By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, June 28: Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan has called on forest license holders in Sarawak to actively engage in forest restoration programmes, particularly in degraded areas.
These efforts are crucial for creating economic opportunities in carbon trading, agro-forestry, and ecotourism.
Awang Tengah stressed that enhancing the forest landscape in Sarawak will not only benefit the ecosystem by supporting sustainable flora and fauna and improving the quality of human life, but also provide economic advantages in key sectors.
“License holders and local residents are encouraged to cooperate in the supply and procurement of tree seedlings.
“This will ensure that the aspirations of the Sarawak government are achieved in increasing forest cover and improving the standard of living for the local population,” he said in his speech when addressing the Sarawak Forest Department’s Excellence Service Awards and Retirement Appreciation dinner held at a leading hotel here, on Thursday (June 27).
Awang Tengah, who is also the Second Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development, added that greening Sarawak is an ongoing campaign to safeguard the environment for future generations.
“As the saying goes, ‘we do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow them from our children’,” he reminded.
He acknowledged that forest restoration requires significant funding but expressed optimism that with the commitment from both the Sarawak and federal governments, along with the corporate sector and private companies, this mission can be realised.
“The greening campaign is not the responsibility of the Sarawak Forest Department alone. The cooperation and commitment of statutory bodies, NGOs, and corporate bodies are important to creating a green Sarawak and an urban forest throughout the region,” he said.
He congratulated Sarawak Forest Department for leading the greening campaign by successfully achieving the target of planting 35 millon trees in Sarawak, in line with the national campaign to plant 100 million trees, which commenced in 2021.
Also in attendance at the event were permanent secretary to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development Datu Abdullah Julaihi, Sarawak Forest Department director Datu Hamden Mohammad, Land and Survey Department Sarawak director Awang Zamhari Awang Mahmod, and Controller of Environmental Quality Sarawak Jack Liam. — DayakDaily
