Sustainable Forest Management in Malaysia - The Way Forward

INTRODUCTION

1. Allow me to begin by extending my heartiest congratulations to the Thailand Environment Institute for organising this Annual Conference, particularly to its dynamic president, Dr. Dhira Phantumvanit who has cordially extended his invitation for me to address this distinguished gathering. The theme selected and the various topics scheduled to be discussed over the next few days are very befitting and timely amidst the global concern on environment and sustainable development. The theme is of great concern to forestry as forest is an integral component of the overall environment.

 
2. It is indeed a great honour for me to be accorded this privilege to address such a distinct gathering of experts in environmental management and environmental sciences specialists, representatives from both the public and private sectors, practising foresters and experienced forest managers, as well as the NGOs. In this context, as requested by the organiser, I have great pleasure to present to you my address entitled "Sustainable Forest Management in Malaysia - The Way Forward" in which I would share with you some of our experience in forestry management and development undertaken and our vision and challenges pertaining to the future development of the sector and the sustainable management and utilisation of our invaluable natural heritage.

CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT
 
3. While sustainable socio-economic development that balances the needs of her people, the protection of the environment and the conservation of her rich and diverse natural forest resources has been the policy of the Malaysian Government, I must admit that there are a bewildering number of definitions for sustainable forest management, propounded by numerous international bodies and individuals. According to the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO, 1992), sustainable forest management is defined as the process of managing permanent forest land to achieve one or more clearly specified objectives of management with regard to the production of a continuous flow of desired forest products and services without undue reduction of its inherent values and future productivity and without undue undesirable effects on the physical and social environment while FAO (1993) defines it as one which ensures that the values derived from forest meet present - day needs while at the same time ensuring their continued availability and utilisation to long-term development needs.

 
4. Basing on these definitions, it is apparent that the concept of sustainable forest management is an all encompassing one. Forests are now no longer viewed solely for timber production, but also for their non-timber values such as recreation, conservation of biological diversity, as well as for their social, cultural and environmental functions.

IMPORTANCE OF SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT
 
5. Though the definitions of sustainable forest management are already varied and cover a wide spectrum, people will continue to find ways and means to add more definitions to suit their own purposes. However, its realisation is of great significance to the survival of the human species. The importance of this can be viewed through the contributions of forests in the following perspectives:

1. Socio-economic contribution;
2. Environmental protection; and
3. Biodiversity conservation.


Socio-economic Contribution

6. The socio-economic contributions of the forests are well recognised and have long been realised. Forests have important social roles, especially for the indigenous people and the rural communities living in or near forest. In fact, it was reported that many forest communities are highly sophisticated, deriving many different kinds of resources from the ecosystem (Holdgate, 1993). For example, Holdgate (1993) based on the report by Hamilton and King (1983, cited in Holdgate, 1993) stated that in Papua New Guinea, 32 different uses of forest products have been documented, from contraceptives, beverages and condiments to fish intoxicants and musical instruments. Moreover, for certain communities, the forest is not only the source of livelihood but has shaped the institutions and the customs as well as the culture of its people.

 
7. In this similar light, the economic significance of forest is also well appreciated in terms of the contributions of forest-based industries and trade to economic well-being of the nations. For many developing countries especially those with strong forest-base, forest products contributed significantly to their revenue collection for national development and earned foreign exchange to help reduce their trade deficit. In Malaysia, for example, forestry sector earned RM13.3 billion in the export of timber and timber products which accounted for 8.7 per cent of the country's total export earnings in 1994. In the same year, the sector also collected RM1.9 billion in forest revenue and provided direct employment for close to 230,000 people or approximately 3 per cent of the country's labour force.


Environmental Conservation
 

8. Other than providing social and economic contributions, sustainable forest management is also critical in maintaining the role of the forests in environmental conservation. Although not easily translated into financial values, forests and trees play important roles in watershed protection, conservation of soil and water resources, sequestration of atmospheric carbon dioxide and mitigation of 'green house' effect. In this context, forests remove CO₂ from the atmosphere and store it in roots, stems, branches and leaves. Through the process of photosynthesis, O₂ is then released back to the atmosphere while decomposition of dead vegetative components or of dead trees will produce CO₂. Aoki et. al. (1975 cited in Soepadmo, 1984), through their studies in Pasoh Forest Reserve, Malaysia, had estimated that the whole day gross uptake of CO₂ by the forest canopy as being 396 kg CO₂/ha/day or equal to 145 ton CO₂/ha/year. However, the net gain in O₂ or CO₂ in the atmosphere depend greatly on the state in which the forest is in: growing or old growth? It has been found that a growing or dynamic forest ecosystem will produce a net gain of O₂, i.e. fixes more CO₂ and releases more O₂ (Kimmins, 1992). Thus, managed forest, and hence sustainably managed forest is more effective in carbon sequestration than an old-growth forest.

