SARAWAK’s timber industry continues to show steady growth, recording RM1.87 billion in export value up to the third quarter of 2025, said Deputy Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datuk Len Talif Salleh.

Delivering the winding-up speech on behalf of Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan in the State Legislative Assembly today, he said log exports contributed RM310 million, an increase of three per cent compared to RM301 million in the same period last year.

“Exports of wood pellets also grew significantly by 60 per cent, reaching RM97 million compared to RM60 million previously,” he said, adding that Japan remained the largest importer with RM1.17 billion, followed by India (RM299 million), Middle Eastern countries (RM105 million), Taiwan (RM77 million) and the Philippines (RM65 million).

To promote wider use of engineered wood products such as laminated veneer lumber, glulam and cross-laminated timber, Len said PUSAKA collaborated with Universiti Teknologi Sarawak (UTS) and Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) to organise the International Conference on Advanced Applied Sciences (ICAAS 2025) on Aug 6-7 this year.

“The conference also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between PUSAKA and UTS to strengthen strategic cooperation in research and innovation related to engineered wood technology,” he added.

On environmental management, Len reiterated that Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) remained a key legal requirement to ensure sustainable development in Sarawak.

As of the third quarter, the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) had received 61 EIA reports and 15 Environmental Management Plans (EMP), of which 46 EIA reports and all EMPs were approved, while 15 were still under evaluation.

Between January and October this year, NREB carried out 918 post-EIA monitoring visits and received 1,857 Environmental Monitoring Reports (EMR).

“From these monitoring activities, 87 non-compliance cases were detected and notices were issued. Fourteen investigation papers were opened, and eight cases were compounded involving RM150,000,” he said.

Len added that NREB is currently improving its standard operating procedures (SOPs) for post-EIA monitoring as well as guidelines for EMR submission and evaluation to standardise field inspections and strengthen enforcement.

“These enhancements will ensure that monitoring and compliance actions are carried out consistently and systematically,” he said.
  
Source: sarawaktribune.com