POLICY
The SFD recognizes the invaluable importance of managing the Project Area particularly in maintaining forest ecosystems and services; and thus:
i. The Sabah Forestry Department is committed to managing the Project Area in accordance with the principles of sustainable and responsible management as prescribe by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Malaysian Criteria and Indicators (MC&I) of the Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC), and in conformity with all existing State forest policies, environmental policies, legislation and regulations.
ii. The Sabah Forestry Department will ensure to protect the Project Area from fire, illegal felling, and encroachment, and to safeguard the resource security under responsible management.
iii. The Project Area will be managed based on ecological management through an adaptive management approach and in conformity with the existing State forest policies, environmental policies, legislations and regulations as listed down in Section 1.7.
iv. The SFD will manage the Project Area for nature conservation and biological diversity such as, populations of rare, unique and endangered species, water resources, as well as, other ecologically significant populations and examples of all native plant communities. This will be aggressively conserved within the framework of the SFD's regular operations.
v. The SFD is committed in protecting the HCVs present within the project area by implementing a no harvesting policy; rehabilitation or restoring on degraded areas; and no hunting licenses to be issued for hunting within NGR SFM, and anti-poaching strategy are to be implemented.
vi. The SFD will strive to protect the Project Area from fire, illegal felling and encroachment and to enhance the safe, sound, and responsible management of the forest for future generations.
vii. On the social aspect, the SFD would continue to provide employment opportunities and socio-economic development activities, particularly to the local communities who have direct interests in the Project Area. We will also continue to respect and allow the local communities in Kg. Kuamut to utilize the forest resources particularly to collect the birds' nests, which they have practiced for generations in a sustainable way.
viii. The SFD shall identify and protect sites of special cultural or religious significance in the Project Area and such sites are to be documented.
ix. The Sabah Forestry Department (SFD) is an organisation responsible for protecting and managing Sabah's forest resources and practices zero tolerance against all forms of corruption and abuse of power.
SFD is committed to:
a) Establishing a culture of integrity and transparency at the workplace as well as continuously implementing integrity and anti-corruption programs;
b) Ensuring all SFD personnel, forest licensees, contractors, suppliers and stakeholders are responsible to comply with existing anti-corruption laws and regulations;
c) Providing avenues and encourages reporting on corruption and abuse of power through client complaints;
d) Providing full cooperation to the Malaysians Anti-Corruption Commissions (MACC) in curbing corruption in SFD, forest licensees, contractors, suppliers and stakeholders dealing with SFD and;
e) Taking firm action against any party found to be in violation with the anti- corruption laws and not complying with this policy.
x. The Sabah Forestry Department (SFD) practices gender equality in the management and administration of its organisation.
SFD is committed to:
a) Ensuring that there is no gender discrimination in employment opportunities, training and contract awards;
b) Ensuring women are empowered in decision and policy-making; and
c) Ensuring equality of women in all aspects of management.
xi. The Sabah Forestry Department (SFD) practices zero tolerance against acts of sexual harassment.
SFD is committed to:
a) Providing a workplace that is safe, conducive and free of sexual harassment to all SFD personnel, clients and the public;
b) Ensuring all SFD personnel, clients and the public are accountable and comply with all existing sexual harassment laws and regulations;
c) Providing avenues and encourages reporting of acts of sexual harassment through clients complaints; and
d) Taking firm action against any person found to be committing acts of sexual harassment and not complying with this policy.
xii. The SFD is committed not to use genetically modified organism to prevent the invasive species impact towards the project area.