The Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC) invites you to showcase the breathtaking beauty of Malaysia’s tropical rainforests and ecosystems through your lens. Capture the magic of these natural wonders and the importance of valuing, preserving, and conserving them for generations to come.

This year, we’re excited to introduce a new TikTok video category, giving you even more ways to express your creativity and passion for sustainable forest management.

There are four categories to enter:

• Category A: Forest Landscape and Ecosystem
  • This category focuses on images that showcase the uniqueness of Malaysia’s forest landscapes in various geological, climatological and biological features, including great shots of the flora and fauna that make the forests very fascinating to be observed, valued and conserved.
• Category B: People in Sustainable Forestry
  • This category focuses on images of people involved in the field of forestry responsible for the sustainable management and well-being of Malaysia’s forest resources. In addition, it could include shots of the indigenous people who have been living in or at the vicinity of the forest, and have a long tradition in caring for the forest. This category could include people at work such as foresters, forest rangers, forest researchers or auditors. The image could also portray people at work who utilise modern technologies for managing and conserving Malaysia’s forest resources.
• Category C: #lovenaturecarenature (Facebook/ Instagram Reels)
  • This category is for video reflecting a positive connection with nature while emphasizing responsible stewardship. Participants are encouraged to share video illustrating their appreciation for Malaysia’s natural beauty and their commitment to preserving it. Whether exploring forests, mountains, or coastlines, entrants should demonstrate mindful interaction with the environment, leaving only footprints and taking only memories and photographs. Each entry must tag MTCC Facebook/ Instagram account (@MTCC.Malaysia) and Travelution Facebook Account (@travelution) together with the following hashtags #mtccphotocontest2024 and #lovenaturecarenature.
• Category D: #lovenaturecarenature (TikTok Video)
• This category is for video reflecting a positive connection with nature while emphasizing responsible stewardship. Participants are encouraged to share video illustrating their appreciation for Malaysia’s natural beauty and their commitment to preserving it. Whether exploring forests, mountains, or coastlines, entrants should demonstrate mindful interaction with the environment, leaving only footprints and taking only memories and photographs. Each entry must tag MTCC TikTok account (@mtccwoodtok) together with the following hashtags: #mtccphotocontest2024 and #lovenaturecarenature.

Your photos and videos can make a difference!

Submit your entries today and be a champion for Malaysia’s forests!

Contest Deadline: 30 September 2024

Download Contest Rules & Regulations

Download Contest Poster

Submit your entries NOW

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What does sustainability mean to you? Express your view via a short video and win awesome prizes!

The inaugural MPOCC MTCC Video Competition 2022 is calling for Malaysia’s future agents of change to share their perspectives on sustainability through creative, impactful videos and be in the running to win attractive prizes worth RM10,000.

The competition, themed “Sustainability is a Shared Responsibility”, is a first-time collaboration between the Malaysian Palm Oil Certification Council (MPOCC) and the Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC). Apart from showing Malaysia’s support towards achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, the competition is aimed at inculcating the realisation and understanding that sustainability is everyone’s responsibility. It also aims at spreading the awareness on the role of certification in promoting and ensuring sustainable practices in the agricommodity sector in the country, particularly the timber sector through MTCC and palm oil sector through MPOCC. 

The competition is open to all students (local or foreign) currently studying in Malaysian universities, polytechnics and community colleges. Each eligible participant is required to post a video (with a duration of 1-3 minutes) on his/her Facebook or /and Instagram account with the title “Sustainability is a Shared Responsibility”, and with the following hashtag: #MPOCCMTCCVC2022 . 

Attractive prizes await winners! Put on that imaginative thinking hats now! 

The contest runs until 5pm, 15 July 2022. For details and contest form, log on to: https://www.mpocc.org.my/ & https://mtcc.com.my/

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New, Exciting Categories and Cash Prizes Await Contestants  

The Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC) Photography Contest 2022 kicks off today (22 April) in conjunction with Earth Day, calling for avid photographers to reunite with nature and capture their best shots of Mother Earth’s lush tropical rainforests and ecosystems in Malaysia. 

Carrying the theme ‘Experience Forest, Experience MTCS-PEFC’, the contest is aimed at utilising the art of nature photography to raise public awareness on the uniqueness and benefits of Malaysia’s forests and ecosystems while promoting the importance of valuing the nature and sustainable forest management through timber certification to benefit future generations. Entering its fifth edition this year, the contest is a joint effort between MTCC and photography and travel magazines publisher, PCP Publications. 

