news

VOL 15 NO 3 May - June 2009

ISSN 1394 - 6196
PUBLISHED BY MALAYSIAN TIMBER COUNCIL

MTC’s Ice-Breaking Sessions with the

New Minister
Malaysia’s Green Building Index Launched
PEFC Endorsement of MTCS
Cover Story

Matang Mangroves: A Century of

Sustainable Management
editorial

to build anything. It is hoped that, in the long run,

more and more people, particularly specifiers and
We are happy to note that a architects, realize how small timber’s carbon footprint
is and how using more timber actually contributes to
Malaysian private-sector initiative has less greenhouse gas emissions. Our story on the GBI

conceptualised the country’s first ever is on pages 12 - 18.

Green Building Index (GBI). Launched Happy Reading!

on 21 May 2009, the GBI spells out The Editor

the standards which a new building

must meet before it can stake that
green claim.

Dear Readers,

Congratulatory wishes are due to the Malaysian Timber

Certification Council (MTCC), whose Malaysian Timber
Certification Scheme (MTCS) has now been officially endorsed
by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification
schemes (PEFC) from 1 May 2009. (Report on pages 4 - 5). The
MTCS has, indeed, developed systematically since the idea of
certifying Malaysian timber was first mooted in MTC’s London
office (then in Curzon Street, Mayfair) back in 1996.

Malaysia is, indeed, blessed with much natural vegetation. In

terms of forest alone, Malaysia is home to 10 types of forest:
mixed dipterocarp, lower montane, upper montane and subalpine
vegetation, beech vegetation including strand forest, Kernagas
or tropical heath, forest over ultrabasic rock, forest on limestone,
mangrove and brackish water vegetation, peat swamp and
freshwater swamp. This issue features a write-up on Malaysia’s
mangrove forests along the coast of the state of Perak. Malaysia
has built up a reputation for the best management of mangroves
in the world. To find out the basis for this claim, read our report
on pages 6 - 11.

We are happy to note that a Malaysian private-sector initiative has

conceptualised the country’s first ever Green Building Index (GBI).
Launched on 21 May 2009, the GBI spells out the standards
which a new building must meet before it can stake that green
claim. It was developed by Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia (PAM)
and Association of Consulting Engineers (ACEM) as part of the
effort to green the Malaysian property industry. It is gratifying to
note that under the criteria “choice of materials and resources”,
emphasis is given on the use of environment-friendly, recycled
materials and sustainable timber. The Cooperative Research
Centre for Greenhouse Accounting, Australia has estimated that Indoor environmental quality, which includes natural lighting, is one of five areas where
more than 25 tonnes of greenhouse gases could be saved if buildings are evaluated under the GBI.
timber products were used instead of the common alternatives,
 content

With the endorsement, the MTCs has become the first tropical timber certification

2 MTC’s
NEWS scheme in the Asia Pacific region to be endorsed by the PEFC.
Ice-Breaking
Sessions With The New
Minister

3 Dialogue
Activities
On Financing

4 PEFC Endorsement of MTCS

SHANGHAI

6 Matang
FEATURE
Mangroves: A
Century of Sustainable
HEAD OFFICE
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Malaysia E mtcchina@online.sh.cn

12 Malaysia’s Green Building

Index Launched
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 news
2

MTC’s Ice-Breaking Sessions

with the New Minister
Given the economic quagmire that the world is currently stuck in, it is,
indeed, a challenging time for the new Minister of Plantation Industries
and Commodities, His Honourable Tan Sri Bernard Dompok, to start
overseeing the continued growth of the Malaysian commodities’ sector.

N
evertheless, within a short time, the Minister has managed
to get acquainted with the main players of the various
sub-sectors of the industry. MTC organised a series of
events in June 2009 in an effort to introduce the Council
to the newly-appointed Minister.

The CEO and Management team of MTC gave a briefing to

Tan Sri Bernard (third right) with Tunku Osman (on the
Minister’s right) and other MTC Trustees at the dinner.
the Minister at the Minister’s Office on 18 June 2009. The
briefing focused on the Council’s objectives, as well as its main
activities. A few MTC-initiated projects, like the development of
a glu-laminated industry in Malaysia and the establishment of a
Malaysian Timber Product Centre in Warsaw, Poland, were also
elaborated on.
On the same day, the MTC Chairman, HRH Tunku Tan Sri
Osman Ahmad, hosted a dinner between the Honourable
Minister and the Trustees of the Council. This provided a good
opportunity for representatives of all Federal-based timber
associations to touch base with the Minister in an informal
setting. Many subjects, including the laminated scantlings
project jointly undertaken by MTC, the Malaysian Wood
Industries Association, the Malaysian Timber Industry Board and
Forest Research Institute of Malaysia, were discussed at length.

Earlier, on 8 June 2009, the Minister also took the opportunity

to get to know members of the industry through an informal
hi-tea get-together at a local hotel in Putrajaya. Organised by
the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities, similar
ice-breaking sessions were also held for other major commodity
sectors like oil palm and furniture.
MTC CEO, Mr. Cheah Kam Huan, and other members of the
MTC Management team at the briefing to the Minister.
 news
3

Dialogue on Financing Facilities

MTC initiated a dialogue between the industry and the local banking
sector including the country’s central bank, Bank Negara Malaysia
(BNM), to address several issues affecting the timber industry with
regard to financing and credit facilities.

