Malaysia’s forestry department has urged state governments to exercise restraint when planning to develop forest areas.
Department director-general Abdul Rashid said trees should not be felled unless development schemes were concrete and mitigation measures were in place.
He said logging on state-owned forest and on land owned by individuals was a source for criticism and confusion because of clear-felling techniques used.
The department, which manages permanent forest reserve, is often assumed to have given the go-ahead to such developments.
