IMPRESSED: Nancy taking a closer look at a bicycle, part of which is made from palm trunks
and rubber wood, that was showcased at the seminar. Looking on are MFRDB vice-chairman
Prof Dr Kahirul Aidil Azlin Abd Rahman (left) and Abd Latiff.— Bernama photo

20/11/2012 (Borneo Post) - Natural Resources and Environment Minister Dato Sri Douglas Uggah Embas has urged Sarawak’s wood industry to use alternative raw materials from the plantation sector to reduce the dependence on natural resources.

He said the wood industry is among the important sources of income in the state with the sector’s contribution to the state’s exports last year being RM7.4 billion.

“This figure is 37 per cent of Malaysia’s wood exports. As such, efforts need to be made to find alternative sources, to reduce the dependence on the supply of wood from natural forests,” he added.

He said this in his speech while officiating at the Rubber Wood, Palm and Other Pilot Species Seminar Sarawak 2012: Potential Sources for Sarawak Wood Industry, here yesterday.

The text of his speech was read by the chairwoman of the Malaysian Forest Research Development Board (MFRDB), Nancy Shukri.

Director-general of the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (Frim), Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Mahmood was also present.

Meanwhile, Abdul Latiff said Malaysia had the means to become the main exporter of wood products from palm trunks.

He said for a start, Malaysia can export plywood made from oil palm trunks.

“The price for plywood processed from oil palm trunks is in the range of between RM300 and RM400 per cubic metre and is expected to increase over the long term,” he told reporters after the seminar’s opening.

He added that the rubber tree, acacia, palm and pioneer species have high commercial value and are suited for export.

“The export of wood from trees on plantations is among Malaysia’s efforts to conserve and manage forest resources on a sustainable manner,” he added, Abdul Latiff said the protocol and international standards for wood exports is becoming increasingly stringent.

“For example, from 2013, all wood exports globally need certification to prove it came from forests that are sustainably managed,” he added