H
eld on 20 May 2009, the dialogue, chaired by BNM
Assistant Governor, Datuk Muhammad Ibrahim, was
well attended by 42 bankers and 25 members from the
wood-based industry. MTC CEO, Mr. Cheah Kam Huan
led the representation of the timber industry, and MTC Senior
Director for Trade Promotion and Marketing, Mr. SK Tham
made a presentation on the Malaysian timber industry.

The dialogue enabled the banking sector to have a better

Datuk Muhammad Ibrahim
understanding of the needs and requirements of the wood-
based industry, which contributes four per cent to the
country’s GDP annually. For the year 2008, export earnings
from the wood-based sector was RM22.79 billion, making it
the fifth largest export earner after electrical and electronic
products, palm oil and palm-oil based products, crude
petroleum and liquefied natural gas.

The dialogue has also resulted in BNM having direct

access to problems faced by the timber industry in their
daily dealings with the banks. Datuk Muhammad Ibrahim
requested that any other individual issues with the local
banks be sent directly to BNM for quick solutions. MTC will
be coordinating the issues from the industry and submitting
them to BNM in due course.

Currently, MTC is working together with the Association of

Mr. Cheah (right) leading the representation of the timber industry at
the dialogue.
Banks of Malaysia (ABM) to organise a regional roadshow.
ABM, together with BNM and SME Corporation Malaysia
(formerly known as SMIDEC), is organising a Financing Fair
in Batu Pahat, Johor on 17 August 2009. In conjunction
with the fair, there will also be a dialogue session between
the timber industry and the banks on 18 August 2009. This
would again be a good opportunity for the timber industry,
especially from Johor, to interact with the banks on issues of
a similar nature.
news
4

PEFC Endorsement of MTCS

The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes
(PEFC) has given its endorsement of the Malaysian Timber Certification
Scheme (MTCS). The decision to endorse the 2002 Malaysian
Criteria and Indicators for Forest Management Certification, on which
the MTCS is based, was announced on 5 May 2009. This followed
the outcome of the PEFC General Assembly postal vote among its
members based on the recommendation of the Board of Directors
who had made their decision on an assessment of the MTCS by an
independent assessor appointed by the PEFC Council.

he endorsement is valid for a five-year period, with periodic

review to ensure the continued compliance of the MTCS. With the
endorsement, the MTCS, which is operated by the Malaysian Timber
Certification Council (MTCC), has become the first tropical timber
certification scheme in the Asia Pacific region, and the second in the world
after the Gabonese Forest Certification Scheme, to be endorsed by the
PEFC.

Ben Gunneberg, PEFC Secretary General, said: “The endorsement of

MTCS is a significant achievement for the sustainable forest management
community as a whole. While the certification movement has its origins
in efforts to protect tropical forests, over 90% of the world’s certification
today takes place in the temperate forests of Europe and North America.
Yet tropical forests in the Southern hemisphere offer the most benefits to
tackling some of society’s biggest challenges, including climate change,
combating deforestation and forest degradation, and maintaining the
Ben Gunneberg. world’s precious biodiversity.”
Photo credit: PEFC.

Backgrounder: PEFC
PEFC is a framework for the assessment and endorsement of national forest certification systems that have been developed based on
internationally recognised requirements for sustainable forest management. Since its launch in 1999, PEFC has become the largest forest
certification umbrella organisation covering national systems from all over the world, delivering hundreds of millions of tonnes of wood to
the processing industry and then onto the market place from currently more than 200 million hectares of certified forests. This is an area
larger than the combined forest area of all European Union member states. PEFC has strong grassroots support from many stakeholders
including the forestry sector, governments, trade associations, trade unions and non-governmental organisations.
 news
5

Datuk Dr. Freezailah Che Yeom, MTCC Chairman said, “MTCC is

proud to have obtained the PEFC endorsement, which shows that the various
aspects of the MTCS, such as the institutional arrangement and certification
standards used, have met the stringent requirements of the PEFC. It gives
further assurance that forests certified under the MTCS are implementing
the best management practices and contributing to the challenging efforts
to achieve sustainable forest management, particularly for the tropical
rainforests”.

Datuk Dr. Freezailah Che Yeom
Photo credit: MTCC.
Dr. Freezailah added that the endorsement enables the MTCS to achieve
mutual recognition with 26 other PEFC-endorsed certification schemes. This
means that the MTCS-certified timber product manufacturers and exporters
will soon be able to combine PEFC-certified material from Malaysia with other
PEFC-certified material under the PEFC logo.

“The endorsement is further testimony that the MTCS has made tremendous
progress and improvements since it began operation in October 2001. I would
like to attribute this success to the hard work of the MTCC management and
staff, as well as all the Malaysian stakeholder groups for their contributions
and inputs which have been very helpful in improving the scheme to meet the
requirements of the PEFC”, added Dr. Freezailah.

Note: The full report of the conformity assessment of the MTCS can be
obtained from the PEFC website at www.pefc.org.

This success is attributed to the hard work of the MTCC management and staff, as well as all the Malaysian
stakeholder groups for their contributions and inputs. Photo credit: MTCC.

