Brunei to be biggest gaharu producer

UNISSA terima sumbangan pohon gaharu

Oleh Salawati Haji Yahya

Pengiran Anak Dr Haji Amiruddin Alam Shah menerima penerangan mengenai pohon gaharu dari Haji Mohamad Ali.	Pemangku Rektor UNISSA Pengiran Anak Dr Haji Amiruddin Alam Shah menyempurnakan penanaman pohon gaharu di kawasan UNISSA sambil dibantu oleh pengarah urusan Gaharu Berjaya Resources Haji Mohamad Ali.
Antara yang hadir di majlis itu.

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Isnin - Sebanyak lima pohon gaharu disumbangkan kepada Universiti Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) oleh Gaharu Berjaya Resources hari ini.
Hadir memulakan acara penanaman pohon gaharu ialah pemangku Rektor UNISSA Pengiran Anak Dr Haji Amiruddin Alam Shah Pengiran Anak Haji Ismail.
Dalam temu bual Media Permata dengan pengarah urusan Gaharu Berjaya Resources Haji Mohamad Ali Haji Dollah berkata, "Sejak gaharu mula dikomersialkan pada Februari 2010, sebanyak 9,500 pohon ditanam di keempat-empat daerah dan ini tidak termasuk yang di luar negeri."
"Gaharu Berjaya Resources pada setiap bulan akan mengadakan sumbangan penanaman pokok gaharu untuk sekolah-sekolah yang antara lain bertujuan untuk memberi pengetahuan kepada penuntut dan orang ramai mengenai kebaikan pohon itu," jelasnya.
Selain sumbangan itu, terdapat juga peladang muda yang melibatkan diri dalam bidang penanaman pohon gaharu di samping itu orang ramai juga menanam di kawasan kediaman mereka untuk penghasilan akan datang. Beliau menjelaskan, "benih pohon gaharu ini diimport dari negara jiran, Malaysia dan negara Asia."
Katanya lagi, "Gaharu Berjaya Resources hanya mengkomersialkan untuk rakyat dan penduduk di negara ini tapi pada masa ini juga, Gaharu Berjaya telah melangkah memasuki negara Malaysia dan Indonesia."
"Gaharu Berjaya Resources menjelang tahun depan akan melangkah ke satu tapak lagi dengan menghasilkan teh hijau dari daun gaharu selain losen, minyak, sabun, sejadah dan sebagainya," tambahnya.

Malaysian `Gaharu' Trio Get Jail Fine and Cane

Bandar Seri Begawan - Three Malaysian men were yesterday sentenced to serve jail, fine and cane for entering Brunei illegally and taking valuable produce from the forest reserve without a valid licence.
John Pahang, 55, pleaded guilty to entering the country without a valid pass in the vicinity of Sungai Kuat in Bukit Labi Forest Reserve on May 27, 2010. He also admitted to taking Kayu Gaharu without a licence at the restricted area on May 27 and 29, 2010.
He was sentenced to three months jail and $3,000 fine or serve jail for another six months in default of payment.
65 year-old Bail Pangeran and Abung Raut, aged 41, also admitted to a charge of illegal entry at the vicinity of Sungai Kuat in Bukit Labi Forest Reserve on May 24, 2010 and another count of taking Kayu Gaharu within the restricted area on May 24 and 30, 2010.
Chief Magistrate Hj Abdullah Soefri further heard from Prosecuting Officer Ak Shahyzul that the defendants were apprehended by forest rangers on pappl on the said dates.
Bail got three months' jail, a $5,000 fine or in default of payment to serve another five months imprisonment.
Abung was sentenced to jail for three months with three strokes of the cane and a fine of $4,000 or four months' jail in default of payment.
All of the defendants failed to pay the fines. The court ordered confiscation of the Kayu Gaharu seized from Bail and Abung during their arrest.-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Gaharu poachers targeting Borneo

