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Sarawak already planted more trees than other states

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State Forest Department director Datuk Hamden Mohammad deliver his speech at the state-level International Forest Day 2021 celebration at Bukit Siol DBKU in Petra Jaya, Kuching. Photo: Mohd Alif Noni

KUCHING: Compared to all states, Sarawak has so far planted the most number of trees under the Malaysian Greening Campaign that was launched last January 5 with a target of planting 100 million trees nationwide by 2025.

The state Forestry Department director Datuk Hamden Mohammad stated that he is confident that Sarawak will be able to sustain its efforts to achieve the eventual target.

“We are confident because by 2020, Sarawak had already successfully planted 10.4 million trees. This year, as of March 26, we have planted 3.15 million more trees.

“Now the state is aiming to plant 35 million by 2025, meaning that every year we target to plant seven million. So I am sure that the target is achievable as we have been doing this green initiative since last year,” he said.

Hamden revealed that the department had already discussed working with Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) to conduct various researches in the field of forestry.

“The highlight of our discussion with them concerns methods to accelerate the planting process in all degraded forests in the state such as how to use drone seeding technology.

“We need to utilise the technology to identify degraded areas that need to be restored. We are also using hyperspectral technology to identify areas suitable for replanting,” he said.

On the theme of the International Forest Day celebration this year, ‘Forest restoration: a path to recovery and well-being’, he noted that it was very much in line with the state government’s initiative of ensuring that Sarawak is always green through its Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR).

“The tagline, ‘Towards a Greener Generation’ expresses a hope for all Sarawakians of various ages to participate in the efforts to green the state.

“Sarawak is very fortunate to have Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg because he strongly supports this effort in making Sarawak green,” he said.

Hamden stated that as the lead agency for the FLR initiative, they will continue to intensify their efforts so that the aspirations of the state government can be achieved.

“Since the FLR was launched on June 15 last year by our chief minister, various efforts and tree planting programmes in the state have been implemented.

“Aside from planting local tree species, we also plant other fast-growing indigenous species such as engkabang, kelampayan, sawih, geronggang and so on.

“We also do studies and research to see the potential of the local species,” he said.

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