NIBONG TEBAL: Within the next 10 years, the Government will replant 300,000 ha of forests which have been cleared for timber. 

Forestry Department deputy director-general (planning and development of forests) Datuk Dahlan Taha said the department would replant about 25,000 ha each year in areas that had been logged nationwide for their timber. 

“A total of 36,000 ha of forests have been identified for logging under the Ninth Malaysia Plan. The size of forests allowed for logging activity has been reduced tremendously over the years and we are now carrying out an aggressive replantation programme nationwide to preserve our forests,” he told reporters at the official opening of the Bukit Panchor State Park, here. 

Dahlan said the 300,000 ha did not include areas which would be gazetted as water catchments and for state or national parks or recreational purposes. 

He said a hectare of the forests could fetch about RM200,000 worth of timber.