SIMUNJAN: The timber industry is no longer considered to be Sarawak's main source of income, but rather carbon trading as the right substitute to generate income for the state.

Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg said that now Sarawak has reduced up to five million cubic metres from eight million cubic metres of logging area.

He explained that the current plan is to maintain forest coverage in Malaysia up to 65 percent with Sarawak the highest contributor of 42 percent of Malaysia's 62 percent.

"The Sarawak government previously used timber resources as a source of income but now we have carbon where these trees are used as carbon storage.

"Now that we have carbon trading, we no longer depend on tree cutting as the main source of income," he explained.

He said this when met by reporters after officiating the Sarawak State Level International Forest Day 2024 at the Sabal Forest Reserve here on Saturday.

The Premier of Sarawak added, the advanced technology of Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) which is a data analysis method capable of calculating the carbon on one tree will become a data center for carbon credits in addition to being a new method of forest management.

He explained that the reforestation approach as a water catchment area is important in producing cleaner hydrogen than unpolluted water.

"If we save our forest, then our water source is guaranteed where the water is not polluted like in Sungai Rajang which is a logging area.

"When our water is of good quality, the breakdown of water into oxygen and hydrogen is also of good quality," he explained. - UKASnews