IPOH: The Perak state government has gazetted approximately 1,000ha of land at the Durian Pipit Forest Reserve in Hulu Perak as a replacement site for the cancelled area (forest reserve) used for quarry activities at the Segari Melintang Forest Reserve in Manjung, says Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad.
The Perak Mentri Besar said under Section 11 and 12 of the National Forestry Act 1984, the state authority may remove or abolish permanent forest reserve for economic uses.
However, he said such abolition must be carried out by replacing a land area approximately of the same size.
“The state government had cancelled part of the Segari Melintang Permanent Forest Reserve area amounting to 548.1ha, and had replaced it with an area measuring 999.58ha at the Durian Pipit Forest Reserve duly gazetted on May 18 this year.
"The quarry activities that are currently taking place and will continue in the area, which has been revoked as part of the forest reserve, will be subjected to the application of mineral tenements," he said when replying to a question by Razman Zakaria (PN- Gunung Semanggol) at the state assembly sitting here Tuesday (Dec 3).
Razman asked about the government's mitigation measures and concerns regarding environmental issues, particularly involving forest reserves that have been degazetted such as the Segari Melintang Forest Reserve as well as any forests in environmentally sensitive areas that need protection so that the flora and fauna ecosystems are not disturbed and threatened.
Saarani added that the state government had taken the initiative by realigning the areas where quarrying is active within the Segari Melintang Permanent Forest Reserve as a commitment to comply with the policies of the National Land Council.
He said the results of the review conducted on the area found that there is active quarrying activity and existing approvals for the processing and extraction of granite blocks under the classification of Production Forest.
“This activity involves an area of approximately 545.00 hectares within the Segari Melintang Forest Reserve,” he added.
Saarani added that to preserve and protect the flora and fauna ecosystem at the Segari Melintang Forest Reserve, and in all forest areas that are environmentally sensitive areas, the state government is currently reviewing the suitability and potential of areas within the Permanent Forest Reserve as protection forests and production forests including part of compartment 15 (Segari Melintang).
He said this is to ensure that it is in line with the purpose of classifying forest functions under Section 10 of the National Forestry Act.
“The state government is very committed to achieving the goal of sustainable forest management.
“The results of the review will be included in the Perak State Forest Management Plan 2026-2035,” he added.
