Jade Chan The Star 1 Mar 11;
THE Selangor government will be embarking on two initiatives, one of which is to create a blueprint to conserve the forests in Selangor, said state executive councillor Elizabeth Wong.
“The blueprint aims to address issues like encroachment and forest fires and the need for more effective conservation of all forest reserves, including the Kuala Langat South Forest Reserve,” she said, adding that the mechanisms are expected to be ready in about three months.
“We hope to get the public involved by creating a sense of ownership, like getting them to adopt a certain part of a forest or receiving a certificate for planting a tree.”
Wong, who oversees the Tourism, Consumer Affairs and Environment portfolio, was speaking after launching the World Wetlands Day 2011 celebration at the Raja Musa Forest Reserve co-organised by the Selangor Forestry Department and Global Environment Centre.
World Wetlands Day marks the 40th anniversary of the Ramsar Convention — an inter-governmental treaty that embodies the commitment of its member countries to maintain the ecological character and plan sustainable use of all wetlands.
“The blueprint will also look into ways of implementing the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) — a carbon credit exchange programme that has been successfully carried out in Indonesia,” said Wong.
“We want to encourage the public and local community to help in forest conservation and teach them about the importance of caring for the forests for their own socio-economic livelihood.”
“We will also be working with NGOs and corporations to create a stronger trust system to better protect the forests and raise funds for the initiative.”
She cited Bridgestone, one of the event’s sponsors, as an example.
“Bridgestone pledged to adopt 20ha of the Raja Musa Forest Reserve today for three years,” said Wong.
“As part of its pledge, Bridgestone said it would contribute RM1 from each tyre sold towards the conservation of the forest.”
In conjunction with the UN International Year of Forests, Wong said the state government would table an amendment to the National Forestry Act (Selangor) 1984 to enable the public to be consulted in the event any forest reserve was degazetted.
“Once the amendment is vetted through by the state legal adviser, we hope to have it ready to be tabled at the first state assembly sitting for this year at the end of next month,” said Wong.
“This move would allow the public to know first-hand if a forest reserve is degazetted and give their feedback on the matter.
“Selangor is the first state to pioneer such an initiative. In fact, the National Land Council encourages the forestry departments to have this kind of policy.”
