The electronic eye in the sky proves to be a useful tool for Sarawak Forest Department in its fight against illegal logging activities in the state. (File Photo)
KUCHING: The Forest Department has started an awareness campaign on illegal logging for community leaders throughout the state in order to achieve zero illegal logging by 2020.
Its director Sapuan Ahmad said the campaign started in Betong recently, and would then be held for all community leaders throughout the state in stages.
He said besides the awareness campaigns, the Forest Department has also started other means of communication to obtain information from the public such as their Hotline at 1-800-88-7777, teleservice at 555999, SMS to 62999 and also via email to m555999.sarawak.gov.my.
Community leaders attend the illegal logging awareness campaign in Betong recently.
“Through the awareness campaigns, we hope the community leaders will become our eyes and ears to combat illegal logging. This is one way to achieve our objective of zero illegal logging by 2020,” Sapuan said yesterday.
He said the first awareness campaign was successful in disseminating important information to the community leaders.
“We also hope that through the awareness campaigns, we can have better network on how best to tackle illegal logging.”
The awareness campaign in Betong recently was attended by 34 community leaders such as temenggong, pemanca, penghulu, and village and longhouse chiefs, in the vicinity of Meludam National Park.
“The awareness campaign is also aimed to educate the people on what is considered as illegal logging activity and how they too can assist the government in tackling the menace,” he said.
The seized rare osprey.
On a separate issue, Sapuan revealed that the department’s enforcement unit had seized a rare osprey (Pandion haliaetus) at Mile 3 here, which was subsequently handed over to the Matang Wildlife Centre.
He said the department’s enforcement unit had acted after receiving information from members of the public.
Sapuan warned that it’s an offence to keep or rear any species of protected wildlife which are categorized under the Wildlife Ordinance 1988 (Part 2) without permits or licences from the Controller of Wildlife.
Anyone found guilty of committing the offence is liable to be imprisoned for a year and a fine of RM10,000.
For more information, the Forest Department’s Prevention and Enforcement Unit could be reached at and 082-444784