KUCHING: Sarawak Timber Association (STA) will continue to engage with new partners in support of the transition to a low carbon and more resilient future, said its chairman Datuk Henry Lau.
He said one such example is the training on greenhouse gas (GHG) quantification and reporting by Control Union (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd in April 2022 to raise awareness and help members identify specific company actions or activities aimed at improving GHG management.
“The amendments to the Forests Ordinance, 2015 (Cap 71) to include forest carbon activity in 2022 has sparked keen interests in some STA members to embark on forest carbon trading.
“However, the industry needs more information on how this is to be implemented in Sarawak and STA hopes that the relevant ministry and the Forest Department Sarawak (FDS) could shed some light through engagements with the industry,” he said during its 2023 annual general meeting at Wisma STA on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, STA also raised their concern over the European Union Deforestation-free Regulation (EUDR) through MTA in August 2022.
“The position paper from the Malaysian timber industry criticises, among many others, the absence of dialogue between the EU and producer countries, definitions used and the lack of respect for other countries’ sovereignty.
“The industry is dismayed that certified timber and timber products cannot enter the EU directly under the Regulation,” he added.
On the same note, STA said the association is grateful that Deputy Prime Minister cum Minister of Plantation and Commodities Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, has shown great concern that the EUDR will create another trade barrier on selected commodities including timber on the pretext that these commodities cause deforestation and forest degradation.
“Our country is joining forces with other countries in countering this negative campaign and demanding fairer treatment, which we hope will deter other countries from following suit,” he said.
