KUCHING: Sarawak Timber Association (STA) has so far funded research and development (R&D) projects to the tune of RM6.5 million.
The research projects included propagation techniques of Meranti, Sawih, Kapur, Kelampayan, and Acacia mangium, identification of relationship between generic markers and favourable traits of Kelampayan, formulation of biofertilizer for Kelampayan and Ecalyptus Pellita and genetic improvement of Acacia Mangium and Batai species.
According to its chairman Datuk Wong Kie Yik, STA had also co-operated with Sarawak Forestry Corporation Sdn Bhd (SFC) to conduct a weight to volume conversion factor study for both Kelampayan and Eucalyptus Pellita to derive the conversion factor for use in the royalty and assessments of these two planted species.
“Nonetheless, strong support from the State Government is needed to scale up these initiatives into broader strategies for the development and success of the forest plantation in the State,” said Wong in his annual report on the workings of STA for the year 2017, at the STA Annual General Meeting held at Wisma STA here, yesterday.
STA Forest Plantation Committee during a study tour to Southern China was impressed by the commitment of the Chinese Government in driving the development of its forest plantation.
The Chinese Government does not collect royalty and cess on plantation logs, provide infrastructures but establish research agencies and provide technical support and advice.
“STA would like to urge the State Government to emulate the unwavering support by the Chinese Government and resolve issues such as claims of native customary rights over land.
“Other issues include the escalating recruitment and labour costs due to government’s policy of reducing dependency on foreign workers and overlapping administrative controls.
“We would like the government to provide stronger research support in order for planting to progress,” he said, pointing out that these issues had caused uncertainties and insecurities, and if not resolved, will hamper the progress of planting.
Wong thanked the State Government for including STA in the review of the Planted Forests Policy and hoped these views would be adopted by the State Government.
He also hoped that STA could participate and contribute in other revisions to forests policies and decisions affecting the industry.
“In the face of a depressed market, high production costs and competition from other countries, the tremendous increase in the premium coupled with the decline in log production over the foreseeable future, it will be very difficult for the industry to sustain,” stressed Wong.
Wong also said STA Mutual Sdn Bhd (STAM) had undertaken several Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects with STA member companies during the year.
Students studying in schools located within the concession areas of member companies had benefited from school bags and stationaries provided by STAM as well as better learning environment through repair works and improvements to the schools’ facilities.
Other education initiatives by STAM included working with STIDC to improve infrastructures of rural schools in Sarawak, the award of three scholarships to tertiary students and cash awards to 962 students who had excelled in their SPM and STPM examination in 2016.
STAM also had plans to provide education assistance to 20 vocational students from Institute Latihan Perindustrian (ILP) Kota Samarahan in 2018.
It had also allocated a sum of RM1.07 million for 19 social and welfare organisations in Sarawak during the year.
