INTERNATIONAL TROPICAL TIMBER ORGANIZATION (ITTO)
 AND FOREST DEPARTMENT SARAWAK

            MODEL FOREST MANAGEMENT AREA (MFMA)


BACKGROUND

The Model Forest Management Area (MFMA) project was mooted from one of the major recommendations made by the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) Mission which visited Sarawak between October 1989 and April 1990 to assess sustainable forest management in the State. This project, which covers activities related to sustainable forest management, was approved for implementation by the International Tropical Timber Council (ITTC) at its Ninth Session, held in Yokohama, Japan in November 1990. The "MFMA" area was identified and established in 1993. It covers an area of some 160,000 hectares extending over both Sibu and Bintulu Divisions.

OBJECTIVES

The Model Forest Management Project has been undertaken to investigate and improve methods for selective timber extraction with minimal environmental damage to Sarawak's forests. The main objectives are:

TRAINING of personnel from the Forest Department and logging companies in planning, operational and monitoring aspects of sustainable management of hill forests.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT in harvesting technologies and silvicultural systems appropriate for sustainable management of forest resources, as well as research on the socio-economic aspects of forestry sector impacts on nearby communities.

DEMONSTRATION to the industry, and to the public at large, of sustainable forest management in real-life conditions.

ACTIVITIES 

Phase I of this project (1993-1995) has been completed. Activities carried out were:

• Monitoring of forest stands;
• Terrain classification for harvest planning;
• Studies on hydrology, soil, wildlife and socio-economic conditions of local communities;
• Initiation of training programme on forest operations;
• Formulation of a 10-year development plan for Phase II

 Phase II of this project (1996-2000) includes:

• Provision and maintenance of the infrastructure and monitoring networks in the MFMA;
• Formulation of management guidelines and work plans;
• Training of Forest Department personnel and logging operators in all aspects of forest operations;
• Implementation of improved harvesting techniques.

ACHIEVEMENT 

The MFMA project is intended to demonstrate that tropical timber harvesting, when properly managed, can avoid the scale of environmental damage caused by some of the current forest harvesting practices.

Sustainable forest management implies that forest harvesting should not adversely affect other resources such as water and wildlife, and that the ecological processes in the forest are not damaged beyond recovery and to the detriment of the forest resouce itself.

VISION FOR MFMA

The vision is meant for the period 1995-2020 which covers the 25-year cycle. The production system in year 2020 will be operated with the increasing momentum in high technology and high productivity. The training to upgrade logging skill and capability is given increasing awareness and support. The MFMA's programme is further developed with active participation of local communities. The sustainable management of forests, considering all aspects of biodiversity and environment which is essential to the continued timber production, is further intensified.