NRE to conduct ground truthing to validate size of Malaysia's forest

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia is conducting a 'ground truthing' study to verify the forest area in the country, said the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (pix).
He said the study was important to prove that Malaysia still retains 55.2% of the 18.2 million hectares of forest, as ascertained in the data obtained through satellite imaging methods that are disputed by some quarters, including from Europe.
"There are those who say that satellite data include plantation whereas we can differentiate whether the image is plantation or forest. They said the plantations are also green.
"So, ground truthing is being carried out by the Forestry Department in each state for us to validate the data," he told reporters after presenting certificates of appreciation and cheques to officers of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
He said the process was expected to take about six months, given the size of the forest area to be covered is very large.
Wan Junaidi said the process would also be able to identify forest areas that had been degraded by human activities across the country.
He said Malaysia was committed to retaining 50% of its forest area in accordance with the agreement signed by 195 countries at the 2015 Paris Climate Conference (COP21).
In his speech earlier, he said the Peninsula Malaysia Forestry Department (JPSM) has approved an allocation of RM100 million under the 11th Malaysia Plan to implement restoration, reclamation and rehabilitation of degraded forest in Peninsular Malaysia due to natural disasters and human actions.
He said the project aims to restore the area in and outside the Permanent Forest Reserve in Cameron Highlands and Janda Baik, Pahang involving the supply of seedlings, planting and silvi-cultural treatments.
Wan Junaidi also handed over RM250,000 to five NGOs to help JPSM undertake the activities.
At the event, Wan Junaidi also presented a special contribution to Perhilitan enforcement officer Mohd Khairol Azuan Abdul Aziz, who was seriously injured on the arm and face after he was slashed by an intruder allegedly out to steal sandalwood during an operation in the Ulu Tembeling National Park Forest in Pahang in August last year.
In addition, awards were also presented to three Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) officers who received recognition from the Malaysia Book of Records (MBOR).
They are Dr Tnah Lee Hong and Dr Lee Soon Leong, who were the first researchers to use the DNA Bar Coding System for plant species identification and Dr Hamdan Hussein who was the first to use tropical wood in cross laminated timber.
FRIM deputy director-general (Operations) Datuk Dr Rahim Sudin received the 2016 National Standardisation Award after successfully developed more than 20 standards based on his area of expertise. — Bernama