20/07/2012 (Bernama) - Sarawak is targeting to implement the zero open burning policy by 2020 as part of it strategy to protect and preserve the environment, especially in preventing the haze problem.

Sarawak Natural Resources and Enviroment Board (NREB) controller Peter Sawal said at the moment, it could not be implemented immediately as related industries especially those in the agriculture sector were not ready to adopt such a policy yet which had been implemented in the peninsula.

"Land development is still taking place in Sarawak. In the peninsula, zero open burning can be implemented because many oil palm plantations are in the second cycle," he told reporters after attending a briefing and roadshow for the Sarawak Chief Minister's Environmental Award (CMEA) 2012, here, Thursday.

Peter said most of these oil palm plantation owners had turned waste derived from the plantations into recycled items to minimise wastage.

He said there were also the awareness factor among stakeholders, especially oil palm plantation owners, smallholders and farmers on the hazards of open burning to the environment, which was still low in Sarawak.