KUCHING: The state government will back Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) with funding in forest research to maximise the timber industry’s growth while ensuring sustainability. He urged SFC and other forest agencies to focus on research and development (R&D) to support the establishment of a strong and robust industrial forest plantation sector, where all raw material needs of the processing industry can be met. Find new ways and scientific methods of not only planting trees but adding value to downstream industries such as research on furniture. Timber industry players are required to strengthen their industrial forest planting activities to provide sustainable feedstock and at the same time, carry out more research to spur growth of planted forests. He also cited Johor, which has a higher timber product revenue than Sarawak despite a smaller land mass and less timber resources.

Source: The Star November 04, 2017 06:45 UTC