Kledang Saiong forest reserve got logging approval in 2018 - Forestry Dept

 

The Kledang Saiong Forest Reserve near Kuala Kangsar in Perak, which is classified as a production forest, obtained approval for logging in an 80-hectare area by the relevant authorities in 2018.

Perak Forestry Department director Mohamed Zin Yusop said based on records, logging activity was carried out following the issuance of a licence in 2019 which ended in 2020.

"Logging was conducted based on the procedure and regulations set by the department," he said in a statement today.

Zin said his department viewed the recent claim on Facebook that “even a forest reserve could get a licence to be chopped off” was an old one uploaded in 2019 but recently became viral again.

"This department is of the view that the complainant was confused with the term permanent forest reserve, which to this person meant that logging cannot be carried out.

"The complainant’s assumption is inaccurate as permanent forest reserves are classified as production forests where logging can be carried out based on the procedure and conditions set," he said.

Zin said in Perak, about 987,000 hectares were gazetted as permanent forest reserve under the National Forestry Act 1984.

He said these permanent forest reserves had been managed based on the Sustainable Forest Management principles.

For this purpose, the permanent forest reserves had been classified as production forests with a ratio of 51 percent and as protected forests at 49 percent, he added.

"Production forests are for the purpose of yielding revenue including through permanent timber output while protected forests are for environmental conservation, raw water supply, and wildlife protection,” he explained.

Yesterday, Perak Menteri Besar Saarani Mohamad said he had not received any report on the logging activity and that the recently viral photos could be old ones.

The photos show trees having been felled, allegedly at the Kledang Saiong Forest Reserve.

- Bernama