PETALING JAYA: Any move to protect the country’s forest reserves through stiffer punishment must be backed by action and be reflected in state laws, say environmental advocates.Former WWF-Malaysia CEO Datuk Dr Dionysius Sharma said enforcement of the proposed tougher penalties under the National Forestry Act 1984 would be pivotal for it to have any impact on preserving the country’s forest reserves.

       “Increasing penalties, while serving as a stronger deterrent, cannot replace a forest that has been illegally logged.

       “The damage done by the removal of old trees and the impact on biodiversity and forest hydrology cannot be recovered.

       “Enforcement is going to be pivotal if changes are to be realised,” said Sharma, who has over 30 years of conservation experience.

       Last Thursday, the government tabled a slew of proposed amendments to the National Forestry Act 1984, including a minimum of five to 20 years in jail and fines of up to RM1mil for those convicted of illegal logging within forest reserves.

       The penalties for those guilty of starting fires or littering in forest reserves are also to be increased to between three and seven years in jail and fines of up to RM100,000.

       Included in the amendment is the requirement for states to hold public inquiries before degazetting permanent forest reserves and for these to be replaced.

       The Bill is expected to be passed during the current Dewan Rakyat meeting, which ends on March 24.

       The proposed amendments, said Sharma, must be supported by trained personnel and equipment in the field.

       State forestry departments, he added, should also set up their own informant networks and protect whistleblowers reporting on illegal logging or other damaging activities within forest reserves.

       Sahabat Alam Malaysia president Meenakshi Raman called for the amendments to be passed and enforced as soon as possible by state governments.

       Among the significant improvements, she noted, was the status of permanent forest reserves.

       “The new law will make it compulsory for state governments to hold a public inquiry if there are plans to excise and demarcate these reserves.

       “This is a very important law as such a provision currently only exists in the Selangor forestry enactment,” she said.