Starpic by Zulazhar Sheblee
KUCHING: Sarawak has the potential to be a major player in the international carbon market due to its wide coverage of forests, says Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.
He said the state government is starting a carbon initiative through a nature-based solution in line with its policy of reducing logging and stepping up forest conservation and restoration to ensure environmental sustainability.
Awang Tengah then said that Sarawak needs to explore new ways to generate revenue from forests, such as through carbon trading.
"With the amendments to the Forests Ordinance 2022 and the Forests (Forest Carbon Activity) Rules 2022, which came into force on Jan 1, carbon trading in Sarawak can now be carried out," said Awang Tengah.
He told the state assembly in his winding-up speech on Wednesday (May 24).
In relation to this, he said a permit had been issued to a local company to conduct a carbon study and assess the potential area for carbon activities.
Awang Tengah also said about 3.95mil hectares in Sarawak had been gazetted as permanent forest estates (PFE).
He said two new PFEs were gazetted this year, the Murum Protected Forest covering 7,236 hectares and the 907ha Bakam Forest Reserve.
"Besides being productive forests, PFEs are important for biodiversity conservation, non-timber forest produce, water catchment and recreational activities.
"PFEs also have the potential to be carbon storage areas," he said.
In addition, Awang Tengah said about 2.12mil hectares had been gazetted as totally protected areas.
This comprises about 872,000 hectares on land and 1.24mil hectares of marine areas.
