Sarawak to gazette protected forest area in Kuching suburb

The Sarawak government says it will gazetta an area in Petra Jaya, Kuching, as a totally protected area by next year as part of its conservation efforts.

Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg said in doing this, it would adopt a concept similar to the Stutong Forest Park, known as the Samajaya Nature Reserve.

“The state government has targeted this area for a gazetted natural reserve,” he said, adding that he had held discussions with his deputy Awang Tengah Ali Hasan on transforming the area based on a “forest-in-the-city” concept.

“We had one in Stutong and this Taman Tasik, Bukit Siol area is for Petra Jaya. Here, it is suitable for the concept as there is a lake.

“We can see that this place can be turned into a nature reserve with various tree species,” he said when officiating the state-level celebration of International Forest Day in Kuching today.

He also said the area could rival the best parks in the peninsula.

“We have a vast land, we don’t have as many people and we are introducing new initiatives (to preserve the environment) with new technologies.

“I think if we plant the trees properly, this place can be better than what they have in Kuala Lumpur. The parks there were also restored. But this one can be better – we can view the hills and the trees,” he said, adding that it could also be a good filming location.