Backgrounder: MTCC (www.mtcc.com.my)

MTCC was established to develop and operate a voluntary national timber certification scheme, now known as the MTCS, in order to
provide independent assessments of forest management practices to ensure sustainable forest management in Malaysia as well as to
meet the market demand for certified timber products. Currently, nine Forest Management Units (FMUs) accounting for a total area of 4.84
million hectares of Permanent Reserved Forests (PRFs) in Malaysia are certified under the MTCS. 141 timber manufacturers and exporters
have been awarded the chain-of-custody certificate, which qualifies them to supply MTCS-certified timber products to the market.
news
6

Matang Mangroves: A Century of

Sustainable Management

Up to 73.6 per cent have been classified as

productive forest while the balance of 26.4 per cent
consists of non-productive or protected forest.
 feature
7

The Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve, or Matang Mangroves, has been

acknowledged as the best-managed mangrove forest in Malaysia. Covering
slightly more than 40,000 hectares, it is the largest single mangrove forest
in Peninsular Malaysia and is an exemplary sustainably managed mangrove
forest which has been able to successfully balance the continuing demand
for wood resources and preservation of the mangrove ecosystem.

M
atang Mangroves is located in the north-western coast of Peninsular Malaysia, within
the administrative district of Larut Matang, and Krian in the State of Perak. Larut Matang
won the Ministry of Primary Industries (now renamed as Ministry of Plantation Industries
and Commodities) 1996/1997 Green Award for the Best Managed Forest District in
Peninsular Malaysia.

Up to 73.6 per cent have been classified as productive forest while the balance of 26.4 per
cent consists of non-productive or protected forest. The productive forests are assigned for the
purpose of timber production and the non-productive forests are for the purpose of bio-diversity
conservation, erosion mitigation, research and education, recreation, local community’s needs
and settlement.

Numerous waterways including rivers forming important means of transport divide the forest
reserve where more than 85 per cent are tidal swamps, which are naturally flooded during high
tide. Its complex and fragile ecosystem plays an important role in conserving the bio-diversity of
the flora and fauna in the forest reserve.

Numerous waterways including rivers forming important means of transport divide the forest reserve where more than 85 per cent are tidal
swamps, which are naturally flooded during high tide.
feature
8

Fauna of Matang Mangroves

Besides flora, Matang Mangrove is also home of 156 species of birds. Of these, 49 species are
migratory. At least two important species are listed in the IUCN/ICBP Red Data Book of endangered
bird species, which are the Milky Stork (Mycteria cinerea) and Lesser Adjutant Stork (Leptoptilos
javanicus). Matang is also home to the Grey Heron (Ardea cinera), and during wintering, to hundreds
of migrating Great Egrets (Egretta alba).

Other fauna found in Matang includes the Smooth Otter (Lutra perspicillata). Matang’s Dryland
Forest is rich in mammals such as Leopard Cat (Felis bengalensis), Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca
fascicularis), Silvered Langur (Presbytis cristata), and a variety of bats, squirrels, civets, mongooses,
pangolins and wild boars. Underwater, Matang Mangroves’ wildlife is equally rich; scientists have
identified 114 species of fish, 20 species of prawns and 48 species of crabs.

Long-tailed Macaque. A crab species found in Matang.

Management of Matang Mangroves

Matang Mangroves is divided into four zones based on carefully delineated forest types. This in turn, is
the basis for a silviculture system based on ecological considerations. At the heart of the management
system are the Perak State Forest Department’s 10-Year Working Plans and detailed Control Maps,
which meticulously outline how the forest reserve is to be managed. The first Working Plan covered the
period 1950-1959, and has been revised consistently every 10 years.

Hence, the management system of Matang

Mangroves, which has evolved on many levels,
from silviculture to zoning and conservation,
has not only allowed for timber to be harvested
but also for fishing to take place all year round.
In addition, it has allowed the mangroves
to play their natural and important roles of
stabilising the riverine coastlines and be home
to unique plants and animals. Ultimately, the
aim of the management system of Matang
Mangroves is sustainability.

Matang Mangroves have contributed significantly to Perak’s high fisheries

production, which is the highest in Malaysia.
 feature
9

Major Tree Species of Matang

The major tree species found in Matang are Bakau Minyak (Rhizophora apiculata) and Bakau Kurap (Rhizophora
mucronata) along the riverbanks and in more tide-submerged areas. These two species occupy up to 85 per
cent of the total forest area and are the main commercial species.

Small channels usually bring in large quantities of Lenggadai (Bruguiera parviflora) propagules. Being
opportunistic plants, they take root very quickly in areas that had been clear-felled, impairing the growth of
Bakau. Another Bruguiera species that occurs mainly seawards is the Bruguiera cylindrica (Seaward Berus
Forest). As it is inferior to Rhizophora as a raw material for charcoal production, large areas of this species
remain unexploited.

Tree-Harvesting Rotation
In Matang Mangroves, productive forests are clear-felled once they reach 30 years old. This has been in
practice since 1950. Silviculture practices see intermediate felling carried out twice, i.e. during years 15 and
years 20. Where necessary, intensive planting is done two years after final felling. The 30-year rotation gives
the highest net return on capital value. Most of the present stands within the productive areas of Matang
Mangroves consist of second rotation crop except for an approximate 15% of the total area.

Yield
Yield regulation serves to ensure a constant supply of greenwood as raw material for the charcoal industry
in the State, which is concentrated in the Kuala Sepetang district. It also ensures that only economically
productive areas are harvested. At the same time, it provides assurance to contractors that areas allocated to
them yield a minimum volume of greenwood.

Yield is regulated based on area and volume.

It is also dependent on each compartment’s
productivity, which differs year to year. By dividing
forest into productivity classes, all productive
areas in Matang Mangroves are identified
for final felling, and hence coupes and sub-
coupes allocated. It is estimated that productive
mangrove areas in Matang in this second rotation
will be able to yield between 140-190 tonnes
of greenwood per hectare, mainly from the
Rhizophoraceae family during final felling.

