Firms And Groups Invited To Propose Projects To Tap Nation's Forests
By Sobrina Rosli

Bandar Seri Begawan - Private companies and groups are welcome to propose to the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources and its Forestry Department projects to develop pharmaceutical and even cosmetic products derived from the country's rich rainforest resources.

If private-sector entities are interested in venturing into this type of business activity, "we will allow them through proper procedure" that the department oversees, Mahmud Yussof, Acting Deputy Director of the department, told The Brunei Times yesterday. "Please come forward."

The government is calling on private companies to identify business ventures related to natural medicine that will be developed from out of the sultanate's rich biodiversity, he said, noting that 78 per cent of Brunei is covered in thick rainforest teeming with valuable plants that can be used for medicine.

"Tropical rainforests in Brunei are very rich, we want to explore the ways to make use of the richness of our resources, not only for timber but we also want to explore non-timber resources," Mahmud said in an interview.

"Brunei definitely has the potential to create a market in this area, of course. We have very rich forests here where there are local medicinal plants and herbal plants. One such type of tree is called gaharu. It is one local species that can produce fragance. Thailand and the Middle East have already ventured into this."

"Interested private sector organisations wishing to invest in this area will be allowed to do so through proper procedures that would,-behandled by our department. Please come forward" he added.

The ministry also aims to develop eco-tourism, catering both to scientific researchers and nature lovers.

"Minimal development would be made to facilitate nature-loving tourists who come to Brunei to, visit our rainforests. We won't be developing infrastructure which are on the resort level, we want the tourists to experience the richness of Brunei's rainforests," said Mahmud.

"We have had researchers from the Kew Gardens in the United Kingdom studying our local species. Collaboration between our ministry and the Kew Gardens has been ongoing for decades now," he added.

Conservation of the rainforest to develop these type of economic activities is apparent through Brunei's involvement in the Heart of Borneo Project during the signing of the Heart of Borneo Declaration earlier this week.

"We have had discussions with stakeholders like Ministry of Defence, the Public Works Department, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Brunei Shell and relevant private sector groups in allocating 58 per cent of the total area involved in the Heart of Borneo" Mahmud said.

"We already know the allocated land, but we are just waiting for the demarcation and the identification of boundaries in the Heart of Borneo, project once discussions are confirmed," he added.

"We have a collective approach to the management of this allocated area with a good team, any development within this area should be collectively agreed to, we have also stressed our commitment for the success of the project."

"We want to be on par with the Heart of Borneo's aspiration of conserving the forest, wildlife and appreciating the ecological system" he said Asked about the importance of conservation he said, "The natural resources is every important for the preservation of eco-system, we have to preserves it function that benefits all life on earth, giving out oxygen and the absorption of carbon dioxide"

Though the main aim of the project is conservation the ministry though is not condemning development.

"We are not discouraging any development; of course we have to cut the trees for timber but it should be in a sustainable manner; economic development should be balanced with the natural resources. The future generation will also appreciate this," he added. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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