Sarawak, Japan ink MoU on sustainable forest management

KUCHING: A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed to facilitate the intention and collaboration mainly in research activities for sustainable forest management (SFM) in Sarawak.

Forest Department Sarawak (FDS), in a statement yesterday, said the exchange of the MoU between the Sarawak government, through the FDS and the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) Japan, was witnessed by NIES Biodiversity Division director Dr Yamano Hiroya and FDS deputy director Semilan Ripot.

“This MoU is imperative in developing effective methodology for the evaluation and implementation of essential forest ecosystem functions and services to promote SFM and conservation, as outlined in the global biodiversity frameworks under CBD COP15 (United Nations Biodiversity Conference),” it said.

Other areas of cooperation covered under the MoU would include collaboration in forest ecosystem and biodiversity conservation, establishment of standard research methodology for ‘Permanent Sample

Plot’ network, standard documentation and handling of research data and other information, joint data analysis and enhancement of scientific writing skills, joint publication of findings, enhancement of research competencies, co-organising workshop, conference, training and any other areas of collaboration mutually agreed by the involved parties.

“The commitment we make today will undoubtedly strengthen the connection between both parties, paving the way for valuable teamwork, innovation and mutual development,” said NIES president Dr Kimoto Masahide during the signing ceremony held in Tsukuba, Japan on Friday.

Prior to the inking of the MoU, the parties had participated in a symposium conducted by NIES, entitled ‘Bilateral Collaboration Research Towards SFM in Sarawak’, which emphasised on the importance of scientific data and scientific based information in decision making pertaining SFM.

“The government also emphasises the importance of a strong research foundation, which involves adopting new and innovative approaches, as well as leveraging cutting-edge technology to improve, enhance and support the sustainable management of forests in Sarawak,” FDS director Datu Hamden Mohammad said in his keynote address.

Six papers were presented by researchers later, followed by a keynote lecture by Emeritus Professor Kanehiro Kitayama of Kyoto University.

All papers highlighted the importance of scientific data and scientific based information to support Sarawak government in decision and policy-making.