Kugan speaking during the seminar
KOTA KINABALU: Various stakeholders in the plantation industry took part in a seminar entitled the “Roles of Smallholders in Forest Plantations” in the Sandakan East Coast district on Tuesday (July 23).
The event, organised by the Forest Research Centre under the auspices of the Sabah Forestry Department, at the Rainforest Discovery Centre in Sepilok was opened by Chief Conservator of Forests, Datuk Frederick Kugan.
In a statement by the department, it said the seminar, attended by some 100 participants, was aimed at raising awareness among stakeholders about the importance of forest plantation development for sustainable timber production.
It also aimed to encourage smallholders and local communities to actively participate in tree planting initiatives as a viable source of income and a sustainable forestry practice.
During the seminar, several invited speakers presented engaging case studies and experiences from smallholders who have established forest plantations, highlighting the challenges and solutions.
Kugan said that this initiative demonstrates that the Sabah Forestry Department was committed and dedicated to sustainable forestry and community engagement.
By addressing past challenges and leveraging the collective efforts of smallholders and local communities, he said, it is hoped that this initiative will pave the way for a thriving forest plantation industry in Malaysia.
After the presentations, a dialogue was held to gather feedback and discuss issues related to forest plantation establishment among smallholders.
The seminar also provided a platform for stakeholders from the timber industry, smallholders, the private sector, non-governmental organisations and the government sector to share knowledge, experiences, and best practices in forest plantation.
The department said the programme was part of the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK12) project to “Promote Tree Planting by Smallholders and Local Communities as an Important Source of Wood for the Timber Industry”, funded by the federal Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry.
With an approved budget of RM2mil over a five-year period (2021-2025), the project aims to distribute 50,000 seedlings.
This initiative primarily focuses on smallholders and local communities with land areas below 10 acres, provided they have proof of land ownership.
Various wood species, including laran, batai, binuang, eucalyptus, mahogany, acacia and talisai paya, were being promoted.
As of July 2024, more than 37,000 seedlings have been distributed to 81 smallholders registered under this project.
Participants have not only received the seedlings but also benefited from consultations on forest plantation practices, aiming to support forest plantation development across the state.
