Community involvement vital to Sarawak’s forest carbon initiatives

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Participants of the seminar. Photo: UKAS

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KAPIT: Community participation in forest carbon initiatives is vital in driving Sarawak’s sustainable economic growth, said Kapit Forestry Officer Afriezul Abdul Rahman.

He said the state government has taken proactive steps by gazetting amendments to the Forests Ordinance 2015 and introducing the Forests (Forest Carbon Activity) Rules 2022 to establish a clear and transparent legal framework for the implementation of forest carbon projects.

“These regulations are designed not only to protect the rights of project developers but also to safeguard the rights of landowners, especially those with Native Customary Rights (NCR),” he said.

He said this during the Seminar for Local Communities Owning NCR Land under Section 6 and Section 18 of the Sarawak Land Code for the Forest Carbon Initiative 2025 held here last Wednesday.

He said the seminar focused on four key areas: the importance of forest carbon management and the role of forests in absorbing carbon dioxide; economic, social and environmental benefits such as community incentives and well-being; a community-based approach that encourages local involvement in environmental conservation; and the potential of NCR land for sustainable management and carbon value enhancement.

“The seminar also serves to raise awareness of the state’s forest carbon policies, educate communities on the economic and ecosystem benefits, equip them with the necessary knowledge and skills for sustainable land management, and strengthen cooperation among government agencies and local communities,” he added.

Afriezul expressed hope that the programme would serve as a meaningful platform to empower NCR landowners and reinforce the community’s role in realising forest carbon initiatives.

“It is through collective efforts like these that we can shape a greener and more sustainable future for the state,” he said.

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