TAWAU: The Sabah Forestry Department (SFD) will continue to monitor the implementation of all forest plantation projects in the state to ensure that all development activities adhere to the principles of Sustainable Forest Management.
Chief Conservator of Forests, Datuk Frederick Kugan, said this is crucial in balancing environmental conservation and the state’s economic development.
He said this after visiting the plantation site of Kalabakan Borneo Resources Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Usahawan Borneo Group, in Serudong, where he also inspected the tree nursery.
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.defineSlot('/22826383987/dailyexpress_inline', [1, 1], 'gpt-passback').addService(googletag.pubads());googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('gpt-passback');});The visit, which aimed to better understand the breeding process and planting preparations on the ground, was also joined by his wife, Rosita Limy, and more than 30 senior SFD officers.
During the visit, Frederick praised the company’s excellent performance in sustainable forest management, describing it as a model company for forest plantation development in Sabah.
According to him, the company manages a 23,610-hectare forest plantation area in the Serudong Forest Reserve — more than half of the total land approved for forest plantation development in Kalabakan.
“To date, the Sabah Forestry Department has approved over 40,000 hectares of land in Kalabakan for this purpose,” he said in a statement.
He added that the company had planted various fast-growing commercial tree species, including Batai trees (Falcataria moluccana).
“This species has a short harvesting cycle and high economic value, which helps improve the productivity of forest plantations,” he said.
He said that the use of fast-growing species like this contributes to the sustainable and economically balanced development of Sabah’s forestry industry.
Frederick added that Kalabakan Borneo Resources consistently upholds social and environmental responsibility in executing its projects.
The company, he said, fully complies with the standards set by the department and has demonstrated a high level of management and implementation on the ground.
Earlier, the delegation was welcomed by Usahawan Borneo Group Chairman, Datuk Seri Elbert Lim Yu Ming, along with the company’s senior management team.
They were given a detailed briefing on the company’s planting plans, breeding techniques, and environmental conservation efforts.