The state government has made it mandatory for all long-term timber licenses to obtain Forest Management Certification (FMC) by 2022.
In the past, FMC was merely on voluntary basis.
“With growing local and global concern on environmental issues, forest management certification has become the main requirement for buyers to ensure that timber and timber products come from sustainably managed forests,”
This was said by the Chief Minister YAB Datuk Patinggi (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Abang Haji Openg in his opening address during the official launching of the 18th Malaysian Forestry Conference 2018 taking place on 31st July in Kuching.
Adding more, he said that it has also become the key interest for environment and social based non-governmental organisations (NGOs)>
Noting that the shortcoming and challenging are inevitable especially on the capacity of both implementing agencies and timber industry, he believes that with strong cooperation and collaboration from all relevant ministries and agencies, timber industries, NGOs and local communities, a balance between environment, economy and socio-economic development can be achieved.
“I am made to understand that Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah are well ahead of Sarawak in implementing the FMC,”
“This is perhaps the area where collaboration among the forestry agencies in these three regions could be enhanced to further uplift Malaysia’s image in forest management certification,” he said.