Brunei has become a targeted area for poachers to encroach and extract highly valued resources, in particular, the ‘gaharu’ tree. According to Forestry Officer Muhammad Safwan, though the trend of illegal ‘gaharu’ harvesting has not shown an increase over the past few years, “it is still a cause for concern”, he said.
Despite the Forestry Department’s best efforts in ensuring that the incidence of illegal poaching is kept under control, the main problem is the migration of these intruders within the forest, making it difficult for enforcement officers to locate them.
“The more efforts we put in, the more strategies they adopt,” Muhammad Safwan said, adding the poachers continue to fell the protected tree species found in the forest areas of Ulu Labi in Tutong as well as Temburong.
“Concerted efforts from various agencies are still needed in order to tackle and control this problem before it becomes rampant,” he said.
Meanwhile, Norainie Awang Anak, a TRAFFIC officer stationed in Malaysia, said ‘gaharu’ trees on Borneo island are currently under threat due to over-harvesting and their numbers are dwindling in other parts of the region such as in Sumatra and Peninsula Malaysia.
“The target now is Borneo,” she said, including Brunei Darussalam, as poachers are aware that the island is currently rich with the most sought-after wood.
The persistence of illegally harvesting this protected species continues due to its market value, as ‘gaharu’ trees can fetch up to USD$10,000 per kilogramme, especially if the tree is of high quality.
She also added that syndicates are sometimes behind the illegal harvesting of ‘gaharu’ trees where they employ those from poorer countries with the assurance that their families back home are well taken care of.
“If these people keep coming, one day our wild ‘gaharu’ will disappear,” she said.
Though efforts are currently in place to replenish the declining ‘gaharu’ trees, Norainie said, “We still want the wild trees to remain in the forest.”
In Brunei Darussalam, the felling or removal of any tree, including ‘gaharu’, is considered an offence under Section 19 of the Forestry Act and Section 4(a) or the Forestry rules.
It is considered an offence to fell, cut, tap or remove any tree or timber from a Forest Reserve and State land, respectively.
Any person who commits an offence against these provisions can be fined and imprisoned for five years.
The act of harvesting ‘gaharu’ is also in contravention of the provision under Section 26A(1), which prohibits the taking of forest produce from a Forest Reserve, unless done with a licence.
Under this provision, any person who contravenes this provision shall be guilty of an offence and liable upon conviction to a fine not exceeding $500,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years, or both.

  Murut Men Remanded Over Gaharu HaulPosted 23 February 2005 - 12:04 PM

Bandar Seri Begawan - Eleven Murut men from Lawas were remanded yesterday at the Bandar Central Police Station as they faced a charge of illegally possessing Kayu Gaharu at a forest reserve in Temburong and another for allegedly entering Brunei illegally before the Bandar Magistrate's Court.
No pleas were taken from defendants Walter Pengiran Kamoa, Richard bin Lalong, Mohd Tajuddin bin Abdullah @ Anthony Chan, Roni bin Pala, Liwi bin Yasaya, Josiah bin Laban, Victor Pengiran, Agustin bin Udan, Francis bin Asai, Pada bin Uak and Palus bin Laban.

According to Deputy Public Prosecutor Mohd Esnawi Hj Sharbawi, the defendants face a first charge of being found in possession of the valuable wood, which is scientifically known as Aquilaria Beccariana, on February 21 at about 3.15 am in Batu Apoi Forest Reserve in Temburong.

If convicted, the defendants could face a fine and five-year imprisonment.

All the defendants are also facing a charge of having entered Brunei illegally without possessing valid passes.

This charge carries a penalty of imprisonment not less than three months and not more than two years and a fine of not more than $6,000.

The defendants will be brought again before the court for further mention of the case on March 8. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Close Encounter With Poachers

