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KUANTAN – Pahang is estimated to have lost RM387.8 million in state revenue after more than 7,000 hectares of Permanent Forest Reserve (HSK) in Tasek Bera were illegally cleared.
Pahang Forestry Department deputy director (Operations) Dr Grippin Anak Akeng said the estimate was based on a stumpage value of RM55,400 per hectare of cleared forest.
“The amount is a rough estimate because the actual figure can only be determined after a detailed census is carried out in the field,” he said, as reported by Pahang Media.
Pahang State Enforcement Unit (UPNP) chief Saifullah Muhammad Ali said the area identified in the unit's mapping exercise was consistent with the extent of the cleared land.
He said the mapping showed that the affected areas included oil palm, rubber and coconut plantations, cash crops and new clearings covering about 7,163 hectares.
“The area that has been cleared was also determined based on satellite image checks through the Malaysian Space Agency (MYSA),” he said.
The state government began integrated enforcement operations at the Tasek Bera Permanent Forest Reserve on Sept 14 after more than 7,000 hectares of forest gazetted under the Ramsar Convention were found to have been illegally cleared.