Silviculture
Yield regulation serves to ensure a constant supply of greenwood as raw
The objective of silviculture practices in Matang material for the charcoal industry in Perak.
Mangrove is to create a sustainable high-yielding
stand of the highest ecological framework of a
dynamic mangrove forest. The system employed
in Matang Mangroves is referred to as the Clear
Felling and Planting silviculture system.
 feature
10

FROM GREENWOOD TO CHARCOAL

The availability and yield of the forest for final felling determine the volume of greenwood that could
be harvested for charcoal production, as well as the number of charcoal processing kilns to be
operational. For 2000-2009, the charcoal-processing rate per kiln was set at eight burns per year,
and greenwood requirement for a single burn is 40 tonnes.
To date, the number of kilns approved and
operational in Kuala Sepetang is 348. This works
out to having 2.3 hectares of forest to provide the
greenwood for each kiln, which resembles an igloo.
They are built with bricks. Clay and sand are mixed
to be used as plaster. The standard diameter for
all the kilns at ground level is 6.7m with a height of
about 7.1m. Each kiln has an economic life span of
seven to 10 years.

To produce the charcoal, mangrove billets or poles

To produce the charcoal, mangrove billets or poles of 1.6m long will
be placed inside each kiln for up to 28 days.
of 1.6m long will be placed inside each kiln for up to
28 days. The charcoal is then left for a week to cool
before being taken out from the kiln. The charcoal
production from each burn is around 10.5 tonnes. All
the charcoal produced from this industry in Matang,
which started off in 1930, is exported to Japan.

Socio-Economics
Charcoal is Matang Mangroves’ primary economic timber product. The estimated annual value of charcoal
during 2000-2009 is RM27.2 million. Besides its usage as fuel, charcoal is also further processed into other
products such as soap, cigarette filters, shoe soles and water filters.

Matang Mangroves is the largest supplier of mangrove poles in Peninsular Malaysia. The poles are used as
piling materials in housing and construction. The expected annual value of poles during 2000-2009 is RM2.6
million.

Others products from Matang Mangroves include the making of shingles (attap)
from the fronds of Nipah and also wood vinegar, which is a by-product of
converting greenwood to charcoal, produced exclusively for the Japanese market.

Matang Mangroves have contributed significantly to Perak’s high fisheries

production, which is the highest in the country. Of the species identified by
marine scientist, 60 to 100 per cent of fish and 75 to 99 per cent of prawns were
juveniles, indicating the importance of Matang Mangroves as a nursery ground.
Cockle farming around Matang Mangroves meanwhile has also made a significant
contribution, recording an annual market value of RM32.45 million.

The uniqueness of the Matang Mangrove ecosystem makes it attractive for

education and eco-tourism. Tourism not only serves to increase awareness of
and appreciation for mangrove conservation, it also provides income to locals as
operators of tours, boats, homestays and eateries.
The uniqueness of the Matang Mangrove
ecosystem makes it attractive for education
and eco-tourism.
 feature
11

Prospects for Mangroves in Malaysia

During the Eighth Malaysia Plan (2001-2005) period,
measures were already taken to intensify the conservation
and rehabilitation of mangrove forests, to serve as an
effective shoreline defence system against erosion, wave
action and tsunamis. This approach to manage the natural
resource is being continued in the Ninth Malaysia Plan
(2006-2010), through:
s ADOPTINGAN)NTEGRATED#OASTAL:ONE-ANAGEMENT
Policy to promote the conservation and preservation of
marine and coastal resources;
s INTENSIFYINGTHEREHABILITATIONANDIMPROVEMENTOF
coastlines through regeneration and re-vegetation
programmes;
s DEVELOPINGACOMPREHENSIVEMANAGEMENTPLANFOR
mangroves and coastal forests to arrest the mangrove Mangrove’s location, which is between the land and the sea, plays an important role in
fisheries, coastal protection and conservation of biodiversity of both flora and fauna.
depletion rate to ensure a continuous supply of
resources as well as to mitigate the impact of coastal
erosion and tsunamis; and
s DEVELOPINGA#OASTAL6ULNERABILITY)NDEXTOGUIDE
the design of programmes to enhance coastal zone
management.

CONSERVATION
To preserve the environmental protective function of Matang Mangroves, buffer zones have been established.
These buffer zones also serve various other functions, such as:
s PROTECTINGTHERIVERBANKSFROMEXCESSIVEEROSION
s MINIMISINGTHEIMPACTOFCLEAR FELLINGOPERATIONSONTHEMARINEECOSYSTEM
s PREVENTINGUNNECESSARYLOSSTOTHEMOSTACCESSIBLEPRODUCTIVEFORESTAREAS
s ACTINGASASOURCEOFPROPAGULESFORTHEIMMEDIATEFELLEDAREASAND
s PROVIDINGAPLEASANTLANDSCAPEFORVISITORSANDTOURISTS

To further conserve the primarily important Rhizophoraceae, a pristine area of 42 hectares of predominantly
Rhizophoraceae forest has been designated a Virgin Jungle Reserve (VJR) since the formulation of the first
10-Year Working Plan. Rhizophora trees in the VJR attain an average girth of 115cm at breast height and total
height of 28m.

