Sapuan (second left), Akhbar (third left) and TI-M FGI project exco member Dr Pola Singh launching the Forest Watch Mobile application. — Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi
Forest Department enlists help of communities living near forests to protect their resources
KUCHING: Communities living in the vicinity of forests have been called to be the ‘eyes and ears’ of the State Forest Department to help monitor and report any exploitation of forest resources.
To achieve this objective, State Forest Department director Sapuan Ahmad said the services of local community leaders throughout the state have been roped in through the Honorary Wildlife Rangers programme.
“Up to now, more than 2,000 honorary wildlife rangers have been appointed to assist the Forestry Department in the fight against illegal wildlife trade.
“In the future, if there is a need for more management or scientific authorities from other relevant government agencies to be nominated, we will forward the proposal to the relevant authorities,” he said during a Capacity Building Workshop on Forest Watch Initiative in Sarawak organised by TI-M Forest Governance Integrity (FGI) Project at a hotel here yesterday
The Forest Watch Initiative in Sarawak, which was launched in Sept, 2012, is a collaboration between TI-M, Forest Department and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and Institute of Foresters. Other agencies such as the Wildlife Department are also providing valuable assistance.
Sapuan also stressed the importance of inter-enforcement agency cooperation in monitoring and preventing any exploitation of forest and its treasures.
He added that it is the Forest Department’s wish to ensure that every inch of forest produce is accounted for tax and royalty, which is important to ensure that development plans can be implemented and continued.
“As we all know, it is a heavy responsibility for all of us to ensure the sustainability of our biodiversity resources. This mission needs the support and cooperation from all relevant government agencies to work as a team.
“There is a need for consultation and coordination among the various stakeholders especially the various government agencies in terms of legal coordination, enhancing state database, information sharing and consolidating regulatory and management efforts.”
Meanwhile, Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) president Datuk Akhbar Satar said looking at forestry from a broader perspective, there was a growing anxiety over the impact that the world’s receding forest cover would have upon us and all future generations.
“Loss of biological wealth, ecological degradation and global warming are but a few of the dreaded outcomes. The consequences may all together leave the earth barren and exposed, making it vulnerable to major environmental catastrophes. Close to us today is the concern over the gradual diminution of our own tropical rainforests.”
He therefore called for greater people’s support for the Forest Department’s work in forest monitoring, adding that a website and mobile tools such as Forest Watch Mobile application had been developed to provide a platform for the general public to join hands with the forest communities to improve forest governance.
“People’s evaluation of forests has broadened from focus on timber production to the values of a wide range of goods and services that forests are capable of providing. With increasing awareness of the potentials of forests and their benefits to mankind, society recognises the crucial role that forests play in preserving the environment, while maintaining an adequate forest cover for the nation.”
Akhbar pointed out that strong policies and consistent policy decisions, coordinated efforts of related agencies, good governance and high integrity in implementation are needed to sustain the forest ecosystem, adding that current threats to the stability of forest resources must be fully addressed.
“This is the responsibility of all stakeholders who will want to see that we continue to bring
the current benefits of the forest to future generations for all time.”
During the workshop, Sapuan also launched Forest Watch Mobile application.
It can be downloaded from ‘Google Play Store’ for Android smartphones and ‘App Store’ for iOS smartphones.