Forest and forestry punctuated: regulating peninsular Malaysia in the next 50 years.
2007
Sarah Aziz, A.G. A.
Law serves as a powerful tool in regulating man`s conduct in respect of forests, its products, the benefits, impacts and the relationship shared by the different stakeholder. The National Forestry Act of 1984 brings together the fragile relationship shared by use and conservation, focusing on the `use process` to help better conserve. World market demands that, as outlined by the International Tropical Timber Organisation, forest management is framed within the concept and context of sustainable use which in itself can lead to multiple perspectives. Already in some parts of the world, there is much reservation on the onslaught posed to national sovereignty. Global trends also now dictate that forests and the non-timber products are the new green gold, fuelled by man`s mortality, couched in the need for food security and medicinal relief. The growing global and national population has also driven the changing land iuse patterns, sending man closer to the protected forest fringes in the face of settlement, agriculture and infrastructure development. Increased calls for better conservation and implementation of sustainable use practices in light of resource scarcity (including that other than timber and non-timber products), climate change, pollution and hazards would mean forests, forestry and all related acts cannot be seen in isolationof the status, trends and threats to ecological, hydrological and physical systems and services. Given the multiple issues, the relevancy of the current National Forestry Act 1984 and the National Forest Policy will have to be re-looked, to glean options to fortify this powerful tool that not only protects the forests but humanity. This paper will briefly discuss issues and options that can help expand the role of the Act enhancing current functions as custodians of forests, biodiversity and natural resources as well as ecosystems services, in addition to exploring opportunities to help address environmental impacts and hazards.
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