Brunei forest cover helps absorb GHG emissions; no Covid-19 cases reported

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Sept 8 (Borneo Bulletin/ANN): Although Brunei Darussalam is not a significant contributor to the global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the nation is still experiencing the adverse impact of climate change from GHG emissions, including a rise in temperature and an increase in the number of forest fires in the last decade.

This was highlighted yesterday by Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism Hajah Tutiaty binti Haji Abdul Wahab during the opening of the Brunei Darussalam National Climate Change Policy (BNCCP) Operational Document Task Force (ODTF) Workshop, which resumed this week to discuss the BNCCP Strategy 2 on Forest Cover.

Hajah Tutiaty added, “Brunei Darussalam is blessed with an extensive and biologically rich forest. With a 72.1 per cent forest cover, the country is capable of absorbing most of its national greenhouse gas emissions.

“However, the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, through the Forestry Department, intends to further increase the country’s carbon sequestration capacity by planting new trees and to use this platform in promoting participation from stakeholders and the communities.”

Legislative Council (LegCo) member and Co-founder of Green Brunei Yang Berhormat Khairunnisa binti Haji Ash’ari was also present. The two-day workshop is organised by the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism through the Forestry Department, as the lead agency for the BNCCP Strategy 2 on Forest Cover, with the support of the Brunei Climate Change Secretariat (BCCS).

Around 72 participants are involved, including important stakeholders from government agencies, the private sector, higher institutions, bank associations, key industry players and non-governmental organisations ( NGOs).

The workshop is aimed at formulating an Operational Document for the BNCCP Strategy 2 on Forest Cover to achieve the target of increasing Brunei Darussalam’s carbon sink through afforestation and reforestation, with a target of planting 500,000 new trees by 2035. It is co-facilitated by the lead agency and external co-facilitator from Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sdn Bhd.

Meanwhile, Brunei reported no new cases of Covid-19 on Monday with the national tally of cases standing at 145.

According to Brunei's Ministry of Health, no more recoveries were recorded, maintaining the total number of recovered cases at 139. There are three active cases being treated at the National Isolation Center, who were recorded on Aug. 19, Aug 25 and Sept 3 respectively.

Meanwhile, currently there are 462 individuals undergoing mandatory isolation at the monitoring centres provided by the government, who have arrived in the country after travelling abroad.

There have been three deaths that resulted from Covid-19 in Brunei. - Borneo Bulletin/Asian News Network