Committed to protect the forests

THE Perak government is committed in managing its forests well to ensure the survival of endangered wildlife species and to protect its biodiversity.

State Local Government Committee chairman Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said Perak was blessed with tropical forests rich with many species that were unique and not found elsewhere on the planet.

“Forestry is a central element in our commitment and agenda towards sustainable development.

“For example, Perak is involved in the Federal Government’s Central Forest Spine (CFS) initiative in Grik, a pilot project area for a contiguous network of forests in the backbone of the peninsula,” Dr Mah said when opening the conference titled “The Offing Of The State’s Biodiversity Bastion” in Ipoh on Tuesday.

In January, the state announced that a total of 19,000ha of land along the East-West Highway in Perak would be gazetted as a permanent forest reserve, in line with the CFS project.

Dr Mah added that other developments, including the development of forest landscape management and establishment of an ecological viaduct along the East-West Highway, had also been implemented.

“Uninterrupted efforts must be carried out tirelessly to address the threats to biodiversity posed by habitat loss and degradation in CFS.

“This can be achieved by concerted ventures and coordination of various sectors and stakeholders,” he said.

The one-day conference was organised by the State Forestry Department to raise awareness on the state government’s role in the implementation of the CFS initiative.

There were also presentations on issues affecting forestry and conservation of biological diversity.

The conference also witnessed the signing of an agreement between the state government and Tropical Rainforest Conservation and Research Centre to embark on a long-term sustainable forestry project.

Also present were state secretary Datuk Abdul Puhat Mat Nayan, Peninsular Malaysia Forestry Department director-general Dr Abdul Rahman Abdul Rahim, State Forestry Department director Datuk Roslan Ariffin and Landskap Malaysia chairman Tun Jeanne Abdullah.