The contest, which runs until 30 June, offers three categories including one new category for social media butterflies to share creative snapshots of them enjoying the outdoors. Apart from attractive prizes, all winning entries will be exhibited at Malaysia’s biggest imaging event, Kuala Lumpur Photography Festival in September. To add the excitement up a notch, the top three winning images will be in the running to win the International 2022 PEFC Photographer of the Year Award.    

MTCC’s CEO, Siti Syaliza Mustapha said the launch of the MTCC Photography Contest coincides with the Earth Day to raise awareness on the importance of investing in mother nature to ensure its restoration, conservation and protection.   

“This year’s Earth Day theme, ‘Invest in Our Planet’, promotes nature restoration and building a healthy planet towards achieving a prosperous and sustainable future for our children, which is in line with MTCC’s objective to promote nature conservation – tropical forests in particular – and raise public awareness on the significance of certification as a crucial tool to ensure forest sustainability for a prosperous and sustainable future,” she said.    

Siti Syaliza said the contest comprises three categories, with one taking into consideration Malaysia’s transition into the endemic phase of COVID-19.  

“The Forest Landscapes and Ecosystems category is open for images showcasing the rich, natural wonders of Malaysia’s forests and human interactions which reflect the multiple uses of forests. The Wood for the Future category focuses on innovative applications and multiple uses of wood such as in buildings, homes, appliances and even art installations that feature the longevity and aesthetic values of wood as a sustainable material. 

The third category, #reconnectwithnature, is created mainly to encourage people to go out and enjoy the outdoors with healthy activities such as hiking, jungle trekking, camping or having a picnic in natural landscapes. We hope that by going out and about to physically and emotionally reconnect with mother nature will ignite the awareness on the importance of valuing and conserving our natural environment, especially our priceless forests and their resources,” she said. 

She said the contest attracted 186 participants last year, with 2,045 photos and 34 short videos submissions. 

“With the transition phase taking place, we’re anticipating more contestants and more stunning entries this year,” she said and added that the first edition of the contest was held in 2017.

Exciting Categories 

The MTCC Photography Contest 2022 comprises the following categories: 

Category A: Forest Landscapes and Ecosystems 

Description:

This category is open for images that showcase the uniqueness of Malaysia’s forest landscapes in various geological, climatological and biological features, including great shots of the flora and fauna that make the forests very fascinating to be observed, valued and conserved. Apart from that, images of human interactions that portray multiple uses of forests including people working in the forest such as local communities, forest workers, researchers, artists and visitors are also welcomed. 

Category B: Wood for the Future 

Description:

This category calls for images that feature innovative and creative applications of wood in modern settings, be it buildings, structures, infrastructures as well as interior or exterior designs. Shots focusing on sustainable processing or crafting of wood-based products are also eligible for this category. All images should depict the authentic charm of wood, highlighting the timeless look and feel of the design as well as the wooden elements as a sustainable material that exudes longevity.  

Category C: #reconnectwithnature (Social Media – Facebook/Instagram)    

Description:

As Malaysia is transitioning into the endemic phase of COVID-19, this category is created to show how we are positively reconnecting ourselves emotionally and physically with nature. It invites social media users to share photos of how they spend their time appreciating the country’s natural environment and enjoying the outdoors. Each entry must be posted with the following hashtags: #mtccphotocontest2022 #reconnectwithnature. The results will be announced on MTCC’s Official Facebook Page MTCC.Malaysia and   AdvancedImagesTravelution Facebook Page. The winners will be notified by private message (PM).       

Prizes Up for Grabs

The grand prize winner will walk away with a cash prize of RM1,500. Each photo category offers RM1,000 for the first prize winner, RM500 each for two merit prize winners and RM200 each for 10 consolation prize winners. The social media category offers RM100 each for the best three photos and RM50 each for seven consolation prize winners. Each winner will receive an e-certificate and e-magazines courtesy of PCP Publications. 

The contest is open to all Malaysians and residents of Malaysia aged 13 years and above who have a passion in forests, wood and photography. For details and contest form, please visit the following Facebook pages: MTCC.Malaysia, AdvancedImagesTravelution, majalahFotografika, PhotoCreatorTravelmate

• Download Contest Poster

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Carrying the theme “Experience Forest, Experience MTCS-PEFC”, the contest is a joint effort between MTCC and PCP Publications which aims at raising public awareness via photography on the uniqueness and benefits of Malaysia’s tropical forests while promoting the importance of valuing the nature and sustainable forest management through certification to benefit future generations.

MTCC CEO Yong Teng Koon says this year’s contest is set to be a memorable one as it will kick off on 21 March, coinciding with the commemoration of the 9^th International Day of Forests themed “Forest Restoration: a path to recovery and well-being”. The theme gels well with the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) that calls for forest restoration and sustainable forest management efforts to combat the impact of environmental and biodiversity crises.

