Generally, the local environment is still quite clean and healthy. Thanks to the policy of the sustainable management of the resources that has been adopted by the State Government since the 60s. The policy was formulated based on the recommendations of FAO, which had made forestry inventories during the period from 1969 to early 70s. Basically, the State Government has made the commitment to exploit the resources properly to ensure that they will be sustainable and shared with other people apart from serving as steady sources of income for the State. Undoubtedly, the State has laid a strong foundation, in the overall task to preserve the forests as a healthy green place for the younger generation. It has been able to perform better than any other producing countries in using forest resources as sources of revenue. Even the private sector has become more convinced that sustainable management has become a way of life in the timber industry, not just a form of management. At least six big companies have adopted forests, not as something to be exploited in short run, but as sources of renewable resources, which must be developed with long-term policies.
The State government, in implementing the policy, has also been making conscientious efforts to inject more intellectual power into Sarawak Forestry Corporation and Forest department in enforcing a proper system to bring about stability in the development of the local timber industry. For example, Sarawak Forestry Corporation has come up with a clear guideline to move in a direction towards making Sarawak a clean and environmental friendly place. The timber industry must be developed with greater usage of research findings and employment of better qualified people.
Besides, what is often overlooked by some unfriendly local NGOs in particular is the fact that 9 million hectares of land out of the State’s total land surface of 12 million hectares can still be considered as primary and secondary jungles. Of the total acreage, 6.4 million hectares are being preserved as permanent forests. In other words, more than half of the total land surface of the state can be considered as perpetual forests.
Sarawak, with a vast land surface, is believed to have more than 26 million trees now. However, the State must not be complacent in the overall efforts to protect the environment that may have adverse effects from the global climate change. The world has already witnessed during the past few years certain regions having recurring floods while others, severe droughts. This is the danger confronting countries in the world including Malaysia today.
Therefore, necessary steps must be taken to reduce the impact of climate change to the State and country. All the people must be involved in the campaign to protect the environment in order to protect the health of the people. His late wife, Datuk Patinggi Hajah Laila used to be a very firm believer that the state must have a broad base approach to preserve the environment.
Understandably, the state government, now having a strong financial position, is keen to implement a more aggressive approach in tree planting program as a way to preserve healthy environment in the State. Six types of trees have already been selected to kick start the campaign to plant relevant trees at certain locations and environment. For example, the trees now being planted along Gambir road riverside walk have been intended to provide sufficient shade to the area. The riverside walk, as a public area, must be made more attractive in order to encourage the people to walk as a way to promote health among them.
The process of climate change, though not widely understood by the people, is likely to affect our livelihood. For example, the ice cap in the North Pole and the surrounding areas, now melting, is increasing the sea water level. This presents a threat to nations like Malaysia that have low levels of the sea. For example, a large proportion of the local population resides in coastal and delta areas or areas that have been filled up by silt and mud over the years. The State has more than two million hectares of muddy and soggy coastal areas or areas that have been filled by silt and mud.
Common concern for climate change
Hence, the State cannot afford to be indifferent towards effects of climate change on the people. In this respect all the people should be more concerned because the consequences of climate change may be irreversible if we do not take corrective actions fast and promptly; we must take notice of all these changes. As the world climate has changed, the tropical and temperate climates can no longer be separated any more.
Instead, the State must have a more aggressive approach to keep Sarawak green. In this respect, conscientious efforts must be made to plant more relevant trees at certain locations throughout the State. For example, certain areas could be planted with big trees, while others may be planted with low but leafy trees. Besides, efforts must also be made to plant trees that can bear fruits in order to attract birds to return to urban areas in towns and cities.Generally, the local towns and cities like Kuching, Miri, Bintulu and others each will continue to experience rapid growth in the population that require proper ways to protect the environment. Though Sibu has been experiencing a net deficit in the growth of the population, it should be able to experience positive growth with the development of SCORE. It can be anticipated that Mukah and Tanjung Manis will also experience rapid growth in the population with the development of SCORE towards the year 2020 and beyond. All these places, in anticipation of bigger population, must have concrete plan to plant more trees in order to preserve their environment.
This year’s tree planting campaign with the theme “One Malaysian One tree” is most appropriate primarily to make the people realize the importance of trees to the environment and involve actively in the campaign to plant them. In this respect, the participation and involvement of the private sector, teachers, civil servants, tour operators and government departments and agencies that are involved in the promotion of public health, in the campaign is very important. The campaign to keep rivers clean must be also continued as part of the overall efforts to keep the environment clean and safe.
In this respect, the City Hall for Kuching City North has been asked to set up Trees and Fruit trees study and dissemination centre. An allocation of RM5 million to DBKU has been set aside for this purpose. The young trees can be distributed to other towns and secondary towns throughout the State. The centre must ensure that there will be sufficient young trees to be distributed during the campaigns to plant trees throughout the state. Other local councils or municipalities, those with big areas within their jurisdiction in particular, are also encouraged to initiate and carry out their own campaigns to plant more trees. The greater Kuching city that includes MBKS and a bit of Padawan Municipal Council must have a proper centre of good trees in order to support tree planting activities being carried out in other towns and cities throughout the state. Besides, efforts must also be made to compile of radiation of other cities like Singapore, Jakarta, Bangkok or even China to enable us to evaluate the effects of growth of industries in those cities. That should convince us to be more appreciative of the necessity to plant more trees in order to sustain the green process in the State.
In this connection, schoolchildren, who will face the problems of having bigger population in future, must be encouraged to involve in the campaign. They must be made to realize and appreciate the need to have healthier, greener and cleaner environment in their towns and cities for the people in future. They must appreciate the need to organize more activities to protect their environment. If the schoolboys and girls are committed to efforts to plant more trees, the State should be able to have more than 26 million trees in a short period. The state should be able to have more with trees that have got their own functions and are well suited to the planning and designs of local cities and towns during the period.
Obviously, there is a need to plant more trees now in anticipation of the degeneration of the environment due to climate change, which is the direct effect of global warming. Hence, all parties must work together to carry out a more aggressive approach in the continuous efforts to plant more trees based on the theme One Malaysian One Tree in order to keep the State and the country green.
The new approach must be bold and more scientific in nature. The success will depend on efforts to pool the energy and resources of the people at all levels of the society regardless of whether they are rural or urban areas. The state must have a concrete plan for the good green process for all areas, including rural areas though they may still have some trees, in order to remain green as the state enters into the era of massive industrial development towards the year 2020 and beyond.
In this regard, members of SABATI (welfare body of wives of Ministers and Assistant Ministers) must be congratulated for their active involvement in the campaigns to create public awareness among the people on the importance of trees to the environment. Obviously, the ladies are very concerned about trees and their effect to the environment. They are very concerned that the state must have more and more trees in order to sustain good environment for healthy living for the people.
benuasains
*Photos Source: http://www.forestry.sarawak.gov.my/
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