EXCERPTS OF STATEMENT BY
THE HON. MR. JOSEPH KURUP
DEPUTY MINISTER OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT MALAYSIA
9TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS FORUM ON FORESTS (UNFF9), 31 Jan-7 February 2011
1. I am pleased to highlight that Malaysia is bestowed with relatively large tracts of natural tropical forest which covers about 56.4 percent of our total land area. Malaysia has managed its forests in accordance with sustainable forest management (SFM) practices. While focusing on economic growth and development, Malaysia will continue to give equal attention to promote conservation of its natural resources and environmental protection, and to utilize forest resources sustainably particularly for the benefit of the people dependent on it.
THE HON. MR. JOSEPH KURUP
DEPUTY MINISTER OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT MALAYSIA
9TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS FORUM ON FORESTS (UNFF9), 31 Jan-7 February 2011
1. I am pleased to highlight that Malaysia is bestowed with relatively large tracts of natural tropical forest which covers about 56.4 percent of our total land area. Malaysia has managed its forests in accordance with sustainable forest management (SFM) practices. While focusing on economic growth and development, Malaysia will continue to give equal attention to promote conservation of its natural resources and environmental protection, and to utilize forest resources sustainably particularly for the benefit of the people dependent on it.
2. In Malaysia, forests play a significant role in the socio-economic development of the country. In this regard, Malaysia strongly upholds its commitment to bring development to the local and forest dependent communities, particularly in fulfilling its obligation towards poverty eradication through their involvement in the various government development programs. This is to ensure that they will not be left behind and enjoy the benefit of the country’s development and prosperity.
3. The Malaysian government is committed to ensure that the interest and the welfare of the local and forest dependent communities are protected through the creation of employment opportunities, skills and entrepreneurship training in forestry related small and medium scale industries. In addition, priorities are given for the local and forest dependent communities to actively involve and participate in various projects under the Five Year Malaysia Development Plan such as the national mangrove and coastline tree planting programs by local communities and non-governmental organizations (NGO); community forestry projects and involvement of local communities in ecotourism activities.
4. Malaysia is pleased to inform the meeting on the growing involvement of the private sectors and multinational corporations through their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs in supporting SFM activities with the participation of local communities. Some examples of this innovative financial mechanism are reflected in the 26 Million Tree Planting Campaign, the Heart of Borneo Initiative, the Central Forest Spine Project, the Forest Rehabilitation and Management Programs as well as the Voluntary Carbon Offset Scheme (VCOS) Project.
5. Malaysia would like to stress that one of the pertinent issues in the implementation of SFM particularly in developing countries are insufficient financial resources and lack of environmentally sound technologies. Due to the immense cost involved, Malaysia believes that financing of SFM cannot be discussed within the context of national boundaries alone. There is an urgent need to mobilize increased, new and additional financial resources to enhance capacity development and transfer of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries in order to support efforts in implementing SFM that contribute to sustainable development and poverty eradication. Therefore, Malaysia strongly supports the proposal to establish the voluntary Global Forest Fund (GFF) for SFM to be considered at the 10th Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests in 2013.
6. Malaysia reiterates our commitment to the implementation of sustainable forest management. Realizing the importance of forest for economy, social and environmental stability, Malaysia is committed to maintain a minimum of 50 percent of its land area under forests and tree cover. Currently, about 56.4 percent of our land area is covered by forests.
7. Malaysia places great emphasis in the conservation and management of our forest resources on a sustainable manner which is costly, technically high and complex. We strongly uphold our commitment to improve the livelihood of our people and to fulfill our obligation in eradicating poverty. As a developing country, we are committed to mainstream the conservation and sustainable management of our biodiversity and forests in our socio-economic development agenda.
3. The Malaysian government is committed to ensure that the interest and the welfare of the local and forest dependent communities are protected through the creation of employment opportunities, skills and entrepreneurship training in forestry related small and medium scale industries. In addition, priorities are given for the local and forest dependent communities to actively involve and participate in various projects under the Five Year Malaysia Development Plan such as the national mangrove and coastline tree planting programs by local communities and non-governmental organizations (NGO); community forestry projects and involvement of local communities in ecotourism activities.
4. Malaysia is pleased to inform the meeting on the growing involvement of the private sectors and multinational corporations through their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs in supporting SFM activities with the participation of local communities. Some examples of this innovative financial mechanism are reflected in the 26 Million Tree Planting Campaign, the Heart of Borneo Initiative, the Central Forest Spine Project, the Forest Rehabilitation and Management Programs as well as the Voluntary Carbon Offset Scheme (VCOS) Project.
5. Malaysia would like to stress that one of the pertinent issues in the implementation of SFM particularly in developing countries are insufficient financial resources and lack of environmentally sound technologies. Due to the immense cost involved, Malaysia believes that financing of SFM cannot be discussed within the context of national boundaries alone. There is an urgent need to mobilize increased, new and additional financial resources to enhance capacity development and transfer of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries in order to support efforts in implementing SFM that contribute to sustainable development and poverty eradication. Therefore, Malaysia strongly supports the proposal to establish the voluntary Global Forest Fund (GFF) for SFM to be considered at the 10th Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests in 2013.
6. Malaysia reiterates our commitment to the implementation of sustainable forest management. Realizing the importance of forest for economy, social and environmental stability, Malaysia is committed to maintain a minimum of 50 percent of its land area under forests and tree cover. Currently, about 56.4 percent of our land area is covered by forests.
7. Malaysia places great emphasis in the conservation and management of our forest resources on a sustainable manner which is costly, technically high and complex. We strongly uphold our commitment to improve the livelihood of our people and to fulfill our obligation in eradicating poverty. As a developing country, we are committed to mainstream the conservation and sustainable management of our biodiversity and forests in our socio-economic development agenda.
8. Malaysia welcomes Forests 2011 as an opportunity to highlight the importance of forests to all Malaysian, especially to strengthen our political commitment in achieving SFM as well as to increase awareness of the contribution of forests towards sustainable development. As the focal point, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Malaysia will coordinate activities with the involvement of various government agencies, private sectors, local communities, children and NGOs, and the International Year of Forests will be officially launched on 21st March 2011, in conjunction with the World Forestry Day and World Wetland Day celebration. The week of 21st to 29th March 2011 will be declared as “Forests 2011 Week of Malaysia”. The events for Forests 2011 are being incorporated with the existing “26 Million Trees Planting Campaign” under the theme “Greening the Earth: One Malaysian One Tree”.
9. On that note, in the spirit of the Forests 2011 celebration, Malaysia would like to reiterate the urgent need to develop an effective approach for forest financing from all sources, capacity building and the transfer of environmentally sound technology to support the efforts of developing countries to manage their forest resources sustainably.
9. On that note, in the spirit of the Forests 2011 celebration, Malaysia would like to reiterate the urgent need to develop an effective approach for forest financing from all sources, capacity building and the transfer of environmentally sound technology to support the efforts of developing countries to manage their forest resources sustainably.
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