KUCHING: The Forest Department Sarawak (FDS) has inked and exchanged a letter of understanding (LoU) with Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences in Velp, the Netherlands, as its step towards bolstering forest carbon initiatives in Sarawak.
According to a statement from FDS, the collaboration was formalised during a forest carbon trading mechanism training programme hosted by the university.
The collaboration aligns with the state’s commitment to forest conservation, afforestation, and reforestation efforts.
“These initiatives contribute to global efforts to combat climate change while opening doors to new revenue streams from Sarawak’s forests, including those generated through forest carbon projects,” the department said.
Touching on the programme, FDS said its representatives were invited to participate in the specialised training programme which covered key topics such as policy and regulatory frameworks for forest carbon trading; project development and implementation strategies; case studies and best practices in the field; and measurement and verification procedures aligned with international standards and protocols
During the keynote address, FDS deputy director Semilan Ripot stressed the importance of the initiative as he linked it to the Sarawak government’s Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, which prioritises forestry as a key economic sector.
In line with this, the programme also includes presentations by FDS’ officers to international students and stakeholders.
FDS pointed out that the knowledge exchange fosters the exchange of technical expertise, scientific data, and evidence-based information.
“This will ultimately support the Sarawak government in making informed decisions and establishing policies that ensure the forest carbon activities in Sarawak are well-positioned within the international market and aligned with carbon standards.
“Moreover, this collaborative effort signifies a critical step forward in propelling Sarawak’s forest carbon initiatives and solidifying its commitment to sustainable forest management practices,” it said.
