Focus on planted forests

Awang Tengah (left) trying out the ‘Max Zwager’ timber marking tool developed by the Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation. The tool won a gold award at the International Convention on Quality Control Circle in Tokyo last month. — ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star

KUCHING: Sarawak will focus more on planted forests and high value-added products in its timber industry in view of declining resources from natural forests.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the state was targeting one million hectares of planted forests by 2025, which would become the main source of raw materials for the timber industry.