Mangrove itself is a unique ecosystem, which requires special attention and management. Its location, which
is between the land and the sea, plays an important role in fisheries, coastal protection and conservation of
biodiversity of both flora and fauna. This is no different in Matang, where it has been a provider of numerous
renewable products of commercial value, which have generated economic opportunities for the local
communities.

The reservation of Matang Mangroves started way back in 1902 and continued until the full gazettment of the
present area by 1906 makes it a national heritage and asset. After a hundred years, Matang Mangroves are
the best-managed mangrove forests in the world and are a living proof that sustainable management of this
ecosystem can preserve its numerous environmental, economic and social roles.

Source:
s-ATANG-ANGROVES!#ENTURYOF3USTAINABLE-ANAGEMENTs-ATANG-ANGROVE&ORESTBY0ERAK3TATE&ORESTRY$EPARTMENT
s%IGHTH-ALAYSIA0LAN s.INTH-ALAYSIA0LAN 
news
12

Malaysia’s Green
Building Index Launched

Century-old timbers recycled from a demolished

bottling factory was judiciously used as beams,
window frames, verandah and roof trusses in this
triple-award winning house in Sierramas, Selangor.
 feature
13

In tandem with its leaders’ aspiration for Malaysia

to become a developed nation by the year
2020, a Malaysian private-sector initiative has
conceptualised the country’s first ever Green
Building Index (GBI). Launched by Works Minister,
Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor on 21 May 2009, the
GBI spells out the standards which a new building
must meet before it can stake that green claim.
It was developed by Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia
(PAM) and Association of Consulting Engineers
(ACEM) as part of the effort to green the Malaysian
property industry.

W
hen PAM and ACEM started drafting the green building criteria
in 2008, they drew upon industry views and existing schemes
such as Singapore’s Green Mark, Australia’s Green Star and
the United States’ Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design (LEED). A private company, Greenbuildingindex Sdn Bhd
(GSB), has been formed to manage the certification scheme.

To comply with the GBI, buildings must have an energy consumption

of below the national guideline of 150 kilowatt hour per square metre
per year (kWh/m²/year). Studies show that existing commercial
buildings in Malaysia are now at 250 to 350kWh/m²/year.

In order to be GBI-certified, one’s building must first be assessed by a

certifier appointed by GSB. A provisional award is then issued. Once
the completed building has been verified according to the design,
the full award is given. The building must be reassessed every three
years to maintain the award. Points are given for performance above
benchmarks and current industry practice. Depending on the scores
achieved, the buildings will be awarded one of four types of ratings:
certified, silver, gold or platinum.
news
14

Only recycled timber is used in the construction of

this house in Pulau Langkawi, Kedah.
 feature
15

Different criteria are employed based on

each building’s function. Residential buildings are
assessed based on sustainable site planning and
management. For commercial buildings, however,
energy-efficiency and indoor environmental quality are
paramount issues.

Buildings are evaluated in five areas:

(1) Energy efficiency: use of renewable energy,

lighting zoning and low energy consumption;

(2) Indoor environmental quality: mould and

air pollutants prevention, thermal comfort,
natural lighting, volatile organic compounds-
free paints and formaldehyde-free composite
wood, particleboards and plywood;

(3) Sustainable site planning and management:

site selection, access to public transport,
community services, open spaces and
landscaping, redevelopment of existing sites
and brownfields (abandoned land or former
industrial sites), avoidance of environmentally
sensitive sites, construction management
(proper earthworks and pollution control) and Maximisation of natural lighting.
stormwater management;

This award-winning house in Kuang, Selangor incorporates a rainwater harvesting system and 100% recycled timber in its design and construction.
16

Use of particleboards and plywood

enhances indoor environmental quality.
 feature
17

The GBI calls for sustainable site planning and management, which include open spaces and landscaping.

(4) Materials and resources: use of environment-friendly, recycled materials and

sustainable timber; storage and collection of recyclables; construction waste
management; and reuse of construction formwork; and

(5) Water efficiency: rainwater harvesting, water recycling and water-saving fittings.

The first listing of the GBI would be out in August 2009, based on a pilot project involving
the assessment of 11 buildings, ranging from office towers to malls, mixed developments
and even a car showroom.

The interior of a house in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, where the minimal use of fans and air-conditioning is achieved through architectural elements that
shade the house. This idea of achieving low dependency on mechanical cooling has resulted in significant savings in electricity bills for the owners.
feature
18

Although the GBI labelling is voluntary, all new structures

should strive to be GBI-certified mainly because buildings generally
have a large carbon footprint. Many buildings are major emitters
of greenhouse gases, which have an enormous impact on the
environment, human health and the economy. The World Green
Building Council has estimated that buildings collectively emit 33% of
global carbon emissions, through the processing of all the glass, steel
and concrete that are needed for their construction, plus the energy
needed to power, heat and cool these structures.

MTC is happy to note that for choice of materials and resources,

emphasis is given on the use of environment-friendly, recycled
materials and sustainable timber. The Cooperative Research Centre
for Greenhouse Accounting, Australia has estimated that more than 25
tonnes of greenhouse gases could be saved if timber products were
used instead of the common alternatives, to build anything. Projects
like London’s Murray Grove, the UK’s first multi-storey modular
timber housing development with 30 apartments, are also pushing
the boundaries on cost and energy-efficiency through the use of
engineered timber as the main building material.

A GBI certification criteria is also planned for existing buildings and new
Murray Grove. Photo credit: Waugh Thistleton.
townships. This means old buildings which are retrofitted to be energy
efficient and less polluting can apply for the GBI award in future.

