Environmental Stewardship

Areas that contain globally, regionally, or nationally significant concentrations of biodiversity values, including endemic species, and rare, threatened, or endangered species. This could include regions with a high density of rare species or important habitats for these species.

Rare, threatened, or endangered ecosystems, habitats, or refugia. These areas are crucial for the preservation of biodiversity and often represent a significant proportion of the global extent of these ecosystems.

Areas that provide basic ecosystem services in critical situations, such as watershed protection, erosion control, and fire break functions. These services are essential for maintaining environmental stability and supporting human well-being.

Sites and resources fundamental for satisfying the basic necessities of local communities or indigenous peoples, such as food, water, and fuel. These areas are vital for the livelihood and cultural practices of the communities that depend on them.

The protection of Compartment 31 Jerangau ensures that the Keruing Sarawak can thrive in its natural habitat, contributing to biodiversity and ecological stability. By preserving this area, we are safeguarding not just the Keruing Sarawak, but also the myriad of other flora and fauna that depend on this unique ecosystem. Conservation efforts here support broader environmental goals, such as maintaining genetic diversity, protecting water resources, and combating climate change through carbon sequestration. Thus, Compartment 31 Jerangau stands as a vital bastion of environmental protection and biodiversity conservation in Peninsular Malaysia.

1. Field Data/ Observation/ Information received from
   i.   Pre-F inventories
   ii.  Words of mouth by local communities
   iii. Personal experience of staff or other stakeholders
   iv. Expert advice from various organisations/agencies (e.g., Malaysian Nature Society (MNS), Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), etc)
   v.  Published and unpublished reports
2. KPKKT to store data & information on its dossier of species that have potential to be identified as having HCV value;
3. KPKKT to send team to investigate on the ground. Team to take photographs and samples and report back to KPKKT on its findings;
4. KPKKT to consult stakeholders on HCVF attributes to be considered and accepted;
5. KPKKT to liaise with the Terengganu State Forestry Department (TSFD), he Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia (FDPM) & FRIM to confirm on the conservation status and need of the species;
6. TSFD to give appropriate written instructions to KPKKT to:
   i.   Exclude the species and the habitat on which it grows from any future logging
   ii.  Demarcate appropriate size of area for conservation and mark boundary on the ground
   iii. Develop strategies for conservation/ protection and utilisation of the species and habitats
   iv. Conduct detailed surveys on the resources therein and document the result
7. KPKKT to implement TSFD instructions on the ground.

1. Identification of HCVF; FSC Indicator 6.4.2 requires Forest managers to compile information regarding the extent to which representative samples of existing ecosystems are protected within the regional landscape; where gaps exist within the landscape, forest managers take actions that contribute to correcting those deficiencies, that reflects the scale and intensity of operations. KPKKT will analyze protected areas within the regional landscape including the Virgin Jungle Reserves of the State Forestry Department, National Park areas, other ownerships, and KPKKT’s own protected areas to determine if existing ecosystems are adequately represented. Where ecosystems are not adequately represented, and opportunities exist for KPKKT to fill these gaps, KPKKT must will contributions to the regional network of representative areas.
2. Preparation of maps showing details of
   i.   Topography, terrain, roads & access, rivers, human settlements
   ii.  Forest types & habitat
   iii. Soil types, geology, etc
3. Determination of attributes to be used in considering HCVF;
4. Development of time scheduling for Plan of Actions;
5. Training of staff & contractors. Exposure on FSC protocols, MC & I etc.; briefing on company’s policy and direction. FSC Criterion 7.3 provides for forest workers to receive adequate training and supervision to ensure proper implementation of the management plans. Additional training on some of the topics in the management plan is needed, in order to ensure a successful implementation. KPKKT will review the capabilities of current staff and contractors relative to the suite of capabilities necessary to implement the management plan and carry out forest management that is consistent with FSC standard. As part of this review, KPKKT will identify training needs, and then carry out appropriate training. Training procedures for indoctrinating new forest workers must be established. 
6. Allocation of appropriate budget for compliance activities;
7. Staffing (to be of right quality and quantity);
8. Coordination: 
   i.   Coordination within KPKKT – information on future HCVF to be channelled to Research & Development Dept; S.O.P
   ii.  Coordination with government agencies, NGOs & other stakeholders
   iii. Establish ad hoc panel to advise on future direction of identified HCVF
   iv. Documentation
9. Stakeholders consultation;
10. Protection;
    i.   Protection from encroachment and theft
    ii.  Protection from fire and other natural catastrophe
    iii. Protection from diseases and pollution
11. Identification of threats;
12. Area protection: regular patrol, marking of boundaries, closure of unused/inactive roads, sign board with appropriate warnings against would-be intruders;
13. R & D, including breeding programme – expeditions, establish in situ & ex situ plantings. Herbarium collection, permanent sample plots. Nursery research;
14. Monitoring, Evaluation & Control (MEC). To evaluate and review, from time to time, the status of HCVF and the need to re-define direction;
15. Eco-Tourism & other non-destructive Commercial Opportunities;
16. Documentation & maps - Publication and Publicity. To take part or organise seminars/meetings/ expo on latest findings.

