The Model Forest Management Area (Phase III) 

Malaysia

In the proposed project phase for the period July 2001-July 2004, which is part of the "Ten-Year Development Plan 1996-2006" published by ITTO and Sarawak Forest Department, the selective harvesting of virgin natural ("old growth") forests in MFMA will be completed. Project phase III will therefore concentrate on the preparation of work schedules and controls in second - cycle harvesting, silvicultural improvement measures in harvested areas and on community forest development project. The ITTO guidelines for the sustainable management of natural tropical forests and agreed criteria and indicators will be applied.

Two specific objectives are proposed:

1. Skills Training: covering inventory work, road planning, PATH tractor logging procedures, road construction and training follow-up procedures.
2. Management Control: covering zoning for operations, tree planting instructions, harvesting code of practice, continuous monitoring and the documentation format for management plans in second-cycle forests.

The target beneficiaries consist of three groups:

1. Junior staff of the management, engineering and silvicultural sections of the Sarawak Forest Department.
2. Camp managers, planning staff, surveyors, supervisors and foremen of work-units of forest companies operating throughout Sarawak.
3. The local community near and within the MFMA.

In respect of the latter group of beneficiaries, the proposals include fruit and other crop tree planting for their own use as well as employment in experimental and company tree raising, planting and maintenance work.