Description
SABAH pioneered the reforestation on a large scale in Malaysia 20 years ago when the State embarked on a timber plantation programme in Tawau region. It was an attempt to perpetuate the State's timber resources in accordance with the policy of sustainable production. Since then Sabah has successfully established Acacia mangium and Albizzia falcataria plantations. The search for hardwood species for reforestation and forestation has continued ever since. Again Sabah leads the way.
Over the last few years, Datuk Harris Salleh, the former Chief Minister of Sabah, successfully introduced and established teak on a plantation scale in Sabah, as a monocrop as well as companion crop for cocoa, oil palm and other crops. Datuk Harris's thriving teak plantations of nearly 1,000 hectares in Telupid, Lahad Datu and Tawau serve as living proofs that planting teak is a viable approach to the development of the timber plantation industry. At the same time, hardwood plantations will provide an alternative resource to the hardwoods of the natural forests.
Malaysia is committed to preserve her rainforests. Hardwood production from the natural forests continue to decline. There is an urgent need to supplement future supplies of timber from permanent forests and the development of hardwood plantations is one positive step to ensure future supplies.
ISBN: 9839905406
