The Forest Engineering Plan (FEP) has been formulated primarily for implementation in the long-term hill licences. It is based on the recommendations of the FAO/UNDP Project MAL/76/008 which was carried out in Sarawak from 1977 to 1981. One of the main objectives of engineering studies conducted in this Project was to establish principles and provide guidelines for the planning and execution of efficient harvesting of the mixed dipterocarp forest. A proper planning of the logging roads and harvesting operations would be necessary to improve the standard of hill logging in the State and at the same time taking into consideration the protection of the environment and forest resources.

General Planning
Once a long-term hill licence has been issued, the logging operator is required to submit to the Department a General Harvesting Plan (GP) on Lands and Survey 1:50,000 scale map sheets. The GP is to show the coupe layout and road network for the entire licenced areas as well as location of camp sites, dumping points and access roads. Coupes are numbered in the order in which they will be harvested. The GP would serve as a basis for the detailed planning of the individual coupes.

Operational stage
After the GP has been approved, the logging operator can commence with the detailed planning of the individual coupes. Large scale topographic work-maps of scale 1:10,000 or larger with contour interval not exceeding 10 metres are required for this purpose. There are a number of ways to obtain such maps and these are by:-

• Photogrammetric mapping, using stereoplotters and suitable aerial photographs.
• Direct enlargement from 1:25,000 Lands and Survey map sheets.
• Topographical survey on the ground. This method would be feasible only for small coupes.

The Detailed Harvesting Plan (DP) should show the following:-

• Logging block layout. The block boundary is to follow natural features wherever possible and block size should be about 50 to 100 hectares.
• Logging road network comprising main, secondary and feeder roads. The proposed road alignments are to be planned based on the specifications and design of the logging roads prescribed. Wherever possible, all the logging blocks are to be served by roads so as to keep the maximum skidding distance to within 1000 metres.

The DP, with information on block sizes, road classification and road distances, have to be submitted to the Department at least 18 months before the commencement of felling operation in that particular coupe.

After the approval of the DP by the Department, the logging operator can commence with the actual demarcation and survey of the coupe boundary, alignment of roads on the ground, survey of the alignments and preparation of plan and profiles for the main and secondary road alignments together with design of finished formation level. The profiles shall be drawn on a horizontal scale of 1:1,000 and vertical scale of 1:200, and include information on the location and type of bridges and culverts to be constructed.

The plan and profile drawings are then submitted to the Department which will then carry out a field checking of the alignment if necessary. After the plan and profile drawings have been approved by the Department, the logging operator can proceed with the actual road construction. Road construction should start at least 12 months before the blocks are scheduled to be endorsed for felling. This will allow adequate time for the consolidation of the road surface.