The EIA of this FMU was approved by the Controller of Natural Resources and Environment Board Sarawak in June, 2013 to follow terms and conditions of approval in accordance with the provisions of Natural Resources and Environment Ordinance 1993 and Natural Resources & Environment (Prescribed Activities) Order, 1994.
The FMU is conducting Environmental Monitoring Report (EMR) to monitor the status of General Terms and Conditions and mitigations as required in the approved EIA.
Objectives of Environmental Impact Assessment
The objectives of the EIA are to identify, assess and propose appropriate mitigation measures for potential environmental, safety and health impacts arising from the forest harvesting activities in the proposed FMU and to ensure proper management of the forest harvesting activities under RIL in order to reduce the environmental impacts.
Environmental Monitoring Report (EMR)
- Quarterly Environmental Monitoring Report (EMR) will be carried out in order to monitor the status of General Terms and Conditions and mitigations as required in the approved EIA.
- The environmental baseline of water quality of the proposed FMU is within the Compliance Limits (Class IIB) of the National water Quality Standards for Malaysia (NWQSM).
Social Impact Assessment (SIA)
According to SIA conducted and awareness carried out during the longhouses visit, there were 18 longhouses/settlements or local communities within or adjacent FTL No. T/3401. We would carry out the monitoring and enhancement measures for local communities and all our forest workers by adopting the Community Representative Committee (CRC), Employer – Employee Committee (EEC) and Forest Management Certification Liaison Committee (FMCLC). CRC and FMCLC are to address grievances, social problems and land right claims, if any, by following the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) adopted by the FMU. A Social Officer is appointed to take care of local communities and our workers.
These longhouses communities practice shifting agriculture (SA) scattered in patches. They were collecting NTFPs and carry out hunting for wildlife as source of protein periodically as subsistence support. Some of the local communities are employed at the nearby timber camps and towns. The FMU is committed to give job priority to the local communities. In adopting reduced impact logging (RIL) practices, it will ensue the sustainability of FMU thereon to improve its economic and environmental value invariably benefiting every stakeholder within the FMU. Besides, The FMU is committed to carry out silviculture treatment in those disturbed areas after the construction of logging roads and bridges.
Dialogued with the longhouse at Rumah Tunku, the local communities had received the Government Gazette for Native Communal Reserve (Agriculture) in year 2020 with that their Native Communal Reserve (Agriculture) was under declaration order 2020 defined as ‘Entemu’ Land District dated 21st, October 2020. Moreover, this Native Communal Reserve (Agriculture) was mostly located inside the previous forest timber license area of T/3401 but declared as exclusive area for certification purposes and partially inside the Mengiong-Gaat FMU area covering Approximate 140 hectares in Coupes 14 and 15 (Coupe 14 in Coupe Year 2034/2035 and Coupe 15 in Coupe Year 2035/2036).
Mitigation and Enhancement Measures
The mitigation and enhancement measures are as follows:
Step 1: Assess of Impacts. Key social impacts shall include water supply and quality, socio-cultural life and local economy.
Step 2: Mitigation/Enhancement Measures. Key mitigation/enhancement measures shall include conduct pre-harvesting consultations with affected community; ensure that RIL/EIA measures are effectively implemented; and FMU Manager to closely cooperate with relevant agencies and stakeholder groups in conducting training programmes for community.
Step 3: Monitoring. Social monitoring shall include compliance monitoring and impact monitoring.
All the grievances that arise from the local communities will be undergoing the SOP as stated below.
Management of Socio-Economic Impact
- As part of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) works, the company will introduce company policy to give priority for employment, training and other services related to the project to enhance the long-term social and economic well-being of the local communities.
- Efforts should be made to train the local people in the logging industry.
- Incentives may be provided in the form of better housing, amenities and benefits available to the workers (including staff) staying on-site.
- An attractive wage structure will help to entice local people into the logging industry. The minimum wage order (Amendment) 2019 of RM1,100.00 (starting in January, 2019) would implement.
Public Health and Workplace Safety
To minimize accidents or unwanted disease outbreak in the site, the following measures should be implemented:
- Safety Meeting to be held quarterly.
- If there is any accident happened, we shall report to JKKP.
In 2021, we were no accident record.
