MALAYSIAN TIMBER CERTIFICATION SCHEME : MC&I(NATURAL FOREST) (ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS) Doc. Number: AD 34-02 Version Date: 01 February 2013 Page: 1 of 9 MALAYSIAN TIMBER CERTIFICATION SCHEME PUBLIC SUMMARY OF SURVEILLANCE 02 AUDIT OF SELANGOR FOREST MANAGEMENT UNIT AGAINST THE REQUIREMENTS OF MC&I(NATURAL FOREST) Public Summary Date: 25 February 2015 Project Number: Client: Website: Address: Country: MY02275 Selangor State Forestry Department http://www.forestry.gov.my/selangor/ Jabatan Perhutanan Negeri Selangor Tingkat 3, Podium Utara, Bangunan Sultan Salahudin Abdul Aziz Shah 40660 Shah Alam, Selangor Malaysia Certificate Number: SGS-MTCS/FM-0105 Certificate Type: Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme Date of Issue 1 June 2013 Date of expiry: 31 May 2016 Forest Zone: Scope: Total Certified Area: Contact Person: Tropical Forest Management of 238,747 ha of permanent reserve forest in Selangor State for the production of timber 238,747 ha of natural forest in the PRF of Selangor FMU (excluding the PRF area planted with forest plantations covering 11,381 ha) Tuan Hj. Yusoff Muda - State Director of Forestry En Mohd. Basri Manaf Assistant State Director of Forestry Tel: +6(03)-5544 7498 / 5519 0443 Fax +6(03)-5510 2358 Email: Surveillance 02 Audit Date: yusoff@forestry.gov.my / b_talam@yahoo.com 19-21 August 2014 Audit Team: i. Abdul Haye Semail (Lead Auditor) ii. Dr. Savinder Kaur (Auditor) iii. Mohd Faisal Jaafar (Auditor) SGS (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., No.26, Jalan Anggerik Vanilla 31/93, Kota Kemuning, 40460 Shah Alam, Selangor, MALAYSIA CONTACT PERSON: ABDUL HAYE SEMAIL - Tel: +6 (03)5121 2320 - Fax: +6 (03)5122 5927
AD 34-02 Page 2 of 9 INTRODUCTION The Selangor Forest Management Unit (FMU) has been certified under the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS) since 2001; first under the Malaysian Criteria, Indicators, Activities and Standards of Performance (MC&I) for Forest Management Certification or in short MC&I(2001) and thereafter under the Malaysian Criteria and Indicators for Forest Management Certification or in short [MC&I(2002)]. The Selangor Forest Management Unit (FMU) managed by the Selangor State Forestry Department was issued with a Forest Management Certificate (SGS-MTCS/FM-0105) under the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS) for meeting the requirements of the MC&I(2002) standard after a Stage 2 audit conducted in December 2009. Subsequently, Surveillance 01 and 02 Audits were conducted on 25-27 October 2010 and 15-17 November 2011 respectively to ensure the continued compliance of the Selangor FMU to the requirements of the MC&I(2002). In 2012, the FMU was due for a recertification audit which was conducted on 26-28 & 31 December 2012. In line with the implementation of the transition plan from the use of the MC&I(2002) to MC&I(Natural Forest) under the MTCS, the recertification audit also included the MC&I(Natural Forest) in its audit scope. The recertification audit was conducted on 26-28 & 31 December 2012. However any deviation from the new aspects in the MC&I(Natural Forest) as compared to the MC&I(2002) were raised as an observation and not as a non-compliance. These observations were subsequently evaluated and classified as minor or major non-compliances by the CB on 1 February 2013 based on evidences submitted by the FMU manager to address the various observations raised. Following the Recertification Audit, the Surveillance 01 Audit for the FMU under the new MC&I(Natural Forest) was conducted on 25-27 November 2013. The Surveillance 02 Audit has been conducted on 19-21 August 2014. This public summary provides the findings of the said Surveillance 02 Audit. As of October 2013, the extent of Permanent Reserved Forest (PRF) in the Selangor FMU amounted to 250,128.71 ha or 31.56 % of the total land area in the state of Selangor (see Annex 2). The PRF comprised of 148,240.71 ha (59.26%) dry inland forest, 82,890.00 ha (33.14 %) peat swamp forests and the remaining 18,998.00 ha (7.60 %) mangrove forests. The dry inland forest within the PRF also included 11,381 ha of forest plantations which were planted mainly with Acacia mangium, of which 9,543 ha are leased to the Perbadanan Kemajuan Pertanian Selangor (PKPS) [Selangor Agricultural Development Corporation] for harvesting and re-planting, and the remaining 1,838 ha are managed by the Selangor Forestry Department (FD). These forest plantation areas are excluded from the total certified area of 238,747.71 ha in the Selangor FMU. Although the PRF comprised mainly of dry inland forests, the peat swamp forest is of national importance in the Northern Selangor area for its role as carbon sink and watershed to the adjacent areas which are critical for rice cultivation. The mangrove forest is equally important especially for fishery activities, located mostly along the coastal areas and the Klang Islands (Pulau Tengah, Pulau Ketam and Pulau Lumut). About 104,000 ha of the PRF in Selangor had been gazetted as Heritage Park (Taman Negeri) under the State Park Corporation Enactment, 2004 (Enakmen Perbadanan Taman Negeri 2004). The areas involved are located on or close to the Main Range and are managed by the Selangor FD. The Scope of the audit under the Surveillance 02 Audit are limited to PRF areas only excluding Stateland Forests, Alienated Land Forests, Wildlife Reserves and the PRF area that has been converted to forest plantation (11,381ha). As most of the land area in the State of Selangor has been developed, the remaining forest areas are mainly located in the more environmentally sensitive areas which are important for water supply and ecosystem conservation. The forest is also important for city dwellers to conduct recreational activities. The Selangor State Government had issued a moratorium on logging in the PRF which resulted in no havesting licences being issued within the PRF in Selangor. As such, no production or collection of premium and royalties from timber harvesting within the FMU were recorded during the period.
