Initiative to regreen Amanjaya Forest Reserve: a better solution through carbon offset project?

Amanjaya Forest Reserve (FR) with the extent of 18,866 hectares has been gazetted on May 9, 2013 to support the Federal Government's commitment to implement the Central Forest Spine (CFS) project, which aims to create an ecological network (ecological linkages) between fragmented forest blocks separating Royal Belum Forest Reserve and Temengor Forest Reserve in Gerik. It is estimated that the carbon content in Amanjaya FR amounted to 2.45 million tonnes (average 130 tonnes.C.ha-¹). The carbon content can be increased to 3.8 million tonnes (average of 200 tonnes. C.ha-¹) through reforestation with the support from various quarters. Through a feasibility study done by the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia (FDPM) on 13% or 2,472 hectares of Amanjaya FR, it is estimated that about 70% of Amanjaya FR consists of open areas (either canopy open or half open canopy) that need appropriate reforestation activities. For forest enrichment planting and forest plantation method, average cost per hectare by Perak Forestry Department (FD) are RM1,500 and RM4,000 respectively. This will cost Perak FD RM16.9 million to RM45.3 million to regreen the degraded forest areas in Amanjaya FR. Through Forest Carbon Offset Project initiated by the State Government of Perak, it is calculated that the cost of regreening Amanjaya FR can be turned into forestry incomes. It is estimated that 8.30 mTCO₂e with a conservative estimated price of RM10/ton, RM83 million will be generated and at the same time avoiding the release of 8.30 mTCO2e to the atmosphere. Through this project, the forest will be locked-up in 30 years and the average yearly income that can be generated is RM2.78 million. The income will be credited to the Kumpulan Wang Pembangunan Hutan (Cess Fund), managed by Perak FD and will be used to regreen Amanjaya FR.