THE Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry will continue to implement various initiatives, including stricter enforcement of laws such as the National Forestry Act 1984, to enhance the conservation of forests in the country, said its minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

He said efforts will be made to gazette forest areas, including the Central Forest Spine and Environmentally Sensitive Areas.

The allocation for Ecological Fiscal Transfer (EFT) in 2023 will also be increased to RM150 million, a rise of 150% since its implementation in 2019, towards enhancing the conservation of the country’s forests, he said in a statement today. 

Nik Nazmi said Malaysia cannot be complacent, and that more efforts are needed to avoid further loss of primary forests in the country. 

Overall, Malaysia reduced its primary forest loss by 57% as of 2022, placing the country fourth among the top 10 countries, he said.

Nik Nazmi said the EFT for the Biodiversity Conservation initiative; which is being institutionalised by the current government, and the proactive action of the various state governments in protecting their forests, also contributed to Malaysia’s success in keeping the rate of primary forest loss low.

He said that at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, Malaysia pledged to maintain at least 50% of its forest cover and has fulfilled the promise, with the country’s forest cover now at 54.58%, or 18.05 million hectares.

Malaysia, he said, welcomed all stakeholders, including various state governments, the private sector and civil society, to work with his ministry to strengthen the management of the country’s forests.

He called on all Malaysians to continue to support efforts by the government to protect forests as one of the nation’s most important resources, to ensure the forests can be preserved for future generations. – Bernama, July 1, 2023.