KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Legislative Assembly has passed the Bill to amend Forest Enactment 1968 which will come into effect on Jan 1 next year.
Assistant minister to Chief Minister Arifin Asgali, who tabled the Bill, said the amendment would include insertion of ‘Reduce Emissions From Deforestation and Forest Degradation-Plus (REDD+)’ after the word “property mark” in Section 2 of the Enactment.
The tabling was also read to insert new section 28C, after section 28B, on any proposed REDD+ initiatives and projects in Sabah involving forest produce in any Forest Reserve, state land or alienated land whether for regulated or voluntary market, shall obtain the written approval of the Minister subject to the terms and conditions as he thinks fit.
REDD+ means the reduction of carbon emissions from logging and forest degradation while the plus symbolises restoration and adding carbon stock through sustainable activities.
“This amendment is important as carbon forest is a potential forest resources that will generate more fiscal and income to the state via REDD+ and carbon marketing.
“Allocations, funds and incomes will be channeled to state departments or agencies such as Forestry Department, State Wildlife Department, Sabah Parks to implement REDD+ initiative in forest restoration and sustainable forest management,” he added.
As for now, the price for the carbon is USD5 (RM21) per metric tonne in voluntary market while USD30 (RM126) per metric tonne in compliance market.
Forest carbon has been gazetted under the Enactment through amendment of Section 2 on 2013.
Sabah has been part of the REDD+ initiative as early 1992 through collaboration with Yayasan Sabah and Face foundation from Holland through restorations of Ulu Segama Forest Reserve.
In 2013, European Union (EU) has also injected 4 million Euro (RM18.99 million) for EU- REDD+ seven-year projects in Sabah at three pilot projects namely at Kampung Gana, Kota Marudu, Kinabatangan and Kinabalu Ecolinc in Ranau.