Perak’s forest reserve stands at over 900,000ha

IPOH: Perak’s total permanent forest reserve stands at 995,284.96ha as of Oct 30, says Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.

He told the state assembly that the permanent forest reserves were scattered in 68 areas across the state.

“The state government has also gazetted 18,866ha of permanent forest reserve as the Amanjaya Forest Reserve on May 9 last year,” he told Husin Din (PAS-Selinsing).

Dr Zambry said the state government had also given its approval to gazette five state lands as permanent forest reserves as at Oct 31 this year.

They are the Lekir Forest Reserve (616ha), Kelip-Kelip Forest Reserve (152.98ha), Piah Forest Reserve (2,362ha), Teluk Muroh Forest Reserve (116.6ha) and Teluk Rubiah Forest Reserve (1,052ha).

“The plan to gazette the Kelip-Kelip Forest Reserve is being drawn out at the moment, while the other areas are in various stages of being gazetted,” he said.

Dr Zambry also revealed that 15,867.01ha of permanent forest reserve had been de-gazetted for the purpose of creating housing schemes, orang asli settlements as well as for mining purposes and agricultural activities. This was carried out between 2006 and 2014.

To a supplementary question by Datuk Sham Mat Sahat (BN-Alor Pongsu), Dr Zambry asked the public to be the state government’s eyes to combat illegal logging as well as other illegal activities such as sand mining and extraction of red earth.