By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, April 23: Forest Department Sarawak (FDS) has taken another significant step towards bolstering forest carbon initiatives in Sarawak by signing and exchanging a Letter of Understanding (LoU) with Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences in Velp, the Netherlands on Monday (April 22).
This collaboration was formalised during a Forest Carbon Trading Mechanism Training Programme hosted by the university, said FDS in a press statement.
The university’s director Dr Gerard Robijn highlighted the programme’s goals, which include enhancing knowledge, fostering networking opportunities with industry experts, and facilitating discussions to establish scientific, academic, and educational cooperation.
Representatives from FDS were invited to participate in a specialised training programme. Key topics covered include policy and regulatory frameworks for forest carbon trading, project development and implementation strategies, case studies and best practices in the field and, measurement and verification procedures aligned with international standards and protocols.
From Sarawak’s side, Deputy Director of Forests Semilan Ripot emphasised the importance of this initiative in his keynote address as he linked it to the Sarawak government’s Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, which prioritises forestry as a key economic sector.
FDS said this collaboration aligns with the State’s commitment to forest conservation, afforestation, and reforestation efforts.
“These initiatives contribute to global efforts to combat climate change while opening doors to new revenue streams from Sarawak’s forests, including those generated through forest carbon projects,” said FDS.
The programme also includes presentations by FDS officers to international students and stakeholders.
“This knowledge exchange fosters the exchange of technical expertise, scientific data, and evidence-based information.
“This will ultimately support the Sarawak government in making informed decisions and establishing policies that ensure the forest carbon activities in Sarawak are well-positioned within the international market and aligned with carbon standards.
“This collaborative effort signifies a critical step forward in propelling Sarawak’s forest carbon initiatives and solidifying its commitment to sustainable forest management practices,” said FDS. — DayakDaily
