KUCHING: A balance has to be struck between the growth of the non-timber forest products (NTFP) industry and efforts to sustain and conserve forest resources, said Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Assistant Minister Datuk Len Talif Salleh.
“Research and development involving the cultivation of forest resources should be continued to prevent the drastic depletion of Sarawak’s forest resources,” he told reporters at the opening ceremony of the Non-Timber Forest Products Carnival Sarawak 2019 at Kuching Waterfront here, yesterday.
“We have to collaborate with international agencies and also those from Peninsular Malaysia. The knowledge is there.
“We have to rehabilitate to prevent these resources from depleting,” he added.
Citing rattan as an example, he said, “Rattan is difficult to grow, I have tried it myself. Its growth is slow. We need to find ways to get the plants back if the rattan industry is to remain economically viable.”