1. Involvement and commitment by top executive and managers. Issues concerning HCVF to be raised in management meetings from time to time and reflected in minutes;
2. Continued training and capacity building;
3. Regular stakeholders consultation to solicit inputs and comments and to open communication with interested parties;
4. Strong inputs to be solicited from relevant professionals;
5. Compare conservation experience with other interested organisations on experience with similar species/ habitats;
6. Monitoring to be done against established Standard Operating Procedures (S.O.P.s);
7. FSC Criterion 8.2 requires monitoring of observed changes in flora and fauna or social impacts. Monitoring by KPKKT must meet this requirement. Collaboration with MACRES (Malaysian Centre for Remote Sensing) is on-going to monitor changes in flora and fauna. Nevertheless data from Pre-F and Post-F inventories do provide such information, which has enabled the company to appraise and understand the timber stand under the second growth that will be managed under the second rotation of SMS.

1. Opinions of Local stakeholders will be listened to and sought from time to time, to gather information on attributes to use to decide on HCVF;
2. Document local knowledge and use of forest resource;
3. Training and study visits opportunities to be given to stakeholders to visit other conservation sites and efforts done elsewhere;
4. Regular Stakeholders Consultation sessions to be held;
5. KPKKT to maintain an updated list of stakeholders;
6. Stakeholders to be contacted and meeting to be held both officially and unofficially through organising events such as Open Day, Consultation Meeting, Hari Raya gathering, Rimbathon, expeditions, unofficial encounters, etc.;
7. KPKKT to inform stakeholders on its HCVF areas;
8. Movement of people in and out of the forest to be monitored.

1. Monitor the needs of the local communities and forest-users and ensure that the direction and emphasis of KPKKT’s operations continue to satisfy those needs, albeit within the bounds of existing laws and regulations;
2. Identify material and psychological impacts of its operations on the community;
3. Measure and promote social acceptance of KPKKT’s operations in the community and avoid costly modifications or abandonment of the project at a later stage;
4. Monitor changing environmental value in the community;
5. Obtain additional environmental information known to the local population;
6. Hold stakeholders consultation meetings at regular intervals to provide forum for face-to-face encounter and promote dialogue;
7. Document all complaints, take appropriate actions promptly and follow up on the actions taken.

1. To maintain a dossier of existing HCVFs for future reference and monitoring;
2. To receive inputs from Project Executives, Supervisors and Operators on problems encountered during project implementation and to assist in overcoming them;
3. To report to the CEO/GM (i.e. upon deliberation with Head of Planning & Research) on the status of HCVFs from time to time as deemed necessary;
4. To encourage a smooth flow of information within KPKKT in order to facilitate coordination and understanding amongst Departments within KPKKT on matters concerning HCVF development and management, consistent with each other and with organizational objectives;
5. To institute control on a regular basis in order to keep HCVF project work on track. Project Control consists of measuring the status of work performed against “Key Result Areas (KRAs)” or “Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)”, comparing that status with what was planned to be accomplished to-date;
6. To appraise the progress and performance of a HCVF compared to what was originally planned thereby providing the basis for management decisions as to proceed with the HCVF project, hence leading to, either continuation, re-design or even abandonment of a HCVF.

1. Identify aims – why; for who, where, who does the work; participants in process; approach & methods; define target audience;
2. Define the landscape – biological, geographical, political, economic, social boundaries; edge effect (i.e. wildlife on fringe habitats; communities living outside boundaries, etc)
3. Define the HCVs; local definition versus generic definition of FSC
4. Identify existing information, decide on analyses and identify gaps
5. Collate information – include digitizing
   i. To conduct surveys on flora and fauna within the HCVF established
   ii. To document the data on flora and fauna
   iii. To set up weather monitoring system in the area
   iv. To set up environmental monitoring system (including hydrology)
   v. To establish seed orchard for selected species
   vi. To establish ex situ collection of identified species
   vii. To conduct R & D on the breeding and future utilisation of identified species and other species in the vicinity;
   viii. To document local knowledge on the conservation and utilization of the species
   ix. To integrate the knowledge into Forest Management Plan of Dungun Timber Complex.
   x. Identify new candidates for future HCVF.
6. Conduct analyses on the above
7. Implement the results. - Definitive HCVF Maps – Results could be sumarised into maps with different overlays - Lists of instructions and guidance for management and conservation.
8. Monitoring, which consists mainly of internal monitoring to evaluate whether the use of the HCVF analysis has had an impact on the landscape. An external monitoring is to evaluate the status of HCVF within the landscape.

1. Map and survey the HCVF in detail and by habitat type following approved method. This is to result in improved understanding of the spatial and temporal dynamics of the ecological communities inhabiting the conservation area. 
2. Develop a spatial database for all data collected. Field data on faunal and floral groups can then be integrated into this spatial database, with additional data (socio-economics) where available, to assess potential anthropogenic pressures or opportunities for sustainable use of natural resources. This will ultimately provide a valuable decision support tool to underpin future land management and conservation planning decisions on the area.
3. Compile tree data & other related information
   i. history of forest compartment
   ii. geology and soils
   iii. climate
   iv. forest management system
   v. presence of wildlife
   vi. incidence of damage & injuries due to pest infestation, wildlife, windthrow, fire
   vii. phenological behaviours (incl. flushing, flowering, fruiting & seeding)
   viii. Standing Stock
   ix. Tree distribution
   x. Standing Volume
   xi. Market Value
   xii. Identify Target Species
   xiii. Costing
   xiv. Data sorting and verification
   xv. data coding according to standard coding procedures for species, etc
   xvi. Data entry and storage in the computer.
4. Maintenance of labels on trees and plants
5. Stakeholders Consultation
6. Monitoring and updating of Conservation Status – with consideration for upgrading or downgrading of conservation status in local and international lists.
7. Periodic Reporting
   i. regular monitoring & reporting every six months – to note changes; to identify areas for improvement.