ISSUE 3 2021
The roles of MTCC in forest sustainability in Malaysia
Malaysia is covered by 70% of tropical rainforests which is 5.78 million hectares which is 31% of the area in the Peninsula, 12.4 million hectares or, 46% of the area in Sarawak while Sabah is covered by 4.7 million hectares of forest. Tropical rainforests are rich in various species of flora and fauna consisting of hardwood types such as cengal, keruing, meranti, balau, merbau, seraya and lime which are of high value and quality. Thus, Malaysia is one of the major producers and exporters of wood-based products due to high demand by the international market where the export index of wood-based industry and wood products in 2016 at 105.6, 110.7 in 2017 and increased in 2018 to 115.7.

The various types of high quality tropical forest trees
However, forest sustainability in Malaysia must continue as agreed at the 1992 Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where at least 50% of the country's land area is maintained as forest areas including permanent forest reserves, forest reserves, permanent forests, government land forests and protected areas. Forest sustainability under Sustainability Development of Global (SDG) 15 through protection, restoring, and promoting sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss. Malaysia is no exception in adopting these SDGs to ensure that the aspirations of the United Nations can be achieved.

Among of unique swamp forest scenery in Malaysia
Forests play a significant role in reducing natural disasters including floods, hurricanes, droughts, landslides, and other severe natural disasters.

Beaatiful and peaceful recreational forest
MTCS and the Roles
In managing and ensuring forest sustainability in Malaysia, the Government established the Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC) as an independent organization in October 1998 governed by a Board of Trustees incorporated under the Companies Act 1965 as a company limited by guarantee. It was operational in January 1999 where the main objective of its establishment is responsible for implementing forest certification programs to ensure national forest management in accordance with international standards. In 2001, MTCC started a timber certification program known as the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS). The MTCS has been endorsed by the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) schemes, the largest forest certification program. representing more than 300 million ha of certified forests worldwide. The MTCS is also the first tropical timber certification scheme in the Asia Pacific region to be endorsed by the PEFC. The MTCS timber certification program involves 2 components, namely:-

1. Forest Management Certification
This is a process of third party audit of the forest management practices of natural forest in a Forest Management Unit (FMU) or forest plantation in a Forest Plantation Management Unit (FPMU) to assess compliance with the requirements of a prescribed standard, leading to an award of a Certificate for Forest Management for Natural Forest or Certificate for Forest Plantation Management for Forest Plantation under the MTCS.

The applications for forest management certification are received and processed by certification bodies (CBs) The certification body will undertake a review of key management system processes and a sample of key management system processes and a sample of field operations, and provide a report that assists the forest owner/manager to identify and rectify any major areas of concern. These CBs operate under the MTCS such as SIRIM QAS International Sdn. Bhd., Control Union (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., SGS (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. Scientific Certification Systems and many others.

2. Chain of Custody Certification (CoC)
This is a process of third party audit of timber product manufacturers or exporters to ascertain that the timber products manufactured or exported are sourced from forests that have been awarded the Certificate for Forest Management/Certificate for Forest Plantation Management and lead to an award of a Certificate for Chain of Custody under the MTCS. The standard used for CoC certification is the PEFC ST 2002:2013, Chain of Custody of Forest Based Products – Requirements. All applications for a chain of custody certification are received and processed by CBs by conducting audits and make decisions to award the Certificate for Forest Management/Certificate for Forest Plantation Management or Certificate for Chain of Custody.

A high quality of timber product from Malaysia
MTCC also responsible for forest sustainability management by implementing the procedures for the investigation and resolution of disputes, complaints, and appeals related to its role as the non-government body (NGB), liaises closely with the national accreditation body, and other certifications. Organizations in matters related to timber certification, coordinate with national, regional, and international bodies related to timber certification to facilitate cooperation and mutual recognition arrangements as well as to conduct programs to promote and publicize the MTCS, both locally and internationally.

Malaysia is among top supplier of sawntimber in the world
MTCC also functioning as an agency that serves as a provider of independent assessment of forest management practices and conducts audits on wood-based manufacturers and exporters of wood products to ensure the sustainability of natural forests and plantation forests can be well managed and controlled.
Concluding Remarks
Forests play an important role in ensuring the survival of life on this earth as they are home to more than 80 percent of the world’s animals and plants. The country’s forests are among the oldest and most complex forest ecosystems in the world with a diversity of flora and fauna. The sustainability of tropical rainforests must be taken to account for the sake of future generations of the country. Malaysia has successfully implemented forest area certification under the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS) and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). This forest certification continues to support the forestry industry by ensuring that the products produced come from legitimate and sustainable sources as well as taking into account environmental, social and economic aspects.

Ensuring a balance between the development of the timber industry and forest conservation in the country, which is listed as one of the oldest in the world, is the main role of MTCC which supports its mission which is committed to strengthening the MTCS program to realize the full value and contribute to forest sustainability management and chain of custody. It coincides with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030 (SDGs) which are changing consumer behavior and awareness related to forest sustainability and green products. The 2030 Agenda is Malaysia's collective key to opening up opportunities in facing these challenges and urges all parties to work with the government in realizing the agenda. The importance of investing in Malaysia’s forests by involving political commitment at the highest levels, smart policies, effective law enforcement, innovative partnerships, and funding between government, higher education institutions as well as private agencies in Malaysia.

References

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Newsletter Seedlink of Malaysian Timber Certification Council.Vol.1 [January – March 2020]. MTCC:Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC).retrieved 9 July 2021 from https://mtcc.com.my/

Garis Panduan Dan Prosedur Untuk Penilaian Dan Pemantauan Impak Sosial Operasi Pengurusan Hutan (Semenanjung Malaysia) (2012). Institut Perhutanan Tropika dan Produk Hutan Universiti Putra Malaysia. Jaybees Print Industries Sdn.Bhd:Selangor

Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development, retrieved from https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal15 on 2 July 2021)