Minister urges Ramsar compliance at Tasik Bera forest reserve

Pahang state authorities have intensified enforcement and mapping operations at the Tasik Bera permanent forest reserve, suspecting illegal clearing for commercial crops like oil palm and rubber. Natural resources and environmental sustainability minister Arthur Joseph Kurup stressed that all activities at the Ramsar Site must adhere to the wise use principle outlined in the Ramsar Convention.

Unauthorised logging and farming must be handled with care and in line with the law to safeguard the ecosystem and wildlife habitats. Recognised as a Ramsar Site in 1994, the reserve is internationally significant for its wetland ecology and biodiversity. Kurup's ministry, responsible for coordinating the nation's commitments to the Ramsar Convention, is closely monitoring conservation efforts in the wetland area.

The ministry also supports Pahang's integrated enforcement action against unauthorised exploration activities within the reserve, which covers an area of over 2,212 hectares. The operation aligns with the 79th National Land Council meeting's decision from Dec 2, 2021, which emphasized the importance of state enforcement against such activities in permanent forest reserves under the National Forestry Act 1984.

Kurup affirmed the ministry's respect for the state government's jurisdiction over the management and administration of permanent forest reserves and reaffirmed the ministry's commitment to coordinating at the federal level for effective preservation and conservation. Strengthening cooperation between the federal and state governments is crucial to support the country's commitment to maintain at least 50% of its land area under forest and tree cover, as agreed at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.