Written by Achong Tanjong Tuesday, 20 July 2010 07:07

Kuala Belait - A homemade shotgun, five live bullets, a "parang", axe and equipment used to cut "Gaharu" trees were confiscated by Police Rangers of RU'C company and Royal Brunei Armed Forces in an operation called "SALIMBADA", the 33rd time it has been held since January this year. Head Officer of Operations, Senior Inspector Rosli bin Haji Tuming, said the operation involved six Police Rangers personnel and four personnel from the Royal Brunei Armed Forces. The one-week operation from July 14 to July 19 took place at remote KB UKUR 9 areas in Belait District. He said no arrests were made timing the operation because the seven foreign men, believed to be illegal "Kayu Gaharu" poachers, managed to flee to the Sarawak border. He said surveillance personnel stumbled upon them nearly face-to-face at Ulu Sungai Penipir in the remote area of Ulu Belait that borders Sarawak. He said Police Rangers personnel asked them to introduce themselves but knowing that they are Police from Brunei Darussalam, the seven men made a quick getaway leaving behind all their belongings and disappeared into the Sarawak border. Senior Inspector Rosli told the Bulletin, "There was nothing we could do once they crossed out of our jurisdiction at that point in time." However, the law enforcers managed to confiscate weapons and other items belonging to the poachers. Senior Inspector Rosli said it is part of an ongoing operation to ensure the country is safe from any illegal activities. Asked which areas are most prone to poaching, he said most of the poaching happens in the remote corners of Ulu Belait areas. He urged people especially those residing in the remote areas to contact the authority if they suspect movements of any illegal poachers. He said at the end of May this year three people (Malaysians) have been arrested in connection with poaching at Sungai Keduaan in the Ulu Belait areas. They have been charged under the Immigration and Forestry Acts. Senior Inspector Rosli said the confiscated items will be used as evidence and displayed at Police exhibition   Green Project To Hit Target In November Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin October 17, 2009 Written by Liza Mohd Bandar Seri Begawan - The big response and involvement of private companies to the International School Brunei (ISB) Badas 50,000 trees project has helped the forest conservation efforts to reach its target by November this year, said ISB Executive Principal David Taylor. Some 23,000 trees have already been planted at the Badas Forest Reserve area. BSP's contribution of 10,000 trees yesterday morning has assisted ISB to reach its 50,000 trees target for the year. BSP's action to protect and preserve the environment marks the largest contribution to the forest reserve site. At the Badas Forest yesterday morning, BSP senior management, representatives from the Ministry of Education, International School of Brunei and Panaga Natural History Society took part in a tree-planting activity. Staff and guests planted 250 trees in a plot within the Kerangas Forest area. The native trees planted yesterday are mainly Agathis Borneensis (the existing dominant tree species), Drybalanops Rappa (similar to trees in Anduki forest reserve) and some extremely valuable Gaharu (Sandalwood). The trees planted have to be well-suited to the sandy soil and the main trees planted at the area is mainly of the Agathis species, said Taylor. He said the replanted trees would have to be maintained during the hot season by clearing the undergrowth and also watering them to ensure proper growth and long life. Present at the forest reserve areas in Seria yesterday was BSP Managing Director Dr Grahaeme Henderson, who led the tree planning. He highlighted the 10,000 trees aim to help restore the Badas Forest that was recently devastated by forest fires. He unveiled the 'Seashore Life of the Brunei Heart of Borneo' series of books written by members of the Panaga Natural History Society and supported by BSP. The set of books promotes the country's rich, hugely diverse and largely pristine environment. BSP will distribute the books to schools with the support from Ministry of Education. BSP has contributed $50,000 to restore the Badas Forest Reserve that is part of the Heart of Borneo protection area. Foreigners whipped for illegal entry  Borneo Bulletin, BSB,  30 March 2004 By Liza Mohd Two foreigners from Malaysia and Indonesia were sentenced to three strokes of the rattan after entering Brunei illegally through Limbang in search of 'kayu gaharu' or sandalwood. Indonesian Andik Praseteo bin Setuanto, 22, and 25-year-old Malaysian Yulius Philips @ Mohd Ridwan bin Abdullah were sentenced to three months in prison by the Kuala Belait Magistrate's Court for entering Brunei without possession of a valid pass and for failing to produce their passports to an Immigration Officer. The court heard that both defendants had entered Brunei through the jungle of Kg Madang, Limbang and proceeded to enter the Tutong area and stayed there for three nights before continuing their journey to Kuala Belait. On 24 March this year, both defendants went to Buau Long House in Ulu Belait asking for direction back to Kuala Lurah. However the head of the long house stated that it would be a long journey and both decided to surrender themselves. They were then handed over to the Immigration Department for further investigation. Both defendants were convicted of two charges under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act Cap 17 which carries minimum jail term of 3 months and mandatory whipping of not less than 3 strokes and Section 3(1) of the Passports Act, where both are liable to a fine of $5,000 and imprisonment of up to 3 years. Essential oils October 25, 2007 According to Michael A Bengwayan, a writer on environment and community development issues, there are some 3,000 known essential oils from Asian forest plants of which approximately 300 have commercial importance as perfumes and medicine. He said, soon world’s skin and hair products like The Body Shop will come down to Brunei for the country’s rich non-wood forest products. So here in Brunei we have the expensive eaglewood or kayu gaharu which can be made as perfume and Ylang Ylang which exudes strong fragrance from its flowers resembling lemon. Our woody trees are renowned for having hard wood and fragrant as well, used for timber, weapons, crafts, medicine and adornment. What else do we have; expensive resins and turpentine like Benzoin and elemi, used for paints, inks, aromatic scenes and other products. Our forest is huge and has a lot to offer. Go out and grab something out of our forest guys, but do so wisely. Like a sign at the Belalong Field Centre that says: Leave your footprint behind and take your garbage with you.