RAINFOREST NOT BEING CONVERTED INTO OIL PALM PLANTATIONS

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 1 (Bernama) -- Allegations that rainforest land in Malaysia is
being converted into oil palm plantations is not true, says Deputy Plantation
Industries and Commodities Minister Senator G. Palanivel.

"The truth is oil palm planted areas still remain well within the
allotted area of six million hectares designated for agriculture and tree
plantations under the Third National Agricultural Plan.

"The forest area includes areas reserved as national parks and
sanctuaries for biodiversity conservation and this accounts for a forest tree cover
of over 80 per cent of the land area of 32.86 million hectares in Malaysia," he said
when officiating the International Conference on Climate Change, Agriculture and
Related Trade Standard here Monday.

Palanivel said Malaysia had exceeded the target set by the United Nations
Convention on Biodiversity at the Rio Earth Summit, that is an average 10 per
cent of forest land must be set aside to protect biodiversity, considering the
fact that 56 per cent of land area in Malaysia was still under forests.

"The Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities, together with the
Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water has been working closely to
facilitate the development of the renewable energy industry, in particular from
the oil palm industry.

"The renewable energy policy and action plan are well placed as well as the
relevant fiscal incentives for renewable industry.

"As a major producer of oil palm, we will continue to ensure well integrated
sustainability programmes in the industry to ensure long-term benefits to the
nation as well as the resilience of the industry in the longer-term," he said.

He added Malaysia was committed towards reducing Greenhouse Gas emission by
adopting efficient, sustainable agricultural production practices, in
preparation for the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change in Mexico this December.

"These agricultural practices are important for addressing greenhouse gas
mitigation efforts while balancing economic development with environment
protection.

"Strategies include harnessing biomass from the oil palm industry for renewable
energy in Malaysia," he said.

Palanivel said there were nearly 100 million hectares of oil palm plantation in
the country which generated large quantities of biomass.

"Palm oil biomass offers a great potential as a cost-effective feedstock for
biodiesel," he added.

Over 150 experts, academic leaders and international agencies are
participating the two-day conference co-organised by the United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development and Environment Management and Research
Association of Malaysia.
-- BERNAMA