‘Illegal logging problem not serious’

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FORESTRY DAY: Awang Tengah waters the ‘gaharu’ tree which he planted as others look on.

SIBU: Second Resource Planning and Environment Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan yesterday admitted that illegal logging did happen in the state, but the situation was under control and losses suffered by the government very minimal.

He said 96 cases of illegal logging were reported state-wide last year, while in 2010 there were 91 cases.

“Most of the cases reported last year happened in Kuching Division, with 48 cases, followed by Sibu (24), Bintulu (16) and Miri (8). In 2010, Sibu division recorded 40 cases, Kuching (28), Miri (15) and Bintulu (eight),” he told a press conference after officiating at the state-level World Forestry Day at Sarawak Tree Improvement Centre (STIC), Mile 13, Oya Road, here.

Losses suffered due to illegal logging stood at 0.01 per cent of the RM731 million in revenue collected from timber taxes and royalties in 2010.

“But this does not mean that we will allow this problem to go unabated.”

Awang Tengah, who is also Minister of Industrial Development, said the industry players and local community must play their part to curb illegal logging.

He said this could be done through voluntary wildlife ranger programmes which included the appointment of local community leaders who could act as the eyes and ears of the government.

Awang Tengah said the government had modern technologies to monitor and detect illegal logging, besides air surveillance and patrol.

On another matter, he said the state would have its third national park for protection of mangrove when an area in Limbang is gazetted soon.

“The area is now being studied.”

So far, he said, only Kuching Wetland National Park and Rajang Mangrove National Park had been gazetted.

Among those present at the function were Assistant Minister of Resource Planning Datuk Naroden Majais, Forestry Department state director Ali Yusop, Sarawak Timber Association chairman Pemanca Datuk Wong Kie Yik and Nangka assemblyman Dr Annuar Rapa’ee.