Sarawak Forest Department to celebrate Open Day of Eco Forests

KUCHING, 15 Sept.: The Sarawak Forest Department will host the inaugural Eco Forest Open Day and Council in Lawas from 23 to 24 October as a measure to encourage community involvement in environmental conservation activities at the root level.

Sarawak Forest Director Datu Hamden Mohammad said the two-day programme is expected to be attended by Deputy Prime Minister of Sarawak Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan who is also the Minister of Natural Resources and Urban Development II.

According to him, the programme's promotion is specifically designed to allow local communities to approach nature face-to-face and interactively.

"This is one of the initiatives that can encourage community involvement in forest-related activities and environmental conservation.

"Programs like this not only give the community an opportunity to get closer to nature, but can also raise awareness of the importance of forests as a treasure to be preserved and inherited by future generations", he said at the Sarawak Forest Department Emerging Service Awards 2025 and Pesara Awards 2026 here on Tuesday.

Commenting further on the community support efforts, he said that the department is also planning an Open Sabal Day event from November 6 to 7 in Sabal Reserve Forest, Simunjan to highlight the concept of 'Healing Forest' and community-based ecotourism.

"So, the programs implemented prove that forests are not only natural resources but also play a role.
as a platform for community development, education, recreation, research and conservation", he added. - TVS