 
9. Also, it has been widely accepted that soil fertility will be adversely reduced with the removal of vegetative cover of the forest while at the same time the erodability of the top soil will be amplified. This protective function of the forest is even more critical in hill forests and in steep slopes due to their thin top soil layer and increased susceptibility to erosion. In this light, the importance of sustainable forest management, which intrinsically must include protective measures such as reduced impact logging and the systematic and planned opening of the forest canopy can be easily appreciated.

 
10. One important non-wood forest products which, unfortunately is currently taken for granted is water. River, through which the water supply is sourced from, mostly originated from forested watershed. In this regard, 97 per cent of the clean water in Malaysia is derived from rivers. Based on recent statistics, the demand for water in Malaysia in 1996 is estimated to be 10.71 million m³ and this demand is growing at 4 per cent annually. Subsequently, its management which hinges on the degree of forest protection in the upstream, and thus sustainable forest management will become ever more crucial.


Biodiversity Protection
 

11. The biological diversity of tropical forests constitutes a unique national and international asset. In this context, Malaysia has been acknowledged as one of the mega-diversity areas in the world. With only 0.2 per cent of total land area of the world, Malaysia is the home to 6 per cent of the world's flowering plant species. These diverse genetic resources of the forests have always been an important source of drugs, foods, spices, fuels and industrial raw materials in many societies. To illustrate this importance, it has been reported by World Health Organisation that more than 80 per cent of the people in developing countries rely chiefly on traditional medicines for their primary health care needs, of which a major portion involves the use of plant extracts or their active principles (Fransworth et. al, 1985 cited in Azizol and Ng, 1995).

 
12. However, this important role of the tropical forests is being threatened. Freezailah (1993) reported that the annual loss of tropical forests for the period of 1980-1990 was 17 million ha which, incidentally, is as big as the combined land area of Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah. This rapid depletion of tropical forests is of great concern as some of the genetic materials lost have not had their potential fully realised or their scientific information recorded. Thus, the genuine desire to achieve sustainable forest management will ensure biodiversity protection as the conservation of the genetic resources is fundamental to the sustainable management of the forest ecosystem in which they occur (Kemp, 1992).

ESSENTIAL OF SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT
 
13. While is has been recognised that forests are resilient ecosystems, there are obviously limits to their ability to withstand environmental change and human induced interference beyond which they will degrade (Maini, 1992). Thus, understanding these limits will not only allow us to enhance the forest outputs, but more importantly, it will enable us to better define and strive towards the attainment of sustainable forest management as the latter must take cognizance of the limits of forest ecosystem to withstand environmental change, individually and collectively, and in managing human activities to produce maximum level of benefits obtainable within these limits. In other words, adequate and strong ecological foundation are critical requirement for sustainable forest management.

 
14. However, understanding the limits of the forest ecosystem alone in not sufficient to ensure the attainment of sustainable forest management. Several other critical factors which are deemed to be essentials need to be addressed. These include the following:

1. Forest Policy and Legislation;
2. Securing the Permanent Reserved Forest;
3. Integrated Forest Planning and Management'
4. Harvesting Control;
5. Research and Development; and
6. Institutional Frameworks.

Let me now briefly describe these essentials in the context of Malaysia.

Forest Policy and Legislation

15. It has been recognised that a strong and continued political commitment at the highest level is indispensable for sustainable forest management to succeed. This is particularly so in Malaysia where land is a state matter and is thus within the jurisdiction of the respective State Governments. Under the Malaysian Constitution, each state is empowered to enact laws on forestry and to formulate forest policy independently. The executive authority of the Federal Government only extends to the provision of advice and technical assistance to the states, training and the conduct of research and maintenance of experimental and demonstration stations.

 
16. Realising this and to facilitate the adoption of a coordinated and common approach to forestry, the National Forestry Council (NFC) which is empowered under the Malaysian Constitution to formulate a national policy for the promotion and control of utilization of land for mining, agriculture and forestry was established by the National Land Council (NLC). The NFC also serves as a forum for the Federal and the State Governments to discuss and resolve common problems and issues relating to forestry policy, administration and management. Subsequently, a common forestry policy, namely the National Forestry Policy was adopted and implemented in 1978. The Policy was further strengthened in 1992 to take into consideration new development and global emphasis particularly in the areas of biodiversity and environmental protection.

