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The Malaysian timber industry continues to be a major export earner for the nation. In 2006 it contributed an estimated RM23.44billion, which is an increase of around 19% from the year before. The growth was also attributed to the structural transformation of the timber industry, shifting from primary to secondary processing complemented by the development of synergetic industrial clusters. In line with encouraging growth of the industry the Federal Government has made an allocation of RM1billion for a 15 year programme to plant 375,000 has with high value timber trees by 2020.
The Malaysian government has pledged to ensure that sustainable development will continue to drive the country's plantation sector, protecting the interests of the indigenous people as well as the environment and wildlife. In view of this the government has taken several steps, including the environmental impact assessment requirement for any land development exceeding 500 hectares, as well as laws on land conservation, environmental quality and national parks. Malaysia is also a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the International Tropical Timber Agreement as well as the Charter of Indigenous-Tribal Peoples of the Forests.
The Malaysian Timber industry which is for the most part dominated by the furniture and woodworking mills, followed by sawmills, moulding mills and kiln drying plants is looking at further diversification. It aims to move to more high tech sectors in the future such as in the manufacture of higher value-added products such as moulding, joinery and furniture, in tandem with the growing global demand for these products.
