Copyright 2001 The Malaysian National News Agency
August 23, 2001

JOHOR BAHARU, Aug 23 (Bernama) -- The forestry industry in the country must give special focus to certification of forest products to ensure market access at the international level especially in European countries.

Secretary-General of the Primary Industry Ministry Datuk Dr Abdullah Mohd Tahir said the need for certification was a reality which could not be avoided.

"Early preparation is one of the approaches which can ensure international market access for the country's timber products," he said when closing the 13th National Forestry Conference here today. He said special focus should also be given to the conservation of flora and fauna in the management and administration of forest resources to prevent commercial species from being listed in the Appendix, Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

He said the listing of commercial species would have serious effects and hamper the development and growth of the country's forestry sector.

In his speech read by Director-General of Forestry, Peninsular Malaysia, Datuk Zul Mukhshar Md Shaari, he said the nine resolutions adopted at the four-day conference should be given consideration and implemented immediately.

He also urged universities in the country to upgrade curriculum in the field of forestry so that graduates who had a deep understanding of forestry could be churned out in efforts to provide manpower in the forestry sector that could face future challenges.

The conference focussed on the importance of timber certification to facilitate market access, the need to harvest the forest through the application of environmental-friendly techniques and intensifying silvicultural and rehabilitation activities to minimise loss of forest productivity.

On the importance of timber certification, the conference recommended that action be taken to ensure full compliance of all Standards of Performance under the Malaysian Criteria and Indicators (MC&I).

The conference also recommended that independent third party assessors be appointed by Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC) to undertake timber certification.

The four-page resolution, made available at the end of the conference, also recommended that reduced impact logging (RIL) be fully implemented and trained and experienced manpower be made available for the effective implementation of RIL.

On intensifying silvicultural and rehabilitation activities, the conference, which was attended by about 200 forestry experts and observers from various related institutions from all over the country and Brunei, recommended that quality planting materials from known resources be used.

"Continuous effort should be made to ensure availability of sufficient residual stocking for subsequent cycles in the different forest types, and innovative planting and maintenance techniques using suitable tree species especially indigenous species be investigated and applied," it said.

It also recommended that the gathering of information on both timber and non-timber resources and endangered, rare and threatened species be further intensified and environmental education pertaining to rain forest conservation awareness be further promoted.

It also called on relevant authorities to make continuous effort to set aside and develop forest areas for recreation and eco-tourism. Error: Unable to read footer file.