 
17. To ensure the effective implementation of the National Forestry Policy, various forestry enactments and rules that were formulated and enforced by the respective state authorities since the turn of the century were found to be deficient in some aspects of forest protection of environmental stability and ecological balance. To overcome these shortcomings, a National Forestry Act was formulated and enforced in 1984. This act was subsequently amended in 1993 to strengthen its provisions whereby severe penalties were imposed to deter forest offenses, especially that of illegal logging.


Securing the Permanent Reserved Forest
 

18. To ensure sustainable forest management, it is of paramount importance that permanent forest reserve with a guaranteed long-term tenure as part of the overall land use plan be established. In this regard, Malaysia, with a total forested area of 18.9 million ha or 58 per cent of total land area, is one of the few tropical countries in the world that has strived towards sustainable forest management with commitment to the maintenance of this long-term tenure and legally guaranteed forest reserve known as Permanent Reserved Forest (PRF).

 
19. Recognising this importance, Malaysia has designated 14.3 million ha which covers 44 per cent of the total land area as PRF. Of this, approximately 3.4 million ha are Protection Forests while the remaining 10.9 million ha are Production Forests.

 
20. In addition, recognising the crucial role of forests is not only in the production of timber but also in the conservation of soil, water, wildlife and the environment, a total of 1.8 million ha of forested land outside the PRF have also been designated as conservation areas comprising national parks, wildlife reserves and sanctuaries. The balance of 2.8 million ha of forested land are conversion forests which are earmarked for non-forestry uses, mainly for the establishment of agricultural tree crops, as well as for industrial and other economic uses. Detail information on forest resources of Malaysia is as shown in Appendix I.


21. To ensure their security, the status of the PRF is gazetted by the various State Authorities in accordance with the National Forestry Act, 1984 (Amended 1993).

 
22. In addition, control and regulation of forest resources in Malaysia so as to ensure the continuity of flow of forest products is done using the Area Control approach where a certain area of forest is designated for harvesting each year. This is done normally through the allocation of an annual felling coupe based on resource availability and current forest management practices over a five-yearly planning horizon. Nevertheless, efforts are now been undertaken to incorporate volume control into the area control approach to further enhance the sustainability of the forest resource. The latter approach would entail setting a periodic cut based on joint considerations of area, volume and silvicutural conditions of the area.


Integrated Forest Planning and Management
 

23. Proper planning, appropriate forest management practices and regulation are imperative and should be the essential components of long-term sustainable forest management. Recognising this, forestry planning and development in Malaysia is spearheaded through a series of five-year national development programmes under the various five-yearly Malaysia Plans. As in the case of Peninsular Malaysia, the Forestry Department Headquarters formulates forest policies and strategies for the development and management of the forest resources while the various State Forestry Departments are responsible for implementing these policies and strategies.

 
24. As defined in the National Forestry Act, 1984 (Amended 1993), the State Forestry Departments are responsible for all matters related to forest administration, planning, management and development. Under Section 4 of the same Act, the State Director of Forestry is required to prepare and implement forest management plan, reforestation plan and programmes relating to amenity forests. In this context, all the states in Peninsular Malaysia have already prepared their respective 10-year Forest Management Plans.

 
25. In addition, sustainable forest management is impossible without having first the existence of a management system. In this regard, the use of a more systematic approach in managing the forests in Peninsular Malaysia began in 1901 when the first Forest Officer was appointed. Since then, forest management practices in Peninsular Malaysia had been subjected to constant review and refinement so as to ensure their suitability in achieving forest renewal and sustained yield. This is clearly reflected in the successional change of forest management practices used: from the Departmental Improvement Felling (DIF) in the 1920's, to Malayan Uniform System (MUS) in the late 1940's and to the Selective Management System (SMS) in the 1980's. All these are, but a reflection of Malaysia's sincere and continuos quest to manage its forest resources on a sustainable basis.

 
26. Currently, Dipterocarp Forests in Malaysia are managed under the Selective Management System which entails the selection of optimum management (felling) regimes based on pre-felling forest inventory and the retention of at least 32 sound commercial trees per hectare for diameter class 30-45 cm. The System is designed to achieve sustainability of the forest with minimum forest development costs and to optimise the management objectives of economic and efficient harvesting under prevailing conditions. The cutting cycle under the System is approximately 25-35 years after the first logging with an expected net economic outturn of 30-40 m³/ha enriched with dipterocarp species.


