1. What is the procedure for taking forest produce?
Taking forest produce can be categorized as commercial or private. C Currently, commercial forest harvesting is limited to 24 existing sawmill companies and 5 mangrove harvesting companies. Private forest harvesting is commonly limited for personal usage and cannot be traded except with the permission of a relevant department.
2. What are the conditions to be met for private applications?
- Application for private forest harvesting is limited to personal use only and cannot be traded without the permission of the Department.
- A copy of the applicant and the applicant's assistant identity card must be presented.
- Please state the type of land [T.O.L./Grant/Government Land] and attach, if necessary, a map to indicate the location of where the forest harvest will be obtained.
- A copy of an authorization letter by the landowner must be attached if it involves the harvesting of forest produce on a T.O.L. land or a land belonging to another person.
- Applicant is not allowed to collect forest produce without the consent and agreement of this Department.
- For every successful application, a royalty fee (tax) on top of a service fee of $10.00 will incur.
- The application result will be issued with 14 working days.
For private forest harvesting, a form prepared by the Department of Forestry must be filled in.
3. Is entry into the Forest Reserve permitted to the public?
The Forest Reserve is a regulated area. Unauthorized entry into the Forest Reserve is prohibited and it is considered an offense for a person to enter the Reserve without obtaining prior approval from the Forestry Director. This stipulation is in accordance with section 14C of the Forest Act (Amendment) Order 2007, Brunei Act, Chapter 46.
It is an offense for any person who fails to comply with this rule and if convicted, a fine not exceeding $10,000, imprisonment for a term of not more than 3 years or both will be charged.
4. How many Recreation Parks are there under Brunei Darussalam's Department of Forestry and how to get there?
There are 7 Recreational Parks under the Department of Forestry. If you are going to have an event at any of these parks, you should call the Forestry Department at 2381687 extension 2104 in advance to make a reservation and followed by sending in an official letter.
The parks are as follows:
- Bukit Shahbandar Forest Recreation park, Bandar Seri Begawan; this park is accessible by car. There are several areas that can be booked and used to hold any type of events such as the multipurpose arena, the parking lot near the pool, the vending huts, the children's playground area and the hill area. This park also has recreational facilities, children's playground and designated jogging paths. A fish pond can also be found in the park. However, fishing is strictly prohibited except that which is endorsed by the Department of Forestry.
- Berakas Forest Recreation Park, BSB; this park is accessible by car. There are several areas that can be booked and used to hold any type of events such as the camping sites, carpark near the garden office, Zone A and Zone B. This park offers recreational facilities, children's playground and designated jogging paths.
- Tumpuan Telisai Recreation Park, Tutong District; this park is accessible by car. This park is located opposite a beach and currently offers ample parking space. This park can be used to hold and events, however, public toilet is limited.
- Sungai Liang Forest Recreation Park, Belait District; this park is accessible by car. There are several areas in the park that are open to public use such as recreational huts, children's playground and designated jogging areas. A fish pond can also be found at this park. However, fishing is strictly prohibited except that which is endorsed by the Department of Forestry. There is also a small pool near the pond where swimming is allowed, nevertheless, you are responsible for your own safety.
- Luagan Lalak Forest Recreation Park is accessible by car. This park has a beautiful natural landscape.
- Bukit Patoi Forest Recreation Park, Temburong district; this park is accessible by car and boat. Facilities available at this park include resting huts and hills for jogging. At the peak of the hill, you will be able to witness an amazing scenery.
- Pulau Selirong Forest Recreation Park, Temburong District (enter by boat); all travel arrangements can be made through "In-Bound" travel agencies. At this park, you will be able to observe a variety of interesting mangrove tree species. However, at the moment, overnight facilities have yet to be provided.
5. How to submit an application for the purpose of using/renting out areas such as the arenas, camping sites etc.?
To submit an application for the purpose of using/renting out areas such as the arenas, camping sites and etc., please contact the Parks and Forest Community Division at 2381687/2381013 to ensure that the requested areas are not booked or in use and followed by sending in a letter to:
Director of Forestry,
Forestry Headquarters,
Level 2, Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism Building,
Bandar Seri Begawan, BB 3910
Negara Brunei Darussalam
Applicant must also specify the details of the application such as: Name of applicant; Full address; Phone No. that can be conveniently reached; Request Date and Time; Purpose and No. of Members / Groups.
6. How to get permission to visit Brunei Forestry Center, Forestry Museum and National Herbarium in Sungai Liang?
Application for a visit shall be presented to Yang Mulia Director of Forestry, Forestry Headquarters, Bandar Seri Begawan BB3910 declaring the purpose of the visit. The visitation time is during office hours, which are on Monday to Thursday and Saturday from 7.45am to 12.15pm and 1.30pm to 4.30pm.
7. What are the efforts done by the Forestry Department in conserving and preventing the extinctions of plants in this country?
Through the enforcement of forest law, based on the Forest Act Chapter 46, it is an offense to enter Forest Reserves and to issue forest produce without prior approval. With the enforcement of the Forest Act, the harvesting of forest products derived not only from plants but anything that is within the premise of the forest reserves can now be monitored and thereby ensuring the sustainability of the forest produce.
In conjunction, another long-standing effort is the collection of plant specimens and their allocations to identify and conduct researches on these species at the Herbarium. A Herbarium is a designated space where plant specimen collections, called specimen herbarium, which is an example of a plant that has been processed and stored as a reference material for the purpose of identification, research and conservation of plants.
The National Herbarium is placed under the Department of Forestry and accommodates not only local plant collections but also collections of other countries as sources of reference. So far, there are 33, 000 documented herbarium specimens. This number consists of 4696 species that include:
Dicotyledon : 3481 species
Monocotyledon : 798 species
Gymnosperms : 20 species
Pteridophyte : 315 species
Brophyte : 79 species