For further information on the GBI, please go to:

www.greenbuildingindex.org

Having strips of timber placed vertically as bars in place of walls allows for cross-ventilation for natural
cooling of the interior of this award-winning house in Shah Alam, Selangor.
 global community
19
UN Forum on Forests UNCSD

8th Session of UN 17th Session of

Forum on Forests UN Commission on
Sustainable Development

The two-week UNFF8 was attended by over 600 participants. The CSD 17 focused on the thematic cluster of agriculture, rural
Photo credit: IISD. development, land, drought, desertification and Africa. Photo credit: IISD.

The eighth session of the United Nations Forum on Forests The 17th session of the UN Commission on Sustainable
(UNFF8) was held on 20 April - 1 May 2009 at the UN Development (CSD 17), which convened on 4-15 May 2009,
headquarters in New York. Over 600 participants attended the was held at the UN headquarters in New York.
two-week session, to address:
s FORESTSINACHANGINGENVIRONMENTINCLUDINGFORESTSAND The CSD meets annually in two-year “Implementation
climate change, reversing the loss of forest cover and
degradation, and forests and biodiversity conservation; and
s MEANSOFIMPLEMENTATIONFORSUSTAINABLEFORESTMANAGEMENT in a multi-year programme of work (2004-2017) adopted
(SFM).
At the end of the session, delegates adopted a resolution on
forests in a changing environment, enhanced cooperation and
cross-sectoral policy and programme coordination, and regional
and subregional inputs. Delegates did not agree on a decision on
financing for SFM, and decided to forward bracketed negotiating
text to the Forum’s next session, scheduled to be held in January 2011.
During the meeting, delegates also participated in two Multi-
stakeholder Dialogues, and panel discussions on forests and
biodiversity, climate change and desertification, the financial crisis
and SFM, and regional perspectives on forests in a changing
environment. While the discussions on financing did not lead to
an agreed outcome, the extended discussions on forests in a
changing environment, the panel presentations and the Multi-
stakeholder Dialogues allowed a glimpse of the Forum’s potential
future role as a body for interaction, dialogue and cooperation in
support of SFM implementation.
Two years after the adoption of the Non-legally Binding
Instrument on All Types of Forests (now referred to by many as
the “forest instrument”) and the Global Objectives on Forests, the
UNFF8 concluded without coming to an agreement on how to
finance their implementation. This leaves the Forum somewhat
in limbo, at the very moment that it is beginning to emerge as a
body for interactive dialogue – the only such forum supported by
universal membership, and capable of delivering a “360-degree
perspective on forests,” as depicted by UNFF’s new Director
Jan McAlpine.
Source: ENB Vol. 13 No. 174, 4 May 2009
Cycles,” with each cycle focusing on one thematic cluster
alongside cross-sectoral issues. This approach was outlined
at CSD 11 in 2003. Each cycle is comprised of a Review
Year and a Policy Year. CSD 16, in May 2008, conducted
a review of barriers and constraints in implementation,
as well as lessons learned and best practices, in relation
to the thematic cluster. CSD 17 negotiated policy
recommendations based on CSD 16’s review of the issues
and the development of a draft Chair’s Negotiating Text
during an Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting, which
convened in February 2009.
The agenda for CSD 17 covered a complex cluster of
interrelated issues - agriculture, rural development, land,
drought, desertification, and Africa - and took place against
the backdrop of a confluence of related global crises - food
prices, energy and financial, in addition to global attention to
the challenge of climate change.
Delegates at CSD 17 were expected to respond by
identifying meaningful policy options to issues that reach to
the heart of sustainable development. It did respond, with
a lengthy and detailed consensus decision, and a “Shared
Vision” statement from ministers. However the decision
was not particularly forward-looking as it did not quite
send a clear message as to how sustainability, in particular
sustainable agriculture, can be “part of the solution” in
addressing poverty and climate change. The session thus,
provided a cause to reflect on the place of CSD in the
universe of sustainable development governance.
Source: ENB Vol. 5 No. 281, 18 May 2009
global community
20
UNECE Water Convention
Workshop on
Forests and Water
Seventeen presentations were made at the workshop.
Photo credit: MCPFE.
The workshop on forests and water entitled Sustainable
Forest Management and Influences on Water Resources -
Coordinating Policies on Forests and Water, was held on 12-14
May 2009 in Antalya, Turkey.
The workshop was based on the Ministerial Conference on the
Protection of Forests in Europe (MCPFE) Warsaw Resolution
2: Forests and Water and work under the United Nations
Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Water Convention
on ecosystem services. It examined the complex interrelations
and mutual influences of forests and water, how countries
approach these topics, and how this is and could be reflected
in forest and water policies in the pan-European and UNECE
region and neighbouring states.
The objectives of the workshop were to:
s EXCHANGEEXPERIENCESONFORESTANDWATERMANAGEMENT s CLARIFYINGFORESTTENUREANDOWNERSHIPOFCARBONRIGHTSWITHIN
tools and policies that contribute to realise water related
forest ecosystem services;
s EXPLORECROSS
SECTORIALWORKANDHOWTHECOORDINATIONOF communities in processes to formulate and implement
forest and water policies could be conducted at national
and regional levels; and
s EXPLOREPAYMENTFORECOSYSTEMSERVICESSCHEMESAND of avoided deforestation strategies;
other measures that broaden and diversify the financial
basis for sustainable forest management and help maintain
the protective functions of forests.
Source: MCPFE, http://www.mcpfe.org.
BASEDFOREST
Asia Forest Partnership
8th Asia Forest
Partnership Meeting
Participants were strongly in favour of a REDD mechanism to preserve the
world’s forests. Photo credit: AFP.
More than 270 participants from over 50 countries met on
27-29 May 2009 in Bali, Indonesia to discuss about illegal
logging, and how it might affect a mechanism to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest
degradation - or REDD.
The two-day 8th Asia Forest Partnership (AFP) Meeting
provided an opportunity for stakeholders in tropical forests
to share information, establish partnerships and propose
recommendations to policymakers. The AFP meeting examined
the links between mechanisms to compensate countries for
REDD and efforts to combat illegal logging and the associated
timber trade.
The major issues concerning forest-dependent people in
relation to REDD and illegal logging, which were elaborated
during the meeting, included:
s RAISINGCOMMUNITYAWARENESSOF2%$$
s BUILDINGCAPACITYOFCOMMUNITIESTORESPONDTO2%$$
threats and opportunities;
the REDD framework;
s ADDRESSINGTHENEEDFORMEANINGFULPARTICIPATIONOF
REDD demonstration activities and national REDD
frameworks;
s ENHANCINGLIVELIHOODOPPORTUNITIESFORCOMMUNITIESASPART
s DEVELOPINGEQUITABLEANDSUSTAINABLElNANCIALDISTRIBUTION
mechanisms;
s FACILITATINGINTERACTIONSBETWEENCOMMUNITIESAND
concessionaires under REDD; and
s EMPLOYINGANDREWARDINGCOMMUNITY
management for climate change mitigation.
Participants at the AFP were strongly in favour of a REDD
mechanism to preserve the world’s forests. Many were
concerned, however, about the workability of REDD and
whether or not the money would go to those who need it most.
Forest-dependent communities are often poor and marginalised
but it is their livelihoods that could be jeopardised if they are
not properly compensated under REDD for reduced access to
forests for income and food.
Source: AFP, http://www.asiaforests.org.

