幕。甲首長同樣未克出席，由甲州行政議員拿督柏魯馬代讀其講詞。

首長說，州政府響應中央政府“綠化地球：一人一棵樹”的種樹綠化活動，定下在2014年達到種植2千600萬棵樹的目標。

他說，截至今年10月，甲森林局已成功種植6千420棵樹，市政廳則種植2萬4千937棵樹、亞羅牙也市議會2萬6千857棵、漢都亞再也市議會4萬6千460棵、野新市議會3千649棵。

此外，他指出，從2005年開始，州政府也在州內沿河一帶種植紅樹林及適合的樹木，至今已有1萬7千250棵。

他指出，州政府已將州內面積共5千327公頃的森林地憲報公佈為森林保留地，佔州土地的3.2%，確保氣候穩定及水源的清新，同時也讓市民有個休閒環境。

出席研討會開幕者包括大馬半島森林局總監拿督阿都拉曼、沙巴森林局總監拿督森曼南、砂拉越森林局總監阿里及甲州行政議員拿督末尤諾斯等。（星洲日報／古城）

RFID illegal logging detector on trial run

The Forestry Depart­ment is currently testing a device that uses German technology to detect illegal logging activities.

Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia director-general Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Abdul Rahim said the device, which uses radio frequency identification (RFID), is being used on a trial basis.

“We are currently testing the technology in Negri Sembilan and if everything goes well, will use it to thwart illegal logging and encroachment into forest re­­serves,” he told The Star after opening the 16th Forestry Confe­rence at a hotel here yesterday.

Dr Abdul Rahman said technologies like RFID were vital in forestry management because of European Union regulations for the production of logs and wood products.

The European Union, he said, wanted countries that export wood products to guarantee the trees used to make those products were harvested legally and in an environmentally sustainable manner.

The European Union also wants control and monitoring processes to be transparent. “Once those controls and processes are in place, the Government will be able to issue export licences that meet EU standards and combat illegal logging,” he said.

The conference, themed “Forest for Community Livelihood”, was opened by Malacca’s Rural De­­velopment and Agriculture committee chairman Datuk R. Peru­mal.- Star

M’sia maintains 56.4% of land area as forest

MALACCA: Malaysia is still able to maintain 56.4 percent of its total land area as forested land, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Douglas Uggah Embas said on Monday.

He described it as an encouraging achievement because many countries were not able to do so as their forest areas had been opened for development.

This success is very significant because Malaysia is still a developing country where development and forest land-use change for other purposes still happens, he said in his speech at the opening of the 16th Malaysian Forestry Conference here.

The text of the speech was read by Deputy Natural Resources and Environment Minister Tan Sri Joseph Kurup.

Uggah said the most important challenge in today's forest management was to balance the competition and various land use for forestry activities.

He said that the forest was not just a producer of a product, but also to produce clean air and water, as well as to absorb carbon dioxide and the greenhouse effect.

Meanwhile, Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, in his speech when opening the conference, said Malacca had gazetted 5,327 hectares of forested land or 3.2 percent of the state's total land area as permanent forest reserves.

"This effort is made on the commitment by the state government to maintain a permanent forest area to provide a clean environment and for the preservation of the biodiversity for the people's well-being" he said.

The speech was read by the State Rural Development and Agriculture Committee Chairman Datuk R. Perumal.

He said the state government would continue with its tree planting effort, adding that a total of 17,250 trees had been planted since 2005. - Bernama