KUALA LUMPUR: Efforts are being made to restore forests across Peninsular Malaysia, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Natural Resources and Environment Deputy Minister Datuk Ir Hamim Samuri said the Forestry Department has implemented measures to curb deforestation caused by over-exploitation.
"Among the measures implemented is the 'Pemulihan Kawasan Hutan Terosot' (Dwindling Forest Restoration) programme.
"The programme has been designed to ensure the conservation of permanent forest reserve areas in Peninsular Malaysia.
"Under the 10th Malaysia Plan (2011-2015), 4,477 hectares of degraded forest land in forest reserves had been replanted with various species of trees.
"In the 11th Malaysia Plan (2016-2020), RM100 million has been approved to rehabilitate 1,640 hectares of permanent forest reserves and fringe areas," he said in reply to a question from Datuk Ahmad Nazlan Idris (BN-Jerantut) during the Minister's Question and Answer (MQT) session.
The deputy minister added that the allocation is also used to finance research and development, assistance to non-governmental organisations and awareness-raising programs.
In Malaysia, trees are logged for their high economic value.
Non-sustainable forest opening or development has led to environmental problems, namely soil erosion, landslides and flooding.
The major causes of the decline in forest area and quality include commercial logging, agricultural development, dams and resettlement.
In 2015, Malaysia’s forest area is 22,195,100ha or 67.6% (more than two-thirds) of the land area according to the Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA) report.
In comparison, the coverage area was 21,591,000ha in 2000.
The forest area has also risen by 14,000ha per year between 2010 and 2015.
Reporting by FERNANDO FONG, VEENA BABULAL and ARFA YUNUS