The news of PEFC International’s endorsement of the Malaysian Timber Council Certification Scheme (MTCS) came at the best time. Full credit to the Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC), the forestry sector and participating industry members for this milestone achievement. It has not come easily!
The international pressure on Malaysia to take action in this area has been immense, spurring its authorities and bodies like the MTC to commit to continuous environmental improvement from the early 90s. Consequently we were the first tropical country to have an operational national forest certification scheme and now obtaining international recognition for all our efforts is a priceless reward.
Public perception at its worst carries the notion that all tropical timber producing countries are unreliable and untrustworthy. It’s a painful cross to bear, when unquantifiable resources have been spent over the years to prove our worth. But we do have several European markets which value doing business with Malaysia for the very opposite reasons – reliability, trustworthiness and not forgetting quality.
I’d like to see this now grow even more, although I also know our challenges are far from over. Our FLEGT Voluntary Partnership negotiations are proceeding and, if all goes well, we will be in a position to supply sustainable as well as legal timber for ‘guilt-free’ EU consumption.
Timber has the strongest environmental credentials but is far from being the material of choice it should be. We at MTC have always stood in solidarity in promoting the generic use of wood. We should not fear using sustainably-produced tropical timber, in fact it will help ensure the very survival of the world’s tropical rainforests.
Current economic grief apart, our industry’s focus is on increasing efficiency and productivity with sustainability in mind. Our next target is Malaysia’s ambitious 2020 National Timber Industry Plan! The aim? To reduce pressure on our natural forests and sharpen our competitive edge in the global market.
Malaysia cherishes her rainforests as much as anyone – we’re not far from finding the right balance between conservation and sustainable use.