Harvesting Control
 

27. As stated, earlier, although the forest is relatively resilient ecosystem, its regenerative capacity will be greatly affected if disturbances incurred are beyond its withstanding limits. When this happens, the overall sustainability of the forest will be jeopardised. Thus, stringent measures must be taken so that the detrimental effects on the environment arising from forest production are kept minimum. In this regard, forest harvesting and all related infrastructure development in both PRF and non-PRF forested land must be properly coordinated and regulated in accordance with the prescribed forest management and harvesting plans, so as to maintain a favourable level of log production while minimising damage to regeneration. Towards this end, the Forestry Department has adopted regulations and guidelines for the harvesting of such forest lands. These include "Standard Road Specifications" and "Forest Harvesting Guidelines". These guidelines are all incorporated as part of the conditions or requirements in the logging licenses which must be adhered to during forest harvesting operations.


Research and Development
 

28. Forest management is not static. On the contrary, it is highly dynamic and dependent on the aspirations and needs of the people. In this light, it must be supported by an appropriate R & D programme and the existence of a relevant and coordinated R & D programme is critical to the realisation of the desired sustainable forest management. This is especially so in the case of tropical forest. With its complexities and the many challenges ahead, the role of R & D towards sustainable forest management cannot be over emphasised.


Institutional Framework
 

29. Above all, there must be a national agency capable of managing the PRF and assisting in the management of private and customarily held forests, according to the objectives laid down in the national forestry policy. This national agency should receive technical back-up support from other relevant agencies notably in research and development activities, marketing and promotion in order to ensure the compatibility of forest management operations with the objective of sustainable forest management.

 
30. In Malaysia, the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia, the Forestry Department of Sabah, the Forestry Department of Sarawak, Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM), Malaysian Timber Industry Board (MTIB) and the Malaysian Timber Council (MTC) are directly involved and responsible for the overall administration, management, and research and development of the forest and forestry sector. All these departments are under the Ministry of Primary Industries, Malaysia. In addition, there are a number of other centres of excellence where complementary R & D are being conducted. These include the Forest Research Centre at Sandakan in Sabah, the Timber Research and Technical Centre and the Forestry Research Division of the Sarawak Forestry Department, the Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation and the Faculty of Forestry at the University of Agriculture, Malaysia. The latter is also the educational centre responsible for producing professional and technical personnel for the forestry sector in Malaysia.

 
31. Although it may appear from what I have just elaborated, that our achievement in forest management is straight forward, simple, and smooth sailing, I must qualify and confess that all this is not achieved effortlessly. On the contrary, we have faced many constraints and the result is the fruition of countless endeavour and sheer determination of our concerned national leaders and forefathers of Malaysia. In the case of forest policy and legislation, it took almost half a century to put in place a national forestry policy and legislation for the country. This delay is simply due to the constraints caused by the decentralisation of powers vested by the Malaysian Constitution between the state and federal government. In this regard, the harmonisation of these differences pertaining to forestry was only achieved in 1971 through the establishment of the National Forestry Council.

 
32. At the same time, we were also faced with problems of funding. Securing adequate financial resources for forest rehabilitation and development work towards sustainable forest management in the various states in Malaysia was an onerous task. As a developing country, the limited financial resource needs to spread thinly to support developments in other sectors. To overcome this constraint, a Forest Development Fund was created under the National Forestry Act, 1984 whereby development cess will be collected to fund forest rehabilitation and silvicultural works on logged-over or degraded forests.

 CHALLENGES TO MALAYSIAN FORESTRY
 
33. As the 21^st century approaches nearer, the question of what the next century has in store for the humankind is of paramount concern. There is a definitive trend of a substantial population increase in the world. It has been estimated that the current 5.5 billion will increase to 9 or 10 billion people by the middle of the next century. Most of this growth will happen in developing nations. On one hand, it is predicted that half a billion people will suffer from malnutrition and 15 million will die each year from starvation and diseases. It is also predicted that deforestation, desertification, soil erosion and unavailability and shortage of clean water will deny the means to sustain the increasing human population. At the same time, there will also be shortage of earth's finite resources such as steel and oil. On the other hand, it is also predicted that the next century will be one of prosperity, with increased output of goods and services, international trade, accumulation of wealth, and increased standards of living for all.

