KUCHING, Monday (5 December 2001)- Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) is a holistic approach intended to optimise the utilisation of forest resources effectively, said ST Mok in his working paper presented at the Forestry Department seminar yesterday.

According to him, the concept could be practiced through clear cutting, selection felling or selective management systems. "The International Tropical Timber Organisation's (ITTO) definition of SFM is apparently the most widely supported and accepted. It is related to ITTO's Year 2000 objective and clarified by comprehensive guidelines, criteria and indicators." said Mok in his working paper entitled "SFM Concept and Practice' presented at the 'Seminar on SFM: From Theory to Practices' held at the Sarawak Timber Association headquarters here yesterday.

The paper also stressed the importance of acceptable practices to be adopted under the SFM concept which required concerted efforts in harmonizing criteria and indicators for good forest management, that called for cooperation from all countries involved in the timber industry, and to allow for sustaining the welfare of humankind.