| Aziz Idris |
RAINFOREST restoration is not the sole responsibility of the government as everybody in the society has a stake in forest conservation and protection.
This was highlighted by Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong, Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism, in his closing remarks on the final day of the 2nd Asia-Pacific Rainforest Summit 2016 held at the International Convention Centre yesterday.
The two-day summit has emphasised the need to ‘put people first’ in the initiatives as they are in the forefront of forest management and among the key drivers of change that will lead to forest sustainability.
“We need to strike the balance between conservation and economic portfolios to protect the interest of our forest dependent communities.
“We have champions in community-based forestry in the Asia-Pacific region as we recognise their important contribution to local economy, to sustainable forest management and to sustainable development,” he said.
However, the role of government institutions is very important as well to help develop appropriate policies and strategies in creating a favourable environment to practice sustainable forest management.
“I hope that we were able to influence policy-makers and forest managers in developing these strategies back in our home countries,” the minister said.
Some of the attendees present at the summit. – AZIZ IDRIS
He also said there is still a need to promote more partnership for there is strength in pooling resources together.
“The government, the private sector, non-government organisations and support groups should share their expertise and act as a whole in the conservation of our ecosystems,” he said.
He hopes that the summit gave leaders the opportunity to widen their networks and meet new partners, not only from the government sector but also private sector counterparts.
The summit has become an ideal venue of finding solutions and offer support that strengthens the positions in responding to the global issue of climate change and rainforest degradation.
The minister said the output from the summit can be used for the common good and to respond to the aspiration of sustainably managing the rainforest ecosystem.
He said he fully supported the shared responsibility agreed during the summit in protecting rainforests. This include the integration of resources and climate responses, the facilitation of funds for action, the conservation of forest to support business operations, the participation from all stakeholders, and the proper valuation of first and firsts resources reflecting the concerted efforts.
“What happened during the last two days would further our knowledge and information to further our national forest goals and at the same time working out our Nationally Determined Contribution commitments under the Paris Agreement,” he said.
Financing for rainforest conservation and REDD (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation), along with opportunities for public-private-people partnerships (P4) was also discussed during the summit.
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