Besides
protection against encroachment, protection of forests
against natural causes of damage, especially forest
fire, is the most important aspect of forest protection. Fire
as a result of abnormal weather pattern has a detrimental
impact on forest resources. It causes total destruction
to the affected forest areas compared to the partial damage
due to logging activities. Many studies have shown
that logged over areas are more prone to fire. In
view of the fact that about 80 percent of the forest reserve
areas has already been logged, the forest in Sabah is
generally highly susceptible to fire.
The Forestry
Department has been implementing a programme of forest
fire management. This programme consists of the
following components
- Fire prevention
- Fire detection
systems
- Fire preparedness
- Fire suppression
and control
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