KUCHING, Sept 13: Sarawak Forest Department targets to plant seven million trees a year throughout the state under the “Jom Taman Pokok” campaign beginning next year.
Its director Datu Hamden Mohammad said the participation from all Sarawakians is crucial in ensuring that the campaign is a success.
“This campaign is in line with the Sarawak government’s goal under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) where 35 million trees will be planted within five years starting next year.
“We are encouraging the involvement from all Sarawakians, be it at the school level, university, and also the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to plant trees, and department will monitor the amount of trees planted,” he said in his speech during the Forest Restoration Programme held at Sabal Forest Reserve today.
Hamden also proposed for an online portal to be set up in order to enable all programme participants to update their planting data and effective monitoring.
Meanwhile, Hamden said more than 112,000 trees involving 37 species have been planted throughout Sarawak by the department under the Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) programme since June last year.
According to him, the FLR programme, which was initiated by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, is being implemented throughout the state to balance the exploration of forest due to the implementation of development projects.
He said FLR has been widely promoted globally as a solution to the worldwide degradation of forest or “forest degradation”.
“For the FLR programme in Sabal Forest Reserve, which involved more than 300 Sarawak Forest Department staff, they have planted a total of 10,000 trees, and at the same time, witnessed the launch of FLR logo,” he added.
Also present were state Forestry Department deputy director I (forest conservation and development) Jack Liam and Forestry Department deputy director II (forest management) Abang Ahmad Abang Morni. –DayakDaily.
