Published on: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 |
Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Forestry Department made a major commitment to eliminate illegal logging when it signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Global Forest and Trade Network-Malaysia (GFTN-Malaysia) Monday.
Signing the MoU means Sabah Forestry has committed to achieve forest certification for 241,098 hectres of forests within a year and demarcate part of the area, namely Malua forest reserve, for Orangutan conservation.
GFTN is a WWF initiative dedicated not only to eliminate illegal logging but also to improve the management of valuable and threatened forests, according to a WWF press release.
GFTN works on creating market conditions designed to help conserve the world's forests principally by facilitating trade links between companies committed to supporting responsible forestry.
This win-win approach provides economic and social benefits for both the businesses and people that depend on them, WWF said.
The spot light is on the Ulu Segama Malua forest reserves, considered one of the most endangered forest ecosystems which is predominantly a lowland mixed dipterocarp forest. It is strategically situated within the area of the Heart of Borneo.
It is also known as the largest habitat of Orangutans (the endemic sub species Pongo pygmaeus morio) in North-Eastern Borneo and the area accounts fort approximately 25 per cent of the total orangutan population of Sabah.
"With the vast expereince from the management of FSC certified Deramakot forest reserve, SFD would like to prove our commitment to sustainable forest management to the world."
We strongly believe the certification could bring balance between economic development, environmental protection and also social benefits ," said Datuk Sam Mannan, Director of Sabah Forestry Department, on his thought regarding the certification through participating with GFTN.
"SFD has consistently been a great supporter for sustainable forest management since 2007. WWF-Malaysia has made an official partnership with SFD through GFTN to assist FMU17A in achieving FSC certification.
We are glad to know FMU17A will carry out the forest certification assessment by a third party soon, by the end of this year," said WWF-Malaysia CEO Dato' Dionysius S.K. Sharma.
"The world's forests remain under threat from deforestation, illegal logging and poor forest management. Realizing these threats, the SFD demonstrates an exemplary action to the industry and move towards sustainable forest management ," added Sharma.
Working in parallel with GFTN in 30 other countries that represent 23.6 million hectres of forests in progress to certification and forest products trade in excess of 190 million cubic meters each year, Malaysia FTN provides its members the market the market access to a vast global network of responsible businesses. For more information on the GFTN please visit www.gftn.org.