AD 34-02 Page 3 of 9 The process and mechanism for public or local stakeholders participation in forest management are in place. Overall, there are no claims or disputes with regard to land tenureship within PRF in Selangor FMU either orally or in writing. The Selangor State Forestry Department continues to collaborate with relevant parties in ensuring positive solution to any problem that may arise. As a government department, the State FD participates in inter-departmental discussions (Majlis Bersama Jabatan) pertaining to any community rights issues. The process found to be undertaken systematically through the various arrays of committees from the local village level right up to the State Government. A wide range of stakeholders were contacted four weeks before the planned surveillance audit to inform them and solicit their views on relevant FMU management issues. The stakeholders included environmental and social interest groups, local government agencies and authorities as well as relevant local village heads. Nevertheless, until the end of the consultation period, there is no feedback received from stakeholder consulted pertaining to any relevant FMU management issues. For the field audit, there were on-site consultations held with the staff of the Selangor FD, field workers of the contractors at the harvesting sites, as well as other stakeholders i.e. government agencies and relevant local communities including the Orang Asli.
AD 34-02 Page 4 of 9 SUMMARY OF FINDINGS OF SURVEILLANCE 02 AUDIT The Surveillance 02 Audit evaluated the continued compliance of the forest management practices in the Selangor FMU against the requirements of the MC&I(Natural Forest). The summary of the outstanding CARs closed-out is as shown in Annex I below: SURVEILLANCE 02 AUDIT Issues that were hard to assess Number of CARs closed Number of CARs outstanding Number of New CARs raised Number of new Observation raised Number of Observation outstanding Number of Observation Closed Certification Decision Nil Nil Nil Nil Four (4) Observations issued Two (2) Observations maintained to be verified next year. Four (4) Observations closed The forest management practices of the Selangor FMU to remain certified as: The management system is capable of ensuring that all of the requirements of the MC&I(Natural Forest)are met over the whole forest area covered by the scope of the evaluation; and The certificate holder has demonstrated, subject to the specified corrective actions, that the described system of management is being implemented consistently over the whole forest area covered by the scope of the certificate.
MALAYSIAN TIMBER CERTIFICATION SCHEME : MC&I(NATURAL FOREST) (ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS) Doc. Number: AD 34-02 Version Date: 01 February 2013 Page: 5 of 9 Annex 1 SUMMARY OF CORRECTIVE ACTION REQUESTS (CARS) AND OBSERVATIONS Summary of CARs CAR No. Indicator Non-conformance Objective Evidence Close-out Evidence Nil - - - - Nil - - - - Summary of Observations CAR No. Indicator Observation Follow-up Evidence Status 04 1.5.2 An interview with the Orang Asli of Kg. Sg. Gurney revealed that there was an incidence of illegal harvesting of gaharu by foreign nationals at the nearby Hutan Simpan Batang Kali. Further verification revealed that the State FD is not aware of the allegation and since no report was made by the Orang Asli to the relevant authority. The Selangor FD must look into the matter and engage with the forest fringe communities, especially Orang Asli in monitoring illegal activities in its forest reserves. 05 4.1.1 Although the representatives from the residents association were consulted during the preparation of the management plan, there was no public consultation to deliberate on the management prescriptions for the Kota Damansara Community Forest (KDCF). In addition, there was also no consultation with the local communities on the management of the KDCF. Surveillance 02 Audit showed that the FD has taken action to investigate the allegations made by the Orang Asli by interviewing them to gather information on the issue as well as conducting on-site inspection on the area alleged to be encroached. The inspection conducted showed evidence of humans entering the area. However, the investigation report prepared by the FD states that there is no evidence of gaharu felled or harvested within the area inspected. Evidence of action taken dated 13 January 2014 was made available during the audit. During the Surveillane 02 Audit, the audit team also observed that the FD has committed to further monitor this in case the issue is recurring. Observation closed Observation be maintained SGS (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., No.26, Jalan Anggerik Vanilla 31/93, Kota Kemuning, 40460 Shah Alam, Selangor, MALAYSIA CONTACT PERSON: ABDUL HAYE SEMAIL - Tel: +6 (03)5121 2320 - Fax: +6 (03)5122 5927
