Wan Lizozman (left) and Walls exchange the signed MoU documents, witnessed by (from right) Buchert, Len, Abang Johari, Tengah, Manyin and Hamden.
KUCHING: The state will collaborate with Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE) in carrying out joint research and development activities or consultancy work on sustainable forestry in Sarawak.
The collaboration will also see both parties examining possibilities for research and innovation funding in sustainable forestry, integrated land management, forest carbon management and climate change.
It will foster innovations and sustainable management of natural resources to meet the challenges such as climate change, preservation of biodiversity, food, water, and energy security.
The collaboration is also expected to enhance effectiveness in sustainable forest and resources management in the state which will help to enhance the state’s reputation at the international level.
The signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two parties took place at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here yesterday.
The ceremony was witnessed by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, Deputy Chief Minister II Tan Sri Dr James Masing, Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research Dato Sri Michael Manyin, and Assistant Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datu Len Talif Salleh.
Permanent secretary to the Ministry of Urban Development and Natural Resources Dr Lizozman Wan Omar, and Natural Resources Institute Finland president and chief executive officer Mari Walls signed the MoU on the behalf of the state government and LUKE respectively.
Signing as witnesses on behalf of the state government and LUKE were acting director of Forest Department Sarawak Hamden Mohamad and LUKE executive vice president Johanna Buchert.
The MoU is a follow-up to the visit by Sarawak delegation led by the chief minister to Finland in Sept 2017.
LUKE has strong background in sustainable forestry, with special emphasis in forest inventory methodologies, greenhouse gas accounting and global climate change issues.
Speaking to reporters after the MoU signing ceremony, Abang Johari believed the collaboration would benefit both sides in forest management.
He said Sarawak has got a lot of tropical timber species in its forest, and rich in biodiversity, which is good for further study, both for timber and pharmaceutical products.
He said Finland has a very good forest policy, which Sarawak wanted to study, and also was very strong in research in terms of forestry sustainable management and forest products.
“What we are going to do now is to have a joint research between experts in Finland and Sarawak in order to enrich our forestry resources.
“What is important is the sustainability of our forest that will contribute towards a fairly balanced environment,” he said.
Abang Johari believed that through the collaboration, both parties would be able to learn from each other in managing sustainable forest management on a different climate environment.
He reiterated that the state government was committed to maintain the state’s environment, and going into a sustainable forestry management to preserve its natural and protected forest.
“As we move forward, we want to see our timber industry depending on feedstock from our planted forest.
“By doing so, we will sustain our economy in terms of timber industry. At the same time we don’t disturb our natural habitat which is very important,” he said.
Abang Johari, who is also Minister of Urban Development and Natural Resources, said after the signing ceremony scientists from LUKE and Sarawak would begin to work together to fulfill the terms of the MoU.