a) Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the timber harvesting operation within Forest Timber License No. T/0560 was carried out by Ecosol Consultancy Sdn. Bhd. in March 2017 and the EIA report was submitted to NREB on 3rd August 2017. The EIA report was approved by the NREB on 19th December 2017 vide letter reference number (20)NREB/6-3/2F/93.
Raplex FMU committed to protect the environment through the implementation of mitigation measures to minimize risk and impacts of forest activities on pollution of watercourses, forest fire, carbon stock, climate change and conservation of biological diversity.
Environmental impacts may remain after mitigation measures have been implemented. Therefore, Raplex FMU has conducted series of monitoring such as monitoring of water quality, logging damages, soil erosion and sedimentation. In 2018, Raplex FMU has participated in the second batch of Pilot Project for Environmental Audit organized by the Natural Resources and Environmental Board (NREB), Sarawak and coordinated by Sarawak Timber Association (STA).
b) Social Impact Assessment (SIA)
The management of Raplex FMU has commissioned an independent consultant Ecosol Consultancy Sdn Bhd to conduct social evaluation through consultation on the social impact of forest operations directly affecting the communities. The SIA report was completed in June 2017. During the Social Impact Assessment study carried out by consultant, dialogue sessions with the affected local communities were organised. Social impact has been identified and mitigation measures have been outlined to minimize or avoid any potential adverse impact. To ensure compliance with the mitigation measure, compliance monitoring will be conducted annually by FMU.
Table below are updated list of settlements located within Raplex FMU based on consultation with Community Representative Committee (CRC)
No. | Name of village | Location by river system | Ethnicity | Settlement Location |
1 | Rh Japok | Batang Rajang | Iban | Within |
2 | Rh Palus | Lubok Dabai | Iban | Within |
3 | Rh Gendang ak Bili | Sungai Pila | Iban | Within |
Table below are updated list of settlements located adjacent Raplex FMU based on consultation with Community Representative Committee (CRC)
No. | Name of village | Location by river system | Ethnicity | Settlement Location |
1 | Rh Kulleh Siluk (Punan Biau) | Batang Rajang | Punan | Adjacent |
2 | Rh Jacky | Sungai Pila | Iban | Adjacent |
3 | Rh Brian Mering (Punan Bah) | Batang Rajang | Punan | Adjacent |
4 | Rh Dari Jelawing | Batang Rajang | Punan | Adjacent |
5 | Uma Badang | Long Dungan | Kenyah | Adjacent |
6 | Uma Tevok | Batang Rajang | Kayan | Adjacent |
7 | Uma Amang Matu (Sekapan Panjang) | Sekapan Panjang | Sekapan | Adjacent |
8 | Uma Tiau Sirek (Sekapan Piit) | Sekapan Pi’it | Sekapan | Adjacent |
9 | Rh Jamit ak Jingga | Sungai Pila | Iban | Adjacent |
10 | Rh Asan (Rh Lanting) | Batang Rajang | Iban | Adjacent |
11 | Rh William ak Jete | Batang Rajang | Iban | Adjacent |
12 | Rh Michael Nyaleng (Rh Tanjong) | Batang Rajang | Tanjong | Adjacent |
13 | Rh Stephen Jelawing | Batang Rajang | Punan | Adjacent |
14 | Rh Asing (Rh Lat) | Batang Rajang | Iban | Adjacent |
15 | Rh Ladang Keluka | Batang Rajang | Punan | Adjacent |
16 | Rh Kanyan ak Manai | Batang Rajang | Iban | Adjacent |
17 | Rh Sabang ak Jampung | Batang Rajang | Iban | Adjacent |
18 | Rh Aji ak Ugil | Sungai Pila | Iban | Adjacent |
19 | Rh Empang ak Eba | Sungai Pila | Iban | Adjacent |
20 | Rh Protasi | Sungai Pila | Iban | Adjacent |
c) Social Harvesting Impact
Malaysian Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management Indicator 8.1.2 requires the FMU to identify and implement appropriate monitoring procedures, in accordance with the scale and intensity of the forest management operations, for assessing social impact harvesting. The monitoring will determine the impact of harvesting operations on the affected community located within or adjacent to the FMU.
According to the SOP, social harvesting impact will be conducted in three (3) operational stages of every coupe as follows,
Pre-harvest | Upon the approval of DP and PEC operations 1-4 by the Forest Department Sarawak (FDS) |
Harvesting | Upon the approval of PEC Operation 5 or during harvesting (felling and extraction) |
Post-harvest | Upon completion of the harvesting operation or expiry of the last PEC operation, 5 |
The FMU has consulted the affected local community for Coupe 04A, Coupe 05A and Coupe 06A.
No. | Year | Coupe | Longhouse | Stage |
1 | 2022 | 04A | Uma Tevok & Uma Tanjong | Harvest |
2 | 2023 | 05A | Uma Sekapan Panjang | Pre-harvest |
3 | 2023 | 06A | Uma Sekapan Piit | Pre-harvest |