KUCHING: The Sarawak Government remains committed to strengthening the agenda of sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation as a key principle of the state's development.

Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the implementation of sustainable forest management, including mandatory forest certifications and conservation programmes, are among the main approaches in ensuring that the state's biodiversity continues to be preserved.

According to him, Sarawak, which is rich in flora and fauna, requires efficient and integrated forest management so that these natural resources continue to contribute to the ecological balance and economic development of the state.

"Sarawak is rich in biodiversity and that is why we need to improve forest management and implement conservation programmes continuously," he said.

He said this when speaking at the Forest Department Sarawak Ramah Tamah event held at Wisma Sabati, here on Tuesday.

Datuk Amar Awang Tengah also expressed pride in organising the ceremony which he described as an important platform in strengthening relations between the Forest Department Sarawak and other agencies.

“I am very proud of the organisation of this event because it can strengthen the relationship between the Forest Department and other agencies,” he said.

Meanwhile, he said to date, the Totally Protected Areas have reached approximately 2.1 million hectares, while the Permanent Forest Estate has been gazetted at almost 4 million hectares.

In a related development, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah said exports of Sarawak’s timber products for 2025 were valued at approximately RM2.5 billion, with a total export volume of 1.4 million cubic metres.

At the same time, the import value was recorded at around RM245 million involving a total import of 241,000 cubic metres, to support the value-added activities of the timber-based industry.

He added that timber production recorded 277,427 cubic metres in January 2026 (natural forests) and 79,509 cubic metres in February 2026 (planted forests).

He further stressed that close collaboration between the Forest Department Sarawak, the Sarawak Forestry Corporation, and related agencies must continue to be reinforced to ensure more effective enforcement and implementation of forestry policies.

On the event, he said it also serves as an important platform to strengthen engagement between government agencies and stakeholders in advancing sustainable forest management in Sarawak. -UKASnews

Prepared By: Lonney Jinab
Photo: Ibanez & George S.Embie
Translator: Nerissa Sia