 
34. Nonetheless, two major challenges facing the world communities are, to meet the demand of an increasing population and to avert environmental degradation. Finding a balance between these is the key to sustainable development that will ensure the survival and well-being of humankind. In the ultimate sense, poverty is indeed the single most serious threat to sustainability of the forest.

 
35. In the case of Malaysia, the increase in population is quite clear and it is estimated to reach 52 million people by the middle of the next century. Of this, the urban population may well be over 60 per cent. As a result, there will be pressure on land, not only for agriculture, but also for housing and other amenities which will definitely increase with the population. This invariably will exert substantial pressure on the remaining forest area as these are the only land reserve available in the country.

 
36. Based on these predictions, what will the future of Malaysia in the 21^st century be? And how would the natural resource sector, specifically that of the forestry, fare in the 21^st century? I am optimistic that with the current development achievement and the conducive political, cultural and economic atmospheres, Malaysia will continue to progress well on its route to attain the status of a developed nation by the year 2020.
37. As the country progresses towards industrialisation, the roles of the forests are becoming more important. These roles of forestry have been clearly stressed in the goals and aspirations of the Vision 2020 by the Prime Minister of Malaysia as follows: I quote:

 
"….. we need also to ensure that our valuable natural resources are not wasted. Our land must remain productive and fertile, our atmosphere clear and clean, our water unpolluted, our forest resources capable of regeneration, able to yield the needs of our national development. The beauty of our land must not be desecrated - for its own sake and for our economic advancement." Unquote.
 
38. In my humble opinion, the future scenario of Malaysian forestry will be focused on the attainment of the above Vision and that will be our greatest challenge in the 21^st century.

 
39. Based on this, allow me to briefly touch on the way forward of Malaysian Forestry.

 
40. Firstly, Sustainability Of The Forest Resource. Although everybody agrees that the sustainability of the tropical forests is of paramount importance, there is still much disagreement over the meaning of sustainability and its assessment. To me, it simply implies that we have to manage our invaluable forest resources to ensure continuous flow of goods and services in perpetuity for the benefit of the people.

 
41. With the current international commitments, particularly in achieving the ITTO Year 2000 Objective, we can expect that all timber from Malaysia will be sourced from sustainably managed forest and that timber certification will be a norm. There will also be greater understanding, cooperation and commitment form both the government and the private sectors. Towards this end, Malaysia has established a National Committee on Sustainable Forest Management in 1994 to ensure that the ITTO's Criteria of the Measurement of Sustainable Tropical Forest Management are fully implemented. To further support the Committee's work, a Working Group on Sustainable Natural Forest Management, Peninsular Malaysia was also formed in 1994 at the Forestry Department Headquarters, Peninsular Malaysia. Subsequently, the Committee had formulated a total of 88 activities, based on 5 criteria and 27 indicators, to operationalise the ITTO's criteria on sustainable forest management at the national level, and 84 activities, based on 6 criteria and 23 indicators at the forest management unit level. As well, management specifications for the assessment of sustainable forest management at both national and forest management unit levels have also been developed to facilitate timber certification in the future.

 
42. In addition, with rapid pace of industrialisation and the current policy of halting the opening of new forested land area for agriculture purposes, the total area of the Permanent Reserved Forest may in fact be increased from the current 14.3 million ha through the inclusion of the existing Stateland Forests, as well as rehabilitation of waste and abandoned lands. I envisage that this could be undertaken by farmers and small-holders in the future as a profitable proposition. At the same time, there will be greater participation from the private sector to create additional timber resources through the establishment of forest plantations.

 
43. Secondly, environmental consideration will be one of the major concerns of Malaysia in the 21^st century. Environmental woes such as those related to the disposal of toxic wastes, air and water, as well as noise pollution, emission and concentration of atmospheric CO² and the occurrence of acid rains will become centre of attention for all. Environment and development cannot be treated by fragmented institutions and policies as they linked in a complex system of cause and effect. In order to avert these, environmental management must be well planned and coordinated by all parties concerned. In fact, every individual must play an proactive role to ensure environmental stability. Forestry invariably will become a focal point in this future endeavour.

