ROMPIN: Pahang has received RM22.8 million in allocation as Ecological Fiscal Transfer (EFT) for the preservation of biodiversity since 2019, said Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minster Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
He said for this year, RM14 million in EFT has been channeled and hoped it could benefit the implementation of programmes as well as forest and biological diversity preservation and conservation.
"EFT allocation has been increased to RM200 million in 2024 compared to RM150 million this year to empower state governments preserve and gazette protected areas," he said.
He was speaking at the launching of the Pahang level International Day of Forests 2023 and the opening of the Rompin District Forest office here today by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.
The International Day of Forests which is celebrated on March 21 to raise community awareness on the importance of forest and its preservation.
Besides, Nik Nazmi said to date, a total of 76.87 million trees have been planted throughout the country through the Malaysia Greening Programme: 100 Million Tree Planting Campaign and he expressed the hope that all parties would continue to support the national agenda.
Meanwhile, Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail in his speech said the Pahang Forestry Department had successfully collected revenue of RM104.6 million as of Oct 31.
In fact, he said that for the past five years, the department has managed to ensure that revenue collection exceeds RM100 million every year, which is seen among other things as contributing to the increase in revenue collection in Pahang.
Touching on the Rompin District Forest office, Wan Rosdy said the construction of the office building started in Nov 2019 and was fully completed in June at a cost of RM4.5 million.
"This building has the latest design features and is equipped with modern office facilities, which indirectly motivates staff to further strengthen the delivery of services in forestry management in Rompin district," he said.– BERNAMA
