NREB, STA commit to upholding highest standards of environmental stewardship

KUCHING (July 5): The Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) and Sarawak Timber Association (STA) are committed to uphold the highest standards of environmental stewardship and foster a culture of sustainability and compliance, ensuring that Sarawak’s rich natural heritage is preserved for generations to come.

In stating this, STA said it will continue engaging with NREB to achieve continuity in this capacity-building endeavour, ensuring ongoing improvement in environmental compliance and sustainable practices within the industry.

“One of the ways towards this effort is through collaborative initiatives,” said STA and NREB in a joint statement yesterday.

Through its training arm STA Training Sdn Bhd (STAT), STA successfully held the joint NREB-STA 6th Environmental Compliance Audit (ECA) Training.

STAT, appointed by NREB as a training provider to conduct courses aimed at supporting the implementation of the Natural Resources and Environment (Audit) Rules 2008, conducted the training in two tranches, from June 10-14, and July 2-4 this year.

The comprehensive eight-day training was led by experienced local trainer Justine Jok Jau and supported by Peter Sawal, offering participants knowledge and practical experience to ensure they are well-equipped to conduct environmental compliance audits effectively.

The first tranche of the training featured an in-depth presentation on laws and regulations related to Environmental Compliance Audit, delivered by Sarawak NREB deputy controller Rahmah Biak.

This laid a strong foundation of knowledge for the participants, and was followed by an introduction to the Natural Resources and Environment (Audit) Rules 2008 and its guidelines by NREB environmental control officer Mathew Losey.

During the training, the trainers imparted crucial auditing knowledge in both classroom settings and valuable on-site experience at the Salcra Jagoi Estate.

This was followed up with the submission of ECA reports by the participants and a competency examination before the commencement of tranche 2 training.

A closing ceremony was held on July 4 to mark the end of the training, graced by Sarawak NREB controller Jack Liam.

In his address, Jack highlighted the importance of the Natural Resources and Environment (Audit) Rules 2008, formulated under Section 18(q) of the Natural Resources and Environment Ordinance.

He emphasised the need for greater self-accountability among developers and project proponents to adhere to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Terms and Conditions and other regulatory directives through self-assessment and self-regulation.

The full implementation of the rules for the forestry sector in Sarawak, effective from July 1, 2024, is anticipated to foster a culture of self-regulation among companies, leading to improved compliance with environmental laws and reducing the enforcement burden on regulatory bodies, said Jack.

He also highlighted that with the conclusion of this batch of training, NREB has trained a total of 198 internal and external auditors since the programme’s inception in 2013, underscoring their dedication to building capacity and fostering expertise in environmental compliance.

Jack later presented the 29 participants with certificates of attendance, acknowledging their hard work and achievement.