FMU players reminded on their role
Published on: Thursday, March 26, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Forestry Director Datuk Sam Mannan reminded all Forest Management Unit (FMU) licence holders of their responsibility in ensuring that their forest concessions are managed for maximum productivity.He told a workshop that this was important as forest plantations have a role to play in maintaining a healthy forestry industry in Sabah.The objective of the one-day workshop was to share the findings of research carried out by the Borneo Forestry Cooperative (BFC) over the last five years. Some 80 people participated, including representatives from the private sector, long-term forest concession holders, and officers from the Forestry Department. The workshop also heard that good harvesting practices are crucial to the success and long-term sustainability of forest plantations.
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David Boden, Chairman of the BFC, stressed that soil damage can negate all benefits from good silviculture and tree improvement, justifying that special care needs to be taken to minimise damage to the top soil layer where most soil nutrients are concentrated.Glen MacNair, the Managing Director of Asian Forestry Company (Sabah), in his in remarks pointed out the importance of sharing information for the overall benefit of the industry."The members of the BFC are eager to share what we have learned – in terms of research, standard operating procedures, and knowledge. We don't have enough time to learn from new mistakes," he said."That is why we need to learn from previous mistakes and the mistakes of others, and by so doing we hope to build up the forestry industry in Sabah." The Borneo Forestry Cooperative was formed in 2010 mainly to provide research support and cooperation among member companies in the forest plantation industry.
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In addition, the BFC also serves to develop and improve skills and capacity in the plantation industry by drawing support from international experts. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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BFC's current research focuses on various aspects of the key plantation species, namely Eucalyptus pelita and E. hybrids, Acacia mangium, Paraserianthes falcataria, and Anthocephalus cadamba, with the main objective of increasing plantation productivity.
