Among those present to liven up the event.

IPOH, 30 April 2024 – HRH Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah and HRH Raja Permaisuri Perak Tuanku Zara Salim graced the National Level International Day of Forests (IDF) 2024 Celebration at Bulatan Sultan Azlan Shah here.

Also gracing the event were HH Raja Muda Perak Raja Jaafar Raja Muda Musa, HH Raja Puan Besar Perak Raja Nazhatul Shima Sultan Idris Shah and HH Raja DiHilir Perak Raja Iskandar Dzurkarnain Sultan Idris Shah.

Also present were Perak Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Saarani Mohamad and wife Datin Seri Aezer Zubin, Natural Resources and Natural Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad and wife Noor Farah Rahim, HH Raja Kecil Tengah Perak Raja Dato' Seri Iskandar Raja Ziran, Orang Kaya Bendahara Seri Maharaja Gen Dato' Seri DiRaja Tan Sri (Dr.) Mohd. Zahidi Zainuddin (Rtd) and wife Toh Puan Datin Seri Diraja Puan Sri Hajah Rasiah Md. Nor, and State Assembly Speaker Dato' Mohd Zahir Abdul Khalid and wife Datin Aznee Abu Samah.

State Legal Adviser Dato' Azmir Shah Zainal Abidin, State Financial Officer Dato' Mohd Zaki Mahyudin, State Exco Members Natural Resources and Nature Sustainability Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Dr. Ching Thoo a/l Kim, Peninsular Malaysia Forestry Director-General Dato' Indera Mohd Ridza Awang, Perak Forestry Director Dato' Mohd Basri Abdul Manaf and heads of state and federal departments also attended the event.

Dato' Seri Saarani in his speech said that the selection of Perak as the host for this year's celebration was not only a great recognition of the state's rich biodiversity and topography, but also a tribute to the government's efforts under the auspices of HRH the Sultan of Perak in making Visit Perak Year 2024 a success.

He said the state government has drawn up various initiatives to manage the forest treasures of Perak as well as possible.

"As of 31 March 2024, the total ​​Permanent Forest Reserves area is 988,826.98 hectares, representing 96.4% of the state’s forested areas.

"Throughout 2023, the State Government has gazetted ​4,655.55 hectares of new Permanent Forest Reserve, comprising 4,520.75 hectares of land forests and 134.80 hectares of mangrove forests," he said.

He added that the additional area also maintained Perak's status as the state with the largest Permanent Forest Reserve in Peninsular Malaysia, with 47 percent. 

"The State Government has also identified a mangrove forest in the Government Land of Mukim Kuala Kurau with an area of ​​880 acres or about 356.12 hectares to be gazetted as a new Permanent Forest Reserve. 

"We have also allocated RM66.3 million this year to strengthen the Environmental Sustainability agenda, in line with the Fourth Focus of Pelan Perak Sejahtera 2030, and of that amount, 81% or RM53.9 million has been distributed to the Perak Forestry Department," he said.  

At the event, Their Royal Highnesses also performed a tree planting gimmick and visited the exhibition booths set up by the State Government, Peninsular Malaysia Forestry Department, Sabah Forestry Department, Sarawak Forestry Department, Malaysia Biodiversity Information System (MyBIS), Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), Peninsular Malaysia Wildlife and National Parks Department (PERHILITAN), Malaysian Timber Industry Board (MTIB) and others.

Source : Corporate, SUK Perak.