Malaysia: rainforest becomes longest certified rainforest in the world: 10-06-2008
The Malaysian forest reserve of Deramakot has officially become the world's longest continuously certified rainforest.
It has been re-certified for another five years by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and was praised for being "a well managed forest" by FSC director Sam Mannan.
Mr Mannan said that officials at the 55,000 hectare reserve were to be congratulated for striving to maintain the forest and complying with sustainable forestry principles.
Deramakot is habitat to five of the world's globally threatened large mammals; the orang-utan, Pygmy Elephant, Tembadau (Banteng), Proboscis Monkey and the Clouded Leopard.
It was initially awarded certification in 1997 after developing a sustainable management system to help reduce and reverse the affects of logging in the late 1980s.
The Deramakot system is currently being rolled out to other reserves and is looked at as a good example of sustainable forest management.
Mr Mannan said the target for 2009 is to have Ulu Segama-Malua, the largest sustainable forest management project area at 250,000 hectares, similarly certified.