INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL COLLABORATION PROJECTS WITH SARAWAK FOREST DEPARTMENT - SARAWAK EXPERIENCE

This paper was presented by Haji Sapuan Ahmad, Deputy Director [Planning & Operation], Sarawak Forestry Department at the seminar On Liberalization of Forestry and Environmental Services in Malaysia, organized by the Institute of Foresters Malaysia (IRIM) and MSPC at the Forestry Department Peninsular Malaysia Headquarters in Kuala Lumpur on 12 March 2013.

Sarawak Forest Department - established in 1919

to be an agency of excellence:

ž     management

ž     conservation and

ž     protection

of tropical forests.

Mission

To manage and develop the forest resources towards:

ž   optimizing the socio-economic development of the State

ž   maintenance of environmental  stewardship.

Pengarah Jabatan Hutan Sarawak

NAMA	TAHUN
J.P. MEAD	1919 - 1928
D.E. CALVER	1929 - 1933
THOMAS CORSON	1934 - 1940
B.J.C. SPURWAY	1946 - 1949
F.G. BROWNE	1950 - 1955
B.E. SYMTHIES	1956 - 1962
J.A.R. ANDERSON	1963 - 1965
R. SMEATHERS	1966 - 1968
L.S.V. MURTHY	1969 - 1976
JOSEPH YONG KIM KWEE	1977 - 1985
DAVID ALEXANDER SENADA	1985 - 1986
DATU LEO CHAI CHIA LIANG	1986 - 1997
DATU CHEONG EK CHOON	1997 - 2008
DATU LEN TALIF SALLEH	2008 - 2011
HAJI ALI BIN YUSOP	2011 - Sekarang

DEVELOPMENT OF FORESTRY SECTOR IN SARAWAK

Pre-Forest Department (1841 – 1918)

-    Gutta percha

-     Jelutong

-     Illipe Nuts

-     Cutch (mangrove bark)

-    Rattan (sega)

Legislation:

     (i)            Regulating the tapping of Jelutong trees;

   (ii)            Prohibiting the felling or damaging engkabang, ketio and jelutong trees

  (iii)            Regulating the taking of gutta leaves

Forest Department under the Third Rajah (1919 – 1940)

-    The Forest Rules, 1919;

-     Forest Reservation Order, 1920;

-     Statement of Forest Policy, 1924;

-     Timber production era;

-     Total area of reserves only 1.2% of  the area of the State;

Forest Department under Japanese Occupation (1941 – 1945)

-    Management in chaos;

-     No record maintained;

Forest Department under the Crown (1946 – 1960)

New Forests Ordinance, 1954 & Forest Rules;

-     National Parks Ordinance, 1956;

-     Wild Life Protection Ordinance, 1958; 

-     First aerial photographs taken in 1947;

-     A 10 year Forestry Development Plan (1950-1959);

-     5-year plan (1961- 1965) approved by Government in 1960;

Forest Department under Independence Era

•        FAO (1968 – 1972);

•        ITTO Mission to Sarawak, 1990;

•        Development of wood based industry

•        Forest Plantation;

•        Conservation & Wild Life Protection;

•        Enhancement of Ordinances and Regulations;

•        Establishment of STIDC, SFC, SBC, & NREB

•        Ordinance;

•        Global forestry;

•        Interagency SOP;

•        Using advance technology;

 

FORESTRY DEVELOPMENT IN SARAWAK

1960’s    Peat Swamp Forest  Bako NP(1957)              

1970’s    Hill MDF  - G. Mulu NP (1974), Niah NP (1975), LEWS (1983)            

2000’s    Forest Plantation -Rajang Mangrove NP (2000), Kuching Wetland NP (2002), Pulong Tau NP (2005), Santubong NP (2008), Pelagus N.P (2009), Ulu Sebuyau N. P (2010)

SFM in Sarawak

Sarawak- the largest state in M’sia. (12.3 mil. ha)

-    About 65%- under forest cover  (8.07 mil. ha), [however, if we based on FAO definition on forest, the forest cover of Sarawak should be > 8.07 mil. ha]

-    Sarawak- one of the 25 biological “hotspots”, greatest no. of spp., greatest dev. of distinctive ecosystems & unique biological elements.

-    RM 600-800 million is collected annually.

-    RM 7- 9 Billion- Export earning

-    Estimated 80,000 people are directly involved.

   “SFM addresses the environmental, economic and social issues simultaneously.”

Statement of Forest Policy

ž  It is the policy of the Government of Sarawak:

1. To reserve permanently for the benefit of the present and future inhabitants of the country forest land sufficient

       (a) for the assurance of sound climatic and physical condition of the country; the safeguarding of soil fertility, and of supplies of water for domestic and industrial use, irrigation and general agricultural purposes; and prevention of damage by flooding and erosion to rivers and to agricultural land;

       (b) for the supply in perpetuity and at moderate prices of all forms of forest produce that can be economically produced within the country, and that are required by the people for agricultural, domestic and industrial purposes under a fully developed national economy.

