KUALA LUMPUR: The Sabah Forestry Department (SFD) recommends that its strategic partner, the Malaysian Space Agency (MYSA), be recognised as a subject matter expert in the use of satellite imagery for forest monitoring and enforcement efforts.
This was part of the National Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry's response to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to one of its recommendations regarding its report on forest management and its environmental impact.
It is part of the PAC Report on Follow-up Actions by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability regarding the PAC Parliament Report's recommendations on Forest Management and Environmental Impact, published today.
In its July 11 report, PAC had recommended for the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia, SFD, and Forest Department Sarawak (FDS), in collaboration with state governments and agencies involved in forestry and land management, take a more active role in implementing effective monitoring and enforcement activities, including the use of the latest technology.
In the case of Sabah, the ministry said should MYSA be recognised as a subject matter expert in the use of satellite imagery, it would ensure the credibility of satellite images to be used as prosecutorial exhibits during court proceedings should any forest offences occur.
"It was observed that since continuous monitoring and enforcement efforts were implemented, especially with the establishment of the Protect Unit in 2019, there was an increase in the number of cases in 2020 (from from 163 to 180).
"This increase occurred as a result of enhanced enforcement, where detection methods and actions became more effective. The enforcement approach had a positive impact, as shown by a reduction in the number of forest-related offences in 2021 (82) and 2022 (46) before a slight increase in cases in 2023 (62).
"The rise in cases in 2023 was due to land-clearing activities involving some forest-related offences," it said.
The Protect Unit is a special tactical enforcement team consisting of 50 personnel equipped with semi-military training.
Among other efforts by the SFD includes developing a spatial forest management system through the Geospatial Technology Project under the 12th Malaysia Plan and establishing a Forest Danger Rating System to monitor threat levels and preparedness for forest fire disasters.
This also includes mandating that all licensees comply with national and international forest management certifications, resulting in the certification of 298,332 hectares of natural forest areas and 72,294 hectares of forest plantation areas.
PAC said it agrees with SFD's recommendation.
"This recognition would ensure the reliability of satellite images to be used as evidence in court proceedings. Consequently, the Science, Technology, and Innovation Ministry needs to take appropriate action to empower MYSA further, thereby strengthening the enforcement of forest monitoring activities in Malaysia," it said.
Meanwhile in the peninsula, the ministry said there was a significant decrease in forest violation cases after 2020 due to enhanced forest enforcement efforts by the Forestry Departmentthrough collaboration with various other enforcement agencies.
It said 386 cases were reported in 2019, 437 in 2020, 409 in 2021, 249 in 2022 and 259 in 2023.
It said public awareness programmes targeting stakeholders, the public, school students, and local communities — especially those residing near Permanent Forest Reserve (HSK) areas — have also been carried out to provide understanding about the importance of forest conservation and preservation.
Sarawak, it said, had also been successful in addressing the issue of illegal logging in Sarawak as a result of strong political support through the establishment of the State Taskforce on Illegal Logging (STIFL).