SARAWAK TO INJECT RM2.3 MLN INTO FOREST LANDSCAPE RESTORATION NEXT YEAR
KUCHING, Nov 21 (Bernama) -- The Sarawak government plans to spend RM2.3 million under its 2023 Budget to continue with the Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) programme which plays a major role in achieving the state environmental sustainability goal.
Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the FLR programme aimed to restore ecological integrity and improve the productivity and economic value of degraded forest landscapes through activities such as replanting of trees.
“A sum of RM19 million was approved under the 12th Malaysia Plan to implement this project with 35 million trees targeted to be planted within the next three years. As of August 2022, more than 14.45 million trees have been planted,” he said when tabling the state 2023 Budget at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly sitting here today.
He said a sum of RM6.5 million was also proposed under next year’s budget for the conservation and protection of wildlife and Totally Protected Areas (TPAs), where a total of 872,386 hectares had been gazetted as of June this year, adding that the state targeted to reach one million hectares by 2025.
He added three Projek Rakyat (people’s project) initiatives had been approved to enhance the management of TPAs and wildlife, namely the Bukit Lima Nature Reserve one-stop centre in Sibu, Piasau Nature Reserve Discovery Centre in Miri and publicity programmes for Niah National Park to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
-- BERNAMA