 
44. Thirdly, forest management in Malaysia is expected to undergo a major re-engineering and transformation. The traditional system of sustained yield timber production will be replaced by a new paradigm of sustainable multi-resource forest management. The management emphasis will be refocused from mainly timber to the simultaneous production of several socially desirable outputs, encompassing water, non-timber produce such as rattan, bamboo, medicinal plants, resins and dyes; recreational and other protective functions. Due consideration will be accorded to conservation and preservation of the forest resource base to protect our biological diversity through the maintenance of national parks, Virgin Jungle Reserve (VJR) and wildlife sanctuaries. A holistic approach in forest management will be adopted where a comprehensive multi-resource inventory will be undertaken in order to zone the forest resource in accordance to its inherent capacity and capability.

 
45. My fourth point touches on the forest industry. Based on the projections made on forest production, log supply in Malaysia is expected to be gradually reduced over the coming decade and stabilised at around 30 million cubic meters. This would give rise to a log deficit of 8 million cubic meters. Consequently, the sector, in striving to stay aloof of this inherent problem, is expected to adapt to the situation through advancement of technology, reduction of production costs and wastage, as well as reorientation of product promotion and subsequently acceptance by the consumers. Hence, it requires efficiency in production and changes in consumption pattern as well as an increase in utilization efficiency. In other words, as a result of these developments, future trend of timber utilisation will shift from big dimension logs to smaller logs, commercially well-known timber species to lesser-known species and solid wood to reconstituted woods.

 
46. The fifth point will be on the power of information technology. In the era of information, those superior in IT will inevitably have a competitive edge to come out as winners. John Naisbitt (1986) stressed that the new source of power is not money in the hands of a few but information in the hands of many while Peter Drucker stated that the productivity of knowledge has already become the key to productivity, competitive strength and economic achievement. Knowledge has already become the primary industry, the industry that supplies the economy the essential and central resources of production. Thus, the forestry sector is expected to modernise and upgrade their expertise and capabilities in information technology to meet future challenges. This is the only way that the sector can keep pace and be competitive in the borderless world of tomorrow. In this regard, the Forestry Department Peninsular Malaysia is already on its way to provide its own forestry homepage as an integral component of its IT set-up.

 
47. My next point touches on non-timber values of the forests. In recent years, greater attention has been paid to the importance of non-timber values of the forests products. It is expected that in the future these non-timber forest products which include plants or animal for food and medicinal purposes, water, rattan, bamboo, dyes, resins, as well as services such as recreation and aesthetics will be of even greater importance especially in their local context where they may be considerably more valuable than the wood obtained from the forests.

 
48. The most crucial challenge will be the adequate production of clean water. The most important challenge in managing water resources is ensuring a constant and stable supply to meet increasing demand of the population, industrial and agricultural sectors. In this regard, the demand for water is growing at 4 per cent annually and by the year 2020, it will reach 20 billion m³. Rivers which originate from forested watershed currently provide 97 per cent of the country's supply of clean water. Subsequently, its management which hinges on the degree of forest protection in the up-stream will become ever more crucial.

 
49. With the sharp increase in urban centres, there will be a great demand for greenery. It has been reported that one of the consequences of urbanisation is the formation of urban heat island which will result in relatively higher temperature of 2° - 5° . Overcoming this effect of heat island has its financial implications. Sham Sani (1993) has quoted that with each degree of increase in temperature within a heat island in the United States, the Americans on the average spend US$1.0 million per hour in cooling expenses. In this regard, greenery will be the "in-thing" which will be highly sought after. Studies have shown that trees can operate as nature's air conditioners (evaporative coolers) and shade trees can moderate city temperatures considerably. A mini-park with plenty of shade trees in Kuala Lumpur has been found to be able to moderate high afternoon temperatures by as much as 3° - 4° (Sham, 1993). In this sense, public values on the presence of greenery in the city or urban areas are expected to escalate.

 
50. Consequently, urban forestry will gain greater importance and its role especially in ameliorating urban heat island and moderating the micro environment will be well appreciated by the future population. In this regard, the role of the forestry sector, both public and the private in this respect is expected to be greatly enhanced. In this connection, the experience of Kuala Lumpur, to my opinion, is highly applicable to megacities like Bangkok. Peripheral and roadside planting, as well as creating more mini-parks or shade tree gardens may be viable propositions to ameliorate the heat islands within the vicinity of Bangkok.

 
51. At the same, the demand for recreation and eco-tourism for the city dwellers is also expected to increase. The development of eco-tourism will pay significant dividends as the general public will be sensitized to nature and the environment through the mass media. Many will want to see for themselves and are willing to pay substantially to do so.

