MIRI, Nov 4 (NNN-BERNAMA) — The Forest Department Sarawak today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) and 13 Licence Planted Forest (LPF) holders to embark on industrial forest plantation related to research and development (R&D).
Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg who witnessed the signing ceremony after gracing the Industrial Forest Plantation Seminar here said the collaboration was an excellent strategy that will go beyond tree breeding.
“R&D in industrial forest is a long term and continuing effort, hence commitment from both the department and the LPF holders is vital in order to get the desired results. Perhaps this is the right time to have big data on forest plantation in Sarawak,” he said.
According to him, several big timber companies in Sarawak have already carried out advanced R&D activities but were not willing to share crucial data from their works, probably due to the competition mentality among the LPFs.
“You are not competing among each other but competing with other countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia, or China. We are just a small player in this global industry and ought to rely on each other. R&D findings are crucial to produce better quality timber and timber products as well as to increase productivity,” he said.
Abang Johari said the Forest Department, which would be the custodian to the state forest plantation data and to facilitate information sharing among the industries, had already intensified its tree breeding programme that was well structured by its Industrial Forest Research Centre.
“The Eucalyptus Research Centre (of China) as well as the Chinese Paulownia Research Centre will be involved (in the programme) later as the state needed further international level research centres to improve and bring the best out of our R&D in this area apart from national agencies such as FRIM,” he said.
In addition, the department is also conducting a study using the hyperspectral remote sensing technology to detect early incidence of pest and disease in forest plantation areas that could help in assessing the health of the plantations and for better management of plantation forests.
He said other degraded areas in Sarawak needed to be explored to further develop the state’s industrial forest.
Such areas, he said, could include abandoned or idle land, shifting agriculture or even Native Customary Rights (NCR) land that could be developed in a joint-venture with the landowners and local communities.
“Besides planting tree species, planting of non timber forest product (NTFP) such as bamboo and rattan could also be looked at,” he said, adding that R&D on other fast-growing indigenous species such as Geronggang, Tebulan or Engkabang Jantong should also be considered.
— NNN-BERNAMA
