Sustainable Forest Management Strengthens Sarawak's Development Agenda
MIRI: Sarawak's land use policy remains clear and consistent in ensuring a balance between economic development and environmental sustainability through the implementation of sustainable forest management.
Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the Sarawak government aims to establish at least six million hectares of land as a Permanent Forest Estate (PFE), with over four million hectares successfully achieved so far.
He noted that Sarawak has also set a target of at least one million hectares for Totally Protected Areas (TPA), and efforts toward this are now nearing the established goal.
“When combined with land areas and water bodies, we have reached 2.1 million hectares. This demonstrates our commitment to strengthening sustainable forest management,” he said.
He said this while speaking at the officiating ceremony of the Sarawak Level International Day of Forests 2026 celebration themed ‘Forests and Economies,’ at a hotel here on Sunday.
According to Datuk Amar Awang Tengah, Sarawak, which covers an area of 14.2 million hectares, still maintains over 62 percent of its land area as forest as a result of the continuous implementation of sustainable forest management.
The Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development II (MUDeNR) emphasised that the state government does not reject development, but ensures that every project is implemented sustainably and responsibly through the strengthening of forest management certification systems, law enforcement, the use of modern technology in forest monitoring, and the execution of sustainable forest management.
He added that Sarawak continues to expand its reforestation programs and the development of industrial forest plantations to reduce pressure on natural forests.
“To date, 57 million trees have been planted, and Sarawak is ahead of the national target,” he stated.
In the meantime, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah, who is also the Minister for International Trade, Industry and Investment (MINTRED), stressed that the theme ‘Forests and Economies’ is closely linked to Sarawak's development agenda under the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030), which emphasizes environmental sustainability as the core of the state's development.
He said that the forestry sector not only contributes to state revenue and employment opportunities but also serves as a catalyst for Sarawak's green economy development.
During the same event, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah also witnessed the symbolic launch of the Forest Department Sarawak's book.
Also present were Sarawak Minister for Transport Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin, Baram Member of Parliament Dato Anyi Ngau, Director of Forests Sarawak Datu Hamden Mohammad, as well as other dignitaries. — UKASnews
