Lee: Be passionate in forest conservation
MIRI: Environmental awareness in Sarawak is increasing when compared to five to 10 years ago as can be seen in the numerous reports in both the electronic and print media as well as in scientific researches.
Assistant Minister for Communications Datuk Lee Kim Shin said however that awareness alone without commitment would not bring much impact towards sustainable management of the environment.
“There must be passion and determination in protecting, conserving and rehabilitating the environment and today’s effort though very small augurs well in the overall sustainable development and management of the environment,” said Lee when launching a tree planting project at Kampong Masjid, Kuala Baram.
At the same time there must be collaborative efforts among the various government agencies and society at large, in designing and implementing environmental based programmes, he said.
Among the projects that could be done are planting trees on gotong royong basis and programme to control illegal encroachment and development of the forest.
“I am confident with active involvement of the people, there will be a greater sense of belonging and consequently will spur them to protect and conserve the forest – our rich natural heritage,” he said.
On the tree-planting project which is part of the nation-wide programme to plant mangrove trees and other suitable species, Lee said it deserved strong support by all strata of the society.
Mangrove and peat swamp forests besides maintaining the equilibrium of the ecosystem in the coastal areas, also protect the people from natural calamities like tidal waves and tsunami.
He said the government on its part would step up the project as well as other projects to protect the environment.
Among the projects are the establishment of national parks such as the Gunung Mulu National Park, Lambir and Niah National Parks.
For the tree planting project, 16.3 hectares of land in Northern Sarawak consisting of Kuala Lawas, Kampong Awat-Awat in Lawas, Kuala Sibuti and Kuala Baram in Miri had been planted with 14,982 various species of trees including bakau and rhu laut.
Meanwhile the director of Forestry Department, Datuk Len Talif Salleh in his speech said the figure is part of the total 473,530 mangrove trees and other suitable species planted on 244.3 hectares since the tree-planting programme along coastal areas began in 2006.
The federal government allocated RM3.5 million to the Forestry Department to implement the project under the Ninth Malaysia Plan.
He said Kampong Masjid is the last leg of the project under the current Malaysia Plan. Similar projects are to be carried out in the Tenth Malaysia Plan.
Len’s text was read by Wan Sardini Wan Salleh who is the state -level chairman for the technical working committee of the tree planting project.
Posted on October 10, 2010, Sunday
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