Deputy Premier: Growing PFE hectarage proof of commitment to sustainable forest management

KUCHING (March 31): The addition of Data Julan and Sungai Tutoh has brought the total area of Permanent Forest Estates (PFE) in Sarawak to 3,997,380 hectares.

Early this year, the hectarage was recorded at 3.96 million hectares, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.

According to the Second Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development, the estates represent Sarawak’s commitment to sustainable forest management.

“Sarawak’s forests are rich in biodiversity, encompassing diverse flora and fauna.

“Our forests are recognised as natural capital, contributing to economic, environmental and social value,” he told reporters during Forest Department Sarawak’s ‘Ramah Tamah Aidilfitri’ event at Wisma Sabati here on Tuesday.

This commitment, Awang Tengah pointed out, had also paved the way for the implementation of Compulsory Forest Management Certification, undertaken by the department in collaboration with other agencies.

In this context, he also highlighted the upcoming seminar on scientific expedition in Sabal and Simunjan.

Adding on, Awang Tengah said Sarawak had gazetted 2.1 million hectares statewide for conservation as Totally Protected Areas (TPAs), comprising 879,478 hectares of land and 1.24 million hectares of water bodies.

“Sarawak recorded timber production of 277,427 cubic metres from natural forests (natural timber) in January, followed by 79,509 cubic metres from forest plantations (planted forests) in February.”

On the Aidilfitri event, Awang Tengah expressed hope that it would help foster deeper camaraderie between the teams from Forestry Department and those in other agencies.

Also present were Sarawak Forest Department director Datu Hamden Mohammad, and Natural Resources and Environment Board Sarawak controller Datu Jack Liam.