 
52. If forest is to be sustainably managed, our nation and her people must be convinced that the land as an asset will remain more valuable under forest than under any other forms of land use. It will be necessary to find the means to assess the value of the forest accurately in monetary terms and to develop techniques to compare this value with that of alternative forms of land use.

 
53. Another point that I would like to highlight here is that the Malaysian forestry will urgently require a quantum leap in research and development to provide the necessary impetus needed to transform the sector to meet the challenges in the 21^st century. The current input from R & D will have to be re-engineered to accord greater emphasis in the fields of genetic engineering, bio-technology, ecosystem dynamics and high-tech development in order to enhance the productivity of the finite resource base.

 
54. My final point looks at a Paradigm Change In Forestry Profession. With all these developments, the forestry profession is now at a cross road. Traditionally, majority of foresters are generally engaged in the management, conservation and development of public forests. This invariably entails involvement in timber harvesting and revenue collection for the government. Consequently, foresters until today have often been associated with timber production and harvesting. Thus, there is an urgent need for foresters to redefine their roles and responsibilities as professionals. The greatest challenge facing forestry profession in the coming century will be the ability to meet the societal needs in both goods and services, without unduly degrading the resource and the environment.

 
55. In view of this, all foresters must not only acquire special and high level of technical skills and new knowledge, but more importantly, they must be disciplined and demonstrate high level of professionalism which invariably require higher degree of professional integrity and accountability. In other words, they must be creative and innovative, able to think laterally and critically in problem solving and be action oriented. In addition, they must be able to express and communicate effectively and clearly with both the political masters and the general public in order to garner the necessary support required to implement effectively sustainable forest management practices.

 
56. Consequently, the training of professional foresters to meet the challenges of the future need to be reviewed and re-appraised. In this regard, new curriculum must be formulated and developed to address the changing needs of the sector and the profession. It is envisaged that the curricula will accord greater emphasis on "integrated approach in forest resource management". Applications of high-technological and sophisticated management and planning tools such as simulation, resource monitoring, communication and information technologies will innovate and become core subjects of the professional forestry training.

 
57. Another feature which will be expected in the future is the role of public towards forestry and environmental issues. Recently, public awareness and concern in these issues such as illegal logging, landslide, flash floods and pollution, are clearly on the rise. If this continues, the public will be expected to play a vital role in voicing concerns on the management of natural resources and their impacts on environment in the future. In a similar light, the NGOs and private sectors are also expected to play a more significant role in the promotion of sustainable development.

 
58. Above all this forestry, being high on the international agenda and with many initiatives undertaken towards monitoring and assessing sustainable forest management, we must realised that it is impossible to ignore this unprecedented change in the whole global outlook towards forest and forestry. I must stress that regional cooperation in forestry is ever more crucial to be further enhanced at this period of borderless world. Collaborative works in the field of forestry, particularly programmes towards sustainable forest management must be undertaken with greater priority among the ASEAN member countries and also with other neighbouring nations. We must also forge greater strategic alliances not only between nations but also between public and private organisations. The exchange of experience especially in success and constraints faced amongst the collaborative states or organisations would avoid duplication and even reduce cost. Thus enabling greater output with minimum resource input.

 
59. Internationally, Malaysia has always adopted a positive stance in addressing the issue of environment and sustainable development. Malaysia not only cooperates and participates in international programmes but also actively contributes to all important discussions in international legal and institutional arrangements. In this regard, Malaysia takes active participation in the meetings of the Group 77 and Group 15, contributing to deliberations of relevance to the UNCED process such as forestry, biological diversity and other cross-sectoral issues. Within the G77, Malaysia has been given the task of coordinating the issue of forestry. In relation to this, the serious roles played by Malaysia in cooperating with other nations that had led to the Langkawi Declaration on Environment in 1989 and the Beijing Ministerial Declaration on Environment and Development in 1991, as well as the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Environment and Development, 1992 are but a few testimonies to this serious commitment of Malaysia. The call by the Hon. Dato' Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, the Prime Minister of Malaysia for the global community to target at least 30 per cent of the Earth's terrestrial area to be greened by the year 2000 and his assurance to retain at 50 per cent of total land area of Malaysia permanently under forest cover made during the Second Ministerial Conference of Developing Countries on Environment and Development further articulate the Malaysia stance.

