Musa signing the plaque to mark the opening of Sabah Forestry Department’s Heart of Borneo @The Atrium exhibition hall yesterday. Looking on are Sam, Guntavid and James Wong.
SANDAKAN: Sabah Forestry Department (SFD) crossed another milestone with the launch of the Heart of Borneo (HoB) @Atrium at its headquarters here yesterday.
Chief Minister Musa Haji Aman who officiated the launching ceremony said HoB is a trans-boundary collaboration in Borneo among Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia to effectively manage and conserve rainforests within its boundaries for the benefit of people and nature.
This initiative has provided Sabah with a framework for statewide sustainable development plans.
“I am very pleased that SFD, under the leadership of its Director, Datuk Sam Mannan, has always been in the forefront in championing Sustainable Forest Management, which is very much in line with the objectives of the HoB Initiative.
“I am proud to say that Sabah is leading the world in forest conservation. Although the state may have lost substantial revenue from the forest and its resources, we are achieving milestones in forest management and conservation. The epitome of Sabah’s high profile and phenomenal achievement in the management and conservation of its old world tropical rainforests is the HoB Initiative.
“With interactive and interpretative displays such as kiosks and posters, I was told that this Atrium features the major achievements of Sabah Forestry Department in the implementation of HoB, including the diversity of flora, fauna and landscapes in Sabah. Much of the information on 100 years of forestry in Sabah is also showcased here.
“This permanent feature will not only provide information on forestry through an innovative approach but will also serve as a source of knowledge for both foreign and local visitors who visit the Forestry Headquarters in Sandakan,” Musa said.
Musa also expressed his thanks to the Federal Government, particularly the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for their continued funding and support for the implementation of HoB in Sabah.
The lauching ceremony was also attended by State Deputy Secretary, Datuk Joseph Guntavid, SFD Director, Datuk Sam Mannan, Assistant Minister of Local Government and Housing, Datuk Zakaria Haji Mohd Edris and President of Sandakan Municipal Council, Datuk Ir. James Wong.
Meanwhile, central to the HoB is the State Government policy to increase Totally Protected Areas (TPAs) to 30 per cent of Sabah’s land mass over a 10-year period (2014-2025). At present, TPAs in Sabah cover 24.2 percent of the state’s land mass or about 1.8 million hectares. This figure represents the largest network of TPAs in the country.
Sabah has also received world recognition in forest certification, starting with Deramakot Forest Reserve in 1997. As of December 2015, certified forests in Sabah, either partially or fully certified, have increased to over a million hectares with more than half a million hectares certified under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
Since the inception of the HoB Initiative in 2007, the State Government through the Sabah Forestry Department has demonstrated remarkable progress. The first Strategic Plan of Action (SPA) was produced a year later, designed to be a roadmap to accomplish the overall HoB vision.
The second Strategic Plan of Action was drafted in 2013 to cover 2014 until 2020. The second SPA aims to enhance the implementation of HoB activities, focusing on five main programmes, namely transboundary management, protected areas management, sustainable natural resources management, eco-tourism development and capacity building.
The SPA is used as a guide for the State towards proper implementation of HoB activities. At least seven conferences and exhibitions were held since 2009, to disseminate information on HoB and related matters on forest management and conservation, and at the same time to gather experts, stakeholders and the public to discuss the way forward for the betterment of good forest practices and conservation in Sabah.
Therefore Musa hopes SFD will continue to excel for the betterment of good forest governance in line with its vision and mission.