Fixing Forest Plantations, Part 2: Faster Replanting Needed

Picture: Macaranga

In a blog post by Macaranga, YH Law and SL Wong explain the ways to revamp forest plantations in Peninsular Malaysia.

Forest plantations took off in Peninsular Malaysia in 2007, fueled by government support. Under the Forest Plantation Development Programme, the Ministry of Plantation and Commodities financed planters with soft loans totaling more than RM1 billion. By late 2021, state governments had licensed loggers to clear nearly 275,000 ha of forest reserves for forest plantations. Planters are required to replant within 6 months.

But the results have fallen far below the original goals. Planters have not replanted at least half of the sites. Delays range between 1 month to 14 years, according to the Auditor-General’s Special Audit on Forest Management and Environmental.

Such problems prompted the National Land Council to call for a 15-year moratorium on new forest plantations starting 2 December 2021. This moratorium would give state governments a window to enforce replanting.