Kota bharu: Kelantan boasts a forested area of 778,708.34 hectares, which constitutes 51.79 per cent of the state's total area, as revealed in the state legislative assembly today.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Nassuruddin Daud stated that this achievement aligns with the Peninsular Malaysia Forestry Policy's commitment to maintaining at least 50 per cent of the country's land mass under forest and tree cover. The state government, through the Kelantan Forestry Department, has undertaken various strategies to preserve and expand forested areas, including identifying government land suitable for designation as Permanent Reserved Forests (HSK).

Mohd Nassuruddin highlighted that protected forests in Kelantan are classified according to their functions under Section 10(1) of the National Forestry Enactment (Adoption) (Amendment) (No. 3) 2025. The state government is actively involved in forest restoration and tree-planting initiatives as part of the Greening Malaysia campaign, aiming for a sustainable balance between conservation and economic development.

Furthermore, technological advancements are being utilized to enhance the monitoring and protection of HSKs, enabling the early detection of changes and potential encroachments in forest areas. Mohd Nassuruddin emphasized that any reported changes or encroachments are verified through patrols and field inspections before enforcement actions are undertaken.