Page 20 - FDMAsia MayJun2024

18 FOCUS MAY/JUN 2024 FDM ASIA | www.fdmasia.com

TROPICAL TIMBER MARKET REPORT

Countries are bracing themselves for more stringent certification requirements ahead by rolling
out new standards and programmes; after a weak 2023, there are signs of better prospects in
2024, ITTO tells us more about the latest developments in the industry.

MALAYSIA Minister, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, urged State governments to
Tightening forest degazetting and replacement adopt the amendments as, so far, only Perlis and Selangor
processes States have fully adopted the amendments.
Under the Malaysian Constitution, forestry is under State
jurisdiction. The National Forestry Act coordinates forestry Efforts to bring deforestation levels down recognised
matters nationally and recently amendments to the Act were Free Malaysia, a news portal with a focus on Malaysian
passed. current affairs, published a story in which it reports the
Among the key changes were the tightening of the EU’s Commissioner for Environment and Fisheries, Virginijus

degazetting and replacement process for permanent forest Sinkevičius, commended Malaysia’s efforts to bring deforestation
reserves, the introduction of a public investigation process before levels down.
the degazetting of any forest reserve and the simultaneous It is reported that this comment was made during a
replacement of the degazetted forest. virtual conference with the Malaysian Minister of Plantations
The Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability and Commodities, Johari Ghani. Sinkevičius also reportedly

Joshua Williams