UNFCCC / Kyoto Protocol
Bonn Climate
Change Talks
The main focus in Bonn was to enhance international climate change
cooperation. Photo credit: IISD.
Over 3,500 delegates convened in Bonn, Germany, from
1-12 June 2009 to participate in four meetings as part of
ongoing negotiations under the UN Framework Convention
on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol. The
Convention’s Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) and
the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice
(SBSTA) held their 30th sessions. The sixth session of the Ad
Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under
the Convention (AWG-LCA 6) and the eighth session of the
Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I
Parties under the Protocol (AWG-KP 8) also took place. The
participants represented governments, intergovernmental and
non-governmental organisations, academia, the private sector
and the media.
global community
21
Climate Change
High-level Conference
on Fighting Climate
Change with Carbon
Capture and Storage
Eight key messages were raised during the conference.
Photo credit: IISD.
The High-level Conference on Fighting Climate Change with
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) took place in Bergen,
Norway on 27-28 May 2009. The conference sought to
provide an arena for high-level policy makers and other key
stakeholders to discuss concrete experiences, priorities,
ideas and initiatives to achieve a comprehensive global
approach for delivering climate solutions.
At the close of the conference, Jonas Gahr Støre, Norway’s
Minister of Foreign Affairs, presented a Chair’s summary of
the meeting. The summary concluded that:
s ACOMPREHENSIVEAPPROACHTOREDUCE#/EMISSIONS
must include CCS;
s ##3CANPLAYAKEYROLEINTHETRANSITIONTOALOWEMISSION
society;
s MORELARGE
SCALEDEMONSTRATIONPLANTSMORE2$ANDA
The main focus in Bonn was to enhance international climate
major scaling-up of present CCS efforts are needed;
change cooperation, including in the post-2012 period when
s STIMULATINGFRAMEWORKCONDITIONSARENECESSARYTO
the first commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol expires.
encourage wide-scale capture and storage;
The long-term issues were considered by the AWG-LCA and
s TRANSPORTANDSTORAGEPROJECTSMUSTMINIMISETHERISKOF
AWG-KP, which are both scheduled to conclude their work by
negative impacts to the environment, health and safety;
the fifteenth Conference of the Parties (COP 15) to be held in
s PRIVATESECTORCOMPANIESHAVEAPARTICULARROLETOMAKE
Copenhagen, Denmark, in December 2009.
CCS commercially viable;
s ##3MUSTBEMADEACCESSIBLETODEVELOPINGCOUNTRIES
Eighteen months after parties to the UNFCCC and the Kyoto
and
Protocol adopted the Bali Road Map, consisting of two
s ##3SHOULDFEATUREINDISCUSSIONSATTHE5.
negotiating tracks to enhance international cooperation to
Copenhagen Climate Change Conference in December
address climate change, comprehensive negotiating texts
2009 and in other relevant flora.
are now on the table but it remains to be seen how these
documents will evolve over the next six months and what may The Chair’s summary also indicated that the international
eventually be adopted in Copenhagen in December. However, community must move forward with a suite of options,
whatever the outcome in Copenhagen, the main ideas will including CCS as a key technology. It stressed that the
most likely be contained in documents that were developed in deployment of new technologies, including CCS, depends
Bonn during the first two weeks of June 2009. on public confidence and strong political leadership to build
public confidence on safety and environmental impacts.
Source: ENB Vol. 12 No. 421, 15 June 2009
Source: ENB Vol.163, No. 1, 1 June 2009
quick takes
22
Jordan
Project Near East 2009
Enquiries being attended to at the MTC booth.
MTC participated in the 6th edition of Project Near East
2009, which was held at Amman Exhibitions Park in
Amman, Jordan on 4-7 May 2009. Project Near East 2009
was a construction exhibition serving the markets of Jordan,
Iraq, Syria and Palestinian territories. Among the building
materials exhibited were sawntimber, plywood, MDF,
wooden doors, veneer, wood-based flooring and claddings.
The event featured 240 companies from 28 countries,
which displayed their products spread over a total exhibition
space of 9,000m². The exhibitors included 11 national
groupings from Italy, France, Turkey, Indonesia, India,
Pakistan, Germany, Kazakhstan, China, UAE and Saudi
Arabia. The total number of registered trade visitors was
7,104 including 1,279 from neighbouring countries.
Malaysian wood-based companies intending to enter
the Jordan market used the exhibition as a platform to
introduce their range of products, assess market potential
and establish initial contact with the local timber trading
fraternity.
Bahrain
GULFBID 2009
Trade visitors at the MTC booth.
MTC participated in GULFBID 2009, which was the fourth
edition of the Gulf International Exhibition for Construction,
Interiors and Furniture. The exhibition showcased a broad
range of building materials including wood-based products
such as sawntimber, plywood, MDF, veneer, wooden
doors, wood-based flooring and furniture. Woodworking
machinery was also among the exhibits.
A total of 177 companies exhibited their products and
services in the fair spread over 7,000 m2 at the Bahrain
International Exhibition and Convention Centre in Manama
City, Bahrain on 5 - 7 May 2009. These included 53
Bahraini and 122 international companies. Trade visitors to
the three-day fair totalled about 3,500. Most of the visitors
were from Bahrain followed by Saudi Arabia (mainly from
Al Khobar and Dammam) and the rest were from UAE,
Kuwait, Qatar, UK, Germany, Lebanon, Oman and India.
Although the fair was relatively small compared to
the other similar regional fairs, the growing number of
participants showed that GULFBID 2009 had good
potential for showcasing one’s products to Bahrain’s
construction and interior furnishing sectors. The fair
was also a useful platform for Malaysian wood-based
companies seeking to establish initial contact with
importers and market players of Bahrain’s wood-based
and furniture sectors.

