Melvin Jong
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Conservation: Approximately 78 per cent of Brunei's land area is still currently under forest cover. Picture: BT/Melvin Jong
THE Sultanate's strong conservation policy to continue the development and management of the country's forest resources in a sustainable manner ensures that the country is not a contributor to the effects of global warming and climate change.
"We currently have more than enough forest cover in Brunei," said directory of forestry, Hj Saidin Salleh.
In an interview yesterday, the director informed The Brunei Times that approximately 78 per cent of Brunei's land area is still currently under forest cover.
"This percentage is very high especially when compared to some of the other more industrialised countries."
When asked about the recent irregular weather occurrences which resulted in floods and landslides experienced by the country, Hj Saidin reminded us that climate change is a global issue.
"The contributor is not Brunei but (other countries) as they cut down the forests without proper management and conservation plans."
"Brunei is on the right track, there is nothing to worry about. This is due to the country having a very strong conservation policy," said Hj Saidin, who added that Brunei should be regarded as a role model by other countries.
"We have to invite other countries to do the same, we try to persuade them to participate in some of our conservation projects such as Heart of Borneo."
The director also spoke of the Forestry Department's mission of managing the country's forest resources in a sustainable manner through continued efforts to increase the percentage of forest cover and forest reserves.
"We also enrich the logged over areas for replantation so that the second rotation of logging will still be productive," said Hj Saidin.
He went on to speak of Brunei's "Cut one, plant four" policy where sawmills are required to subsidise the planting of four trees for every tree felled, an initiative which might increase the productivity of the land area by over 1,000 per cent.
"There are only 14 matured trees per hectare in a virgin forest and this is already considered to be very rich, but with enrichment planting the stock of the logged over area can produce up to 142 mature trees per hectare."
"Here in Brunei, we also practice a selective tree felling system to make sure that only mature trees are logged," he added before clarifying that all trees in Brunei has to be inspected and marked by Forestry Department before they can be logged.
"If not chopped, these matured trees will die standing. This is also not a correct way of managing the forests as well," he added.
With this in mind, Hj Saidin elaborated on the necessity for the industries to utilise these forest resources efficiently to minimise wastage.
"Do not chop the whole tree down, leaving parts of it to die in the forest, only to convert its branches into souvenirs," he said
He said that another way to minimise wastage was to substitute the use of timber products with other materials.
"An example of this would be the use of concrete piling which is better and stronger when compared to bakau (mangrove) poles."
"In addition to this we also work with the other ministries to alleviate and reduce land use conflict," he said.
Hj Saidin pointed out that by conducting ongoing awareness programmes such as the World Forestry Day and excursions to saw mills and forestry plantations by the Forestry Department help in getting the public involve in forest conservation.
Brunei's 27th celebration of World Forestry Day will be launched this morning at Bukit Shahbandar Recreation Park.
Themed Forest: Averting Climate Change, this year's celebration will serve to raise the public's awareness on the importance of preserving the Sultanate's forests. (MJH1)
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