Minister urges Ramsar compliance at Tasik Bera forest reserve

 Natural resources and environmental sustainability minister Arthur Joseph Kurup says this is to protect the ecosystem and wildlife habitats.

The Pahang state enforcement unit has been conducting integrated enforcement and mapping operations after suspecting that the Tasik Bera permanent forest reserve has been illegally cleared for commercial crops such as oil palm and rubber. (Pahang Tourism pic)

PUTRAJAYA:

Natural resources and environmental sustainability minister Arthur Joseph Kurup has urged that all activities at the Tasik Bera permanent forest reserve, a gazetted Ramsar Site, comply with the wise use principle – a key guide under the Ramsar Convention.

He said unauthorised exploration, logging and farming must be tackled prudently and in line with existing laws to protect the ecosystem and wildlife habitats.

“The Tasik Bera Conservation Forest Reserve was gazetted on Aug 30, 2007, under Section 7 of the National Forestry Act 1984 (Act 313).

“It was recognised as a Ramsar Site in 1994 and is internationally significant for its wetland ecology and biodiversity,” he said in a statement.

Kurup said his ministry, as the body responsible for coordinating the country’s commitments under the Ramsar Convention, consistently paid close attention to conservation efforts in the wetland area.

He said the ministry also supports the Pahang government’s integrated enforcement action against unauthorised exploration activities allegedly involving over 2,212 hectares within the permanent forest reserve.

“The operation takes into account the 79th National Land Council meeting’s Dec 2, 2021 decision, which stressed the importance of state enforcement action against unauthorised exploration in permanent forest reserves under Act 313,” he said.

Kurup said the ministry respects the state government’s jurisdiction over the management and administration of permanent forest reserves.

He added that the ministry would continue to coordinate at the federal level, thus strengthening strategic cooperation so as to ensure preservation and conservation efforts are carried out effectively.

He said such cooperation is vital in supporting the country’s commitment at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro to keep at least 50% of the nation’s land area under forest and tree cover.

To this end, Kurup said the forestry department would strengthen cooperation with the Pahang government and related agencies.

The Pahang state enforcement unit has been conducting integrated enforcement and mapping operations after suspecting that the Tasik Bera permanent forest reserve has been illegally cleared for commercial crops such as oil palm and rubber.

The unit suspects an illegal syndicate from outside Pahang manipulated the Orang Asli community to carry out large-scale land clearing under the guise of claiming customary land and roaming areas. - FMT