Germany
Timber Mission
The mission delegates at a wood processing factory.
MTC organised a Timber Mission to Germany on
16-24 May 2009. The mission delegation included nine
participants from six companies.
The mission provided opportunities for members of the
Malaysian timber industry to gain in-depth knowledge and
understanding of the current status of the German timber
industry as well as create business contacts for possible
joint-ventures to promote product diversification in the
Malaysian timber processing and manufacturing sector.
Besides visiting some wood processing factories such as
furniture and glu-laminated timber manufacturing plants,
the delegation also attended a “Timber Frame Construction
Symposium, Designing With Wood” on 19 May 2009.
The symposium was organised by Deutsche Messe AG
in conjunction with LIGNA 2009, the World Fair for the
Forestry and Wood Industries, held in Hannover on 18-22
May 2009.
quick takes
23
Malaysia
MTC Timber Talk Series
Mr. Ng Wun Pin elaborating on the advantages of using timber roofs.
The “MTC Timber Talk Series on Timber Roofs” was held
on 9 June 2009 at MTC HQ, Kuala Lumpur. It was the
second of four Timber Talks scheduled for this year.
The talk was attended by 45 participants comprising
architects, students as well as members of the timber
industry and representatives from government agencies
who were interested in learning more about timber roof
systems.
The speaker, Mr. Ng Wun Pin from Multinail Asia Sdn.
Bhd., discussed the usage of timber as a material in
roof construction as well as covered topics and issues
related to timber roof truss and prefabricated timber
truss systems. He elaborated on the advantages of using
timber roofs instead of steel roofs by comparing factors
such as safety, strength, environmental impact and fire
performance of these materials. He also showed examples
of projects using timber roofs.
Participants at the Talk.
quick takes
24
Myanmar
Resource and
Business Mission
Meeting at Myanmar Timber Enterprise.
MTC organised a Resource and Business Mission
to Myanmar on 10-12 June 2009 to create business
opportunities and linkages between members of the
timber sectors of Myanmar and Malaysia. The mission
also provided opportunities for participants to strengthen
cooperation with suppliers and manufacturers of timber
materials and products in Myanmar.
A total of nine participants from four Malaysian wood-based
companies participated in the mission.
The delegation visited the state-owned Myanmar Timber
Enterprise as well as participated in a business-matching
session with members of the Myanmar Forest Products and
Timber Merchants Association. The participants also visited
three woodworking factories during the mission.
Italy & France
Business Visit
Visit to an importer in Milan, Italy.
MTC organised a Business Visit to Italy and France on
7-13 June 2009.
The objectives of the visit were:
s 4OENHANCETRADERELATIONSANDINCREASETHETIMBER
trade;
s 4OSTRENGTHEN-ALAYSIASPRESENCEINTHE)TALYAND
France timber product markets;
s 4OSEEKTRADEOPPORTUNITIESINTHETIMBERSECTORAND
s 4OEXCHANGEIDEASANDINFORMATIONONTIMBER
utilisation.
A total of six Malaysian wood-based companies
participated in the business visit.
A B2B meeting in Paris, France.
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