Comparative Assessment of Forest Management System Impact on Carbon Stocks for the Tropical Rainforests in Peninsular Malaysia

Abstract

The most recent Malaysian greenhouse gas (GHG) emission assessment has reported that the Land Use, Land-Use Change, and Forestry (LULUCF) sector is crucial as a significant net sink. This feature aids in sequestering substantial CO2 amounts primarily from forest land, highlighting the necessity of forest ecosystems in climate change mitigation. The impact of Malaysian forest management on forest carbon stocks has also been observed in the Malayan Uniform System (MUS) and the Selective Management System (SMS). This study assessed the impact of MUS and SMS forest management practices on carbon stocks in Peninsular Malaysia. The National Forest Inventories (NFIs) data was employed, which have evolved in their methodology and scope since 1969 to aid the MUS to SMS transition. Given that the MUS could improve commercial timber production by increasing the proportion of commercial and poison-girdling non-commercial species, it performed effectively in lowland dipterocarp forests. The MUS also encountered challenges in hill dipterocarp forests and became infeasible after the country converted numerous readily accessible lowland and hill dipterocarp forests into large-scale agricultural plantations in the 1970s. Consequently, the SMS was introduced in 1978 to replace MUS. This system advocated for adopting sustainable forest management practices, such as annual felling coupes, Reduced Impact Logging (RIL), and conservation efforts for diverse forest species, soil, water, wildlife, and the environment. The data analysis also indicated higher carbon stocks after 1978, suggesting that the SMS significantly enhanced carbon sequestration than MUS. These findings underscored the significance of implementing sustainable forest management practices in Malaysia to preserve carbon and promote economic growth.