Responses of timber concessionaires to selected policy instruments : the case of Peninsular Malaysia

Abstract

This report investigates the characteristics and behaviour of logging concessionaires in Peninsular Malaysia. It highlights the aspects of these companies and their concessions that affect environmental performance. It finds that the companies are caught in a Catch-22 situation in which an increase in both harvesting rates and the number of trees left standing leads to more environmental damage in logging areas. The report suggests that the Malaysian government should introduce and encourage more environmental-friendly harvesting techniques, allow higher cutting intensities but with greater monitoring and control, and extend the cutting cycle to give the forests sufficient time to recuperate and regenerate.