KUCHING: The Forest Department Sarawak (FDS) and Bintulu Port Holding Berhad (BPHB) has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), aimed at facilitating collaboration in Forest Landscape Restoration and Greening Sarawak Campaign activities.
The MoU will encourage cooperation in the areas such as restoration inside designated Permanent Forest Estates, seedling supply and production, engagement with local communities as well as sharing of knowledge and skills through capacity building, training, and study visit.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg witnessed the MoU signing ceremony between the two parties during the State-level International Day of Forest (IDF) celebration held at Sabal Forest Reserve near Serian on Saturday.
The event also saw the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) and Malaysian Community Care Foundation (MCCF) Resources Sdn Bhd.
The MoA will see the parties collaborate in the Sarawak Bamboo project.
Among the scope of works include promoting bamboo products through various channels, including international recognition, community awareness programmes, and marketing strategies both domestically and internationally.
It also entails participation in research and development, bamboo propagation, establishing processing facilities, and exploring green economy opportunities and providing initial funding support.
All proposals and areas of work and co-operation for the project are to be agreed jointly by both parties prior to start of work; and a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) will be set up between the parties to manage or run the commercial part of the project or any other parts of the project.
A presentation of the Malaysia Book of Records (MBOR) certificate for the most extensive planting of Shorea macrophylla trees, commonly known as ‘engkabang jantong’, with the planting of 3,010 seedlings at Sabal Forest Reserve on March 21 was also held in conjunction IDF celebration.
Shorea macrophylla from the Dipterocarpaceae family is an endemic species of Sarawak as well as other parts of Borneo. The fruit is also called illipenut which is rich in oil content and thus S. macrophylla is also named the ‘butter in the forest’ by the locals.
In conjunction with IDF 2024, FDS took an initiative to plant ‘engkabang’ trees as one of the conservation actions of this valuable species.
Furthermore, a special award was presented to the Japan Malaysia Association (JMA) coordinator, Kazue Sakai, in appreciation of her commitment and contribution to restoration activities in Sarawak since 1995 through close collaboration with FDS.
She has also actively involved the local community residing near the Permanent Forest Reserves and implemented various activities with the community under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of the JMA, besides encouraging Japanese citizens to contribute to restoration activities in Sarawak.