2.    To manage the productive forests of the Permanent Forest Estate with the objective of obtaining the highest possible revenue compatible with the principle of sustained yield and with the primary objective set out above

3.    To promote as far as may practicable, the thorough and economical utilization of forest products on land not included in the permanent Forest Estate, prior to the alienation of such land

Legislations

WildLife Protection
Ordinance, Cap.26:
Wild Life Protection Rules 1998
Wild Life Protection (Birds’ Nest Rules) 1998
Incorporates requirements under CITES, CBD, IUCN Framework

National Parks & Nature Reserves Ordinance, Cap 27:
National Parks & Nature Reserves Regulations, 1999

International And National Collaboration Projects

ž  International Organization/ Developed countries had rendered technical and financial assistance towards forestry development in the state. It started in 1967 with FAO for inventory of Mixed Depterocarp Forest in Sarawak.

ž  Japan, Netherlands, German, Denmark, USA, Australia, NZ, India, China, ASEAN, Middle East, EU, etc.

ž  ITTO, FAO, UNDP, GEF,, JICA, ALTERA, DANCED/DANIDA, GTZ, etc.

ž  UNIMAS, UPM, ASM, FRIM, etc.

The Forest Management Information System Sarawak (FOMISS) Project (January 1995 until December 2000)

 

International  and National Collaboration for Development of Spectral Database of Mixed Dipterocarps Forest Between Forest Dept, Carnagie Airborne Observatory-Stanford, Unimas and UPM

•      The collaborative effort to promotes greater cooperation and sharing of scientific information

•      To set up and develop a spectral Mixed Dipterocarp Forest database for Sarawak

Collaboration - Biotechnology

ž  AMRAD Pty. Ltd. (Australia)

•    This project is a collaboration between Forest Department Sarawak & Amrad Pt. Ltd Autralia.

•    The objective of this project is to collect plant specimens for the screening of active chemical compounds with pharmaceutical potential.

Collaboration - Biotechnology

ž  DNA  Library of Dipterocarp (Japan)

•    This is a collaborative project with Ehime University, Japan to set up a DNA library for Dipterocarps.

•    A total of 239 samples were collected from Kubah NP and another 153 samples from Similajau NP for DNA analysis.

Collaboration – Wildlife Conservation

ž  DANIDA (Denmark)

•    support to Wildlife Master Plan Implementation through improved management of Totally Protected Areas, Sarawak Malaysia (SWMPI) which started on September 2000)

ž  Establishment of Biodiversity Districts- SBC

ž   Wildlife Master Plan for Sarawak (1997) in collaboration with WCS

ž   Establish Special Select Committee on Flora and Fauna

ž   Special Park Committee

ž   Appointment of Honorary Wildlife Ranger

Wildlife Conservation

Totally Protected and Protected Animals

Collaboration – Forest Management

ž  Alterra Green World Research (Netherlands)

•    This was a joint project between Malaysia with the Netherlands which was initiated on 10^th November 2000.

•    Development & management of Maludam National Park: 3 years project which started on 1st December 2000 till November 2003)

Other Collaboration

ž  United Nation Development Programme & Global Environment Facility (UNDP/GEF)

•    Conversation and Sustainable Use of Tropical Peat Swamps Forests and Associated Wetland Ecosystems (started June 2000-2007)

•    The 5 year project was carried out in 3 site: Loagan Bunut National Park, Klias Peninsula, Sabah & Southeast Pahang Peat Swamp Forest in Pahang.

•    The project in Sarawak was successfully completed on 30^th June 2008 with publication of Loagan Bunut National Park Integrated Management Plan (IMP).

ž  Sarawak Canopy Biology Program

•    International Biodiversity Observation Year (IBOY) 2001 Project.

ž  Decomposition Study

•    Laboratory of Forest Ecology, Kyoto University Japan.

ž  National Cancer Institute (NCI) USA.

•    Planting of Anti-HIV Bintangor Project in Sarawak (1996-2004)

Long-Term Ecological Research Project (1990-1992) – Japan

ž  Established between Forest Department Sarawak, several Japan Universities & Harvard University.

ž  One of the major research to study the factors controlling the origin & maintenances of high species diversity.

ž  The plot is located in Lambir Hills HP – a lowland dipterocarp forest in northern Sarawak.

Friendship Forest Project with Japan

ž  Tree Planting Project between the citizen of Japan & Sarawak.

ž  The objectives are:

•    To complement the ongoing reforestation activities as part of the contribution by the people from Japan towards conservation and rehabilitation of degraded forest in Sarawak.

•    To create understanding and to further enhance the relationship between the people in Malaysia and Japan.

ž  ITTO-supported Projects in Sarawak
Two pre-projects and 13 projects implemented since  early 1990s

ž  Total cost of projects = US$25 million

[ITTO contributions = US$15 million

Govt. of Malaysia contributions = US$ 10 million

ž  Recently completed projects

                     i.        Development of Lanjak Entimau W.S. as a  Totally Protected Area, Phase IV (2007 to 2011)

                    ii.        Transboundary Biodiversity Conservation-The Pulong Tau N.P., Phase II (2005 to 2012)

Community projects (FDS- ITTO-supported project)

Releasing of Fish Fries at Ulu Engkari, Tagang Pilot Project, 10.2.2010

Rehabilitation of water catchment in Ulu Merario, Bario, 6.3.2010

Launching of Suspension bridge, Long Semirang, 17.12.2009

Community- based activities

Long Sabai, Feb 2009-Toilet Construction

Lanjak Entimau, 2009- Valley Fish Pond

Bario, 2008 - Penan Registration

Lanjak Entimau, 2007 - Budding Course