Sabah forest reserves closer to Int’l FSC certification

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KOTA KINABALU: Four protected forest reserves in Sabah managed by the Sabah Forestry Department (SFD) are now a step closer to responsible forest management certification by the globally-recognised Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certification Scheme.

Timimbang-Botitian and Pin Supu Forest Reserves underwent the full FSC audit in October, while November saw the same process completed for Northern Gunung Rara (NGR) Forest Reserve. Following in the footsteps of these three forest reserves is Trusmadi Forest Reserve which will start its full audit in December. Furthermore, a production forest reserve managed by SFD, Deramakot Forest Reserve, was re-certified for another 5-year period in November 2014. This forest reserve was the first tropical forest reserve to be certified under this scheme in 1997.

The key benefits of FSC certification include more responsible forest management, retention of land under natural forest cover, High Conservation Value (HCV) identification, management and monitoring, third party auditing and monitoring of the management, and greater stakeholder participation.

As an example, one of the ten principles for responsible forest management by FSC is to have a Forest Management Plan (FMP) that is implemented, monitored and continuously improved. This not only ensures that the implementation of key activities stated in the FMP such as restoration, silviculture, and patrolling are carried, but also the improvement of each of these activities every year. As for stakeholder participation, the concerns of local communities living near these forest reserves over land-use activities and traditional rights will also be properly addressed in the FMP.

NGR Forest Reserve in particular is an important forest connectivity area that lies between the Protected Areas of Maliau Basin, Danum Valley and Imbak Canyon. It is also home to a rich variety of wild animals including the Borneo elephant, Bornean orang-utan, Bornean gibbon, and clouded leopard.

However, as a narrow connectivity area, NGR Forest Reserve is unfortunately vulnerable to fire, poachers, and diseases transmitted through dogs, all originating from the surrounding oil palm and timber plantation areas of this changing production landscape. Maintaining this crucial forest area, its biodiversity, resources and the larger landscape through responsible management is in accordance with FSC’s 10 Principles, of which Principle 6 calls for the forest manager such as the SFD to reduce environmental impacts, maintain ecological functions and integrity of forests.

Besides providing technical assistance and support in the certification process, WWF-Malaysia also collaborates with Sabah Forestry Department on various conservation projects in Northern Gunung Rara Forest Reserve that include wildlife surveys and training of forest managers and rangers in more effective patrolling and enforcement.

“It is WWF-Malaysia’s aim to help keep natural forests and promote their responsible management by the Sabah Forestry Department,” said Bernard Tai, WWF-Malaysia’s Head of Conservation for Sabah.

“SFD’s commitment to benchmarking its protection forest reserves to the highest global standards is commendable,” he said.