AD 34-02 Page 6 of 9 Surveillance 02 Audit: An attempt was made during the Surveillance 02 Audit to verify the current status of Observation 05 that was issued during the Surveillance 01 Audit pertaining to lack of consultation with the local communities on the management of the Kota Damansara Community Forest. Unfortunately, the visit to the Kota Damansara Community Forest to meet with the representative of Friends of Kota Damansara could not be made during the audit due to unforeseen circumstances. 06 6.2.3 There is a lack of analysis on the success rate of the restoration and conservation activities, carried out in the Raja Musa Forest Reserve e.g. rate of mortality, health of peat swamp forests, efficiency of tree-planting and fire prevention programmes. 07 7.3.2 An interview with the representative of residents at the Kota Damansara Forest Reserve showed lack of community forestry knowledge on the part of Selangor Forestry Department staff in terms of managing a community forest. Since this is the first time an urban community forest is established, the residents representative suggested greater capacity building for both Selangor FD staff and residents representatives in order to effectively execute the activities prescribed in the Kota Damansara Forest Reserve Management Plan. 08 9.1.1 Selangor FD has concerns in identifying more HCVFs due to the requirement by JPSM that each HCVF identified must be accompanied by a management plan which will inevitably require large financial investment. Moreover, the management and monitoring prescriptions require greater input in terms of manpower. The Selangor FD has not considered designating watersheds within the state although all the watersheds have been gazetted as watershed forest reserves and a watershed management plan is also available. Surveillance 02 Audit: Verification during the Surveillance 02 Audit showed that the FMU has taken action to formalize the establishment of the management plan. However, the plan is still in the initial phase and hence this Observation is maintained to be verified next year. 09 6.2.5 Though the FMU has showed evidence that they have consulted the Orang Asli as well as providing them with the relevant information pertaining to the ERT species of flora and fauna found in the FMU, there is no indication Surveillance 02 Audit has verified the Observation issued and found that the analysis of the success rate of the restoration and conservation activities has been conducted on all programmes on enrichment planting and planting in degraded and sensitive areas. Verification during the Surveillance 02 Audit showed that the Selangor FD has taken action to conduct the training to their staff pertaining to the management of community forests. Based on the records, the training has been conducted on 2 April 2014. An interview with the Orang Asli of Kg. Pangsun confirmed that there are aware of the relevant legislation in particular pertaining to the protection and conservation of wildlife flora and fauna in the FMU. Observation closed Observation closed Observation be maintained Observation closed
AD 34-02 Page 7 of 9 that the Orang Asli are fully aware of the relevant legislation in particular pertaining to protection and conservation of wild flora and fauna in the FMU. Therefore, the audit team is of the view that this issue remains open and an Observation is issued to be verified during the next Surveillance audit. 10 3.3.1 The Selangor FMU needs to improve on the form used to elicit information on sites of special cultural and religious significance, i.e. to be more specific in asking questions related to sacred sites of the Orang Asli, e.g. keramat etc 11 6.2.1 The audit team is of the view that the FMP should have been more comprehensive, and incorporate a guideline to identify and protect features of special biological interest such as seed trees, salt licks, nesting and feeding areas in the FMU. 12 6.7.1 A site visit to the Taman Rimba Ampang on 20 August 2014 revealed a lack of upkeep in terms of collection/disposal of solid waste, resulting in a large pile of solid waste being sighted at the bank of the river. 13 7.2.1 The audit team is of the view that the management plans which feed into the larger FMP, e.g. Mangrove Management Plan, IMP for peat swamp forests etc. must be periodically revised so as to provide the latest inputs into the revision of the FMP. New Observation issued New Observation issued New Observation issued New Observation issued
MALAYSIAN TIMBER CERTIFICATION SCHEME : MC&I(NATURAL FOREST) (ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS) Doc. Number: AD 34-02 Version Date: 01 February 2013 Page: 8 of 9 Permanent Reserved Forest in Selangor FMU Annex 2 SGS (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., No.26, Jalan Anggerik Vanilla 31/93, Kota Kemuning, 40460 Shah Alam, Selangor, MALAYSIA CONTACT PERSON: ABDUL HAYE SEMAIL - Tel: +6 (03)5121 2320 - Fax: +6 (03)5122 5927
AD 34-02 Page 9 of 9 Annex 3 ISSUES RAISED BY STAKEHOLDERS No. Comment Surveillance 02 Audit Response 1 No comments were received