The rubber sector in Malaysia achieved a significant milestone this new year, with the inaugural Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) forest management (FM)/chain of custody (COC) certification of rubber plantation in Sabah, totalling 183.14 hectares, held by the first group of 56 rubber farmers (from indigenous communities) under the purview of the Sabah Rubber Industry Board (SRIB) (or Lembaga Industri Getah Sabah).
The successful outcome of this project was made possible with FSC Malaysia’s sustainable natural rubber project, alongside partners CMO International, Control Union (M) Sdn Bhd and WWF-Malaysia. The commitment and dedication of the SRIB management and team played an important role in the implementation of the project.
A scale-up plan is embedded in the project, where progressively more smallholders are onboarded into the FSC group scheme, held by CMO Malaysia Sdn Bhd FSC-C195423. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the FSC group scheme is expected to cover over 7,000 hectares of FSC-certified rubber plantation by the second quarter of 2024.
“We are thrilled with the successful implementation of the project, thanks to our project partners, culminating in the first FSC-certified group of smallholder farmers in rubber production in Malaysia. From better environmental outcomes to community empowerment and well-being, as well as enhanced traceability, we have much to celebrate. This is only the beginning. As we look ahead, we’re ready to build on this progress and lead the way to a more sustainable natural rubber value chain for Malaysia.” said Charmaine Chee, Country Director of FSC Malaysia.
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The full press release is available here.
Smallholder rubber plantation in Tuaran, Sabah
Project partners - representatives from SRIB, CMO, WWF-MY and FSC Malaysia
Group picture of FSC-certified award ceremony
At the award ceremony held in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah yesterday. YB Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Jeffrey Kitingan (Deputy Chief Minister 1 / Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industries), YB Peto Galim (Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industries), YB Datuk Robert Stidi (Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industries), YB Datuk Edward Linggu (Chairman, Sabah Rubber Industry Board), Tuan Sabdil Jalong (General Manager, Sabah Rubber Industry Board), Chia Ching Lian (Deputy General Manager, Sabah Rubber Industry Board ), representatives from FSC Malaysia, CMO International, Control Union and WWF Malaysia, as well as the FSC group scheme.