 
60. On UNCED, Malaysia will continue to accord due emphasis to facilitate the full implementation of the Non-legally Binding Authoritative Statement of Principles for a Global Consensus on the Management, Conservation and Sustainable Development on All Types of Forests and the obligations as required under the Convention on Biological Diversity. Malaysia will also be examining closely and identifying and implementing the commitment made under Agenda 21, especially Chapter 11 - Combating Deforestation and Chapter 15 - Conservation of Biological Diversity.

 
61. In conclusion, I would like to reiterate that forests provide myriad benefits and values not offered by any other land use. The nation's long term health will be best served by maintaining and sustaining substantial areas of natural tropical rain forests. Healthy, productive forests will contribute not only to the nation's environmental stability and economic development but also to the regional and global health and well-being in perpetuity.

 
62. Forestry, attributed by its benefits and contributions, will remain as a central focal point in international and regional initiatives. Sustainability of forest resource and environmental protection and stability are all an integral part of the overall global ecosystem and hence must be viewed and addressed holistically in totality to attain the ultimate goals and aspirations of Vision 2020 with regard to achieving a clean and healthy environment. Concerted and serious effort must be made to retain substantial acreage of the country under natural forest cover to be managed sustainably. The crux of the issue is in the retention of adequate forest cover and in solving the various challenges and constraints of sustainable forest management and development as mentioned above. If these can be undertaken successfully, then all other related issues such as provision of forest products, conservation of water resource, biological diversity, mitigation of climate change and maintenance of environmental stability would also be resolved

.
63. Finally, I strongly believe that forest, being a renewable resource, offers tremendous potential for development. When managed in a judicial manner and compatible with environmental conservation, forest can produce goods and services for the well-being of the people. In fact, conserving forest will become a viable investment proposition in the 21^st century. I believe that the survival of the forest is the survival of humankind.

 
64. Finally, I would like to present to you, one of the many wise messages of Lord Buddha regarding forest and environment, which, I think, is very pertinent to this meaningful gathering. I quote,

 
"The forest is a peculiar organism of unlimited kindness and benevolence that makes no demands for its sustenance and extends generously the products of its life activity; it affords protection to all beings, offering shade even to the axeman who detroys it". Unquote.

 

65. On this note, Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I thank you.
 

REFERENCES

1. Azizol Abd. Kadir and Ng, L. T. 1995. Industry of medicinal and aromatic plants from Malaysia rainforests; potential and problems. Paper presented at the 12^th Malaysian Forestry Conference, 20 - 26 November, 1995, Miri, Sarawak. 13 pp.
2. Freezailah, B. C. Y. 1993. Conservation and environmental management. In: Proceeding of the 14^th Commonwealth Forestry Conference, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Page 35 - 44.
3. Holgate, M. 1993. Sustainability in the forest. In: Proceeding of the 14^th Commonwealth Forestry Conference, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Page 23 - 33.
4. International Tropical Timber Organisation, 1992. Criteria for the measurement of sustainable tropical forest management. ITTO Policy Development Series N3. Yokohama, Japan 5 pp.
5. Kemp, R.H. 1992. The conservation of genetic resources in managed tropical forests. UNASYLVA Vol. 43/169, page 34 - 40.
6. Kimmins, H. 1992. Balancing Act: Environmental issues in forestry. UBC Press. Vancouver, Canada. 244 pp.
7. Maini, J.S. 1992. Sustainable development of forests. UNASYLVA Vol. 43/169, page 3 - 8.
8. Naisbitt, J. 1986. Megatrends: Ten new directions transforming our lives. Warner Books. New York, U.S. 333 pp.
9. Sham, S. 1993. Environment and development in Malaysia- Changing concerns and approaches. Institute of Strategic and International Studies, Kuala Lumpur. 138 pp.
10. Soepadmo, E. 1984. The roles of tree-planting in urban ecology. In: Yip, Y.H. and Low, K.S. (eds.). Urbanization and Ecodevelopment with Special Reference to Kuala Lumpur, Institute of Advanced Studies, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur.

Table 1: Distribution and Extent of Natural Forests by Major Forest Types in Malaysia, 1994 (million ha)

Table 3: Areas Under National Parks, Wildlife and Bird Sanctuaries in Malaysia, 1994
(million ha)

Region	National Park	Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary	Total
Peninsular  Malaysia	0.43	0.31	0.74
Sabah	0.25	0.14	0.39
Sarawak	0.68	0.32	1.00
Malaysia	1.36	0.77*	2.13

* A total of 190,000 hectares in Peninsular Malaysia and 140,000 hectares in Sabah are located in the Permanent Forest Estate.

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