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reports on the Malaysian Timber Industry Board (MTIB) engaging
the Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Product of Universiti
Putra Malaysia to recommend improved data generation to
expand MTIB’s Wood Product Certification Scheme. Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington

This is part of the Government's efforts to explore
opportunities to expand the certification scheme to
include products that meet the demand in the global
market.
In this connection, a roundtable session with stakeholders
was held to exchange ideas and discuss issues related to
requirements, impacts, challenges, opportunities and relevance
of certification in advancing the country's Sustainable Sabah Timber Industries Association supports
Development Goals. plantation plan

Discussions included offering incentives to companies that Sabah Timber Industries Association (STIA) reaffirmed its
demonstrate strong commitment to improving product quality, commitment to support the State Government’s forest plantation
implementing cost-sharing measures to ease the financial target of planting 400,000 hectares as outlined in the Forest
burden on businesses, ensuring government recognition of Plantation Development Action Plan.
certified products, enhancing market access for certified Its President, Tan Peng Juan, said this initiative aims to
product and strengthening collaboration and synergy among reduce reliance on natural forest species.
various Government agencies. The Forest Plantation Development Action Plan (2022–2036)

The STAReview also reported that the Malaysian Timber is a strategic initiative by the Sabah Forestry Department
Certification Council (MTCC) organised an inception workshop aimed at transforming forest plantation development in Sabah.
for the ‘Promoting Sustainable Wood Use for the Domestic It was launched in March 2022.
Market in Malaysia’. The 15-year plan provides guidance in accordance with
The workshop was attended by policymakers, research sustainable forest management principles as outlined in the
institutions, timber associations and industry players to discuss Sabah Maju Jaya Development Plan (2021–2025) and the
and provide inputs on the project inception report. Sabah Forest Policy.
In his opening remarks, Akmal Saarani, Director (Chain of The Sabah timber industry recorded a steady increase in
Custody) at MTCC announced that this project, funded by exports from January to November 2024, with an average rise

the International Tropical Timber Organization, is an initiative of 11 percent in volume and six percent in value compared
aimed at enhancing and diversifying domestic consumption to the same period in 2023.
while promoting local markets for sustainable wood and wood Japan remained the largest importer accounting for 22
products in Malaysia. percent of the total export value followed by the US (11%) and
With MTCC appointed by the Ministry of Plantation and Taiwan (9%). Exports to European countries were negligible
Commodities as the executing agency, this 18-month project contributing only around two percent to total earnings.
has the ambitious goal of increasing domestic consumption,

improving supply chains and reinforcing government policies Malaysia-EU FTA negotiations to resume
related to the use of sustainable wood products. It has been reported that long stalled negotiations for the