Forestry Dept instructed to identify areas prone to natural disasters

The Forestry Department has been instructed to immediately identify high-risk areas prone to be affected by natural disasters in the peninsula.

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Takiyuddin Hassan said the move was taken as an immediate action to overcome the accumulation of driftwood and debris, landslides and water surges in several states due to heavy rain and floods recently.

He said the department had been using a remote system application, including the use of drones for real-time enforcement, monitoring and tracking changes in the forest.

"I have also instructed the department to submit a report, as well as mitigation measures, within a month," he said in a statement today.

Apart from that, he said the department was also asked to identify forest eco-parks and other recreation forests that had not been installed with an early warning system for immediate installation of the device.

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Takiyuddin Hassan

Takiyuddin said in terms of the forestry management sector, it was based on sustainable forest management, which covered the implementation of the selective management system, annual allowable cut and forest management certification based on the Malaysian Criteria and Indicators for Forest Management Certification.

"Apart from that, the governance of the forestry sector is regulated through the National Forestry Act 1984 (Act 313) and the forestry ordinance or enactment in the states," he added.

Takiyuddin said his ministry was committed to ensuring that the country’s natural resources was well- maintained, managed sustainably and used responsibly.

"In this regard, I call on all stakeholders, including the state governments, as natural resource managers at the state level, to work with the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry to ensure the federal government policies are implemented and monitored for sustainable national development and the interests of the future generation," he added.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob was reported to have said that the forest area in Peninsular Malaysia would be increased from 43.41 percent to 50 percent by 2040, in line with the Fourth National Physical Plan.

The decision was made at the first meeting of the National Tiger Conservation Task Force chaired by the prime minister yesterday.

- Bernama