The launching ceremony kicked-off with a choir performed by the staff of the Forestry Department and followed by a welcoming speech from Hj Saidin bin Salleh, Director of Forestry cum Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary, the Chairman of the World Forestry Day 2008 celebration. This was then followed by the Guest of Honour’s speech and the launching of the World Forestry Day and Nature Camp 2008. In his speech, the Guest of Honour highlighted that the younger generation of today are a valuable asset of the nation in the future. In this regards, we as the guardian of the current younger generation need to play our role in educating and instilling sense of responsibility among the younger generation so that they are well equipped with knowledge, experience and become a responsible person in the future to carry out and continue the present management responsibility in the future. The Guest of Honour also highlighted on the achievement-to-date on the “felled 1 plant 4” forest management policy implemented by the Ministry through the Forestry Department, whereby as of now, about 7,300 ha of logged-over production forest had been successfully replanted with commercial tree seedling via its enrichment planting program. 

The chosen theme for this year’s World Forestry Day celebration is “Forests for Environmental Stability” which highlighted one of the important roles and contribution of forests to the well being of the people and the environment. The day’s event ended with a ceremonial planting by the Guest of Honour and other VIP guests. 

At this year’s event, apart from launching the World Forestry Day, the Nature Camp activity was also launched. The 5-day camping activity, which is a biennial activity organized by the Forestry Department in conjunction with the World Forestry Celebration, will be conducted from 21-25 March 2008. The camping activity is participated by a total of 100 students representing 10 secondary schools throughout the country. Various activities will be conducted throughout the 5 days camp among others include environmental talks, jungle trekking, sports and other capacity building activities.