By Karen Bong
KUCHING, April 15: Sarawak stands as one of the last strongholds of the world’s tropical rainforests, with more than 7.6 million hectares of forest cover, representing about 62 per cent of the State’s total land area.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said this vast expanse places Sarawak in a critical position in the global effort to combat climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental degradation.
“At a time when the world is facing the crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and development pressures, Sarawak takes a clear stance that progress cannot be built on environmental destruction,” he said in his speech text when officiating the opening of the Seminar on the Scientific Expedition of Sabal and Simunjan Forest Reserves 2026 at a hotel here on Tuesday (April 14).
He stressed that for the Sarawak government, forests are not merely a natural heritage, but a form of “natural capital” that underpins ecological stability, public well-being, and long-term development.
He added that the State has adopted a balanced approach, ensuring that development and conservation move in tandem through sustainable forest management policies.
Under the State Land Use Policy, about 7 million hectares of forested land have been designated for sustainable forest management and conservation, including Permanent Forest Reserves and Totally Protected Areas, which now exceed 2 million hectares.
“This is not rhetoric. This is a policy commitment translated into action,” he said.
Awang Tengah also reaffirmed that environmental sustainability is a core pillar under the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030), alongside economic prosperity and social well-being.
Meanwhile, he highlighted the importance of scientific research in strengthening forest governance, noting that expeditions such as the Sabal and Simunjan initiative help uncover new species, deepen understanding of ecosystems, and unlock future potential in areas such as biotechnology and green economy.
”Without these efforts, we only manage what we can see, but with knowledge, we are able to protect what we have yet to understand. Therefore, the Sarawak government will continue to support and expand scientific expedition programmes as a long-term investment in the State’s future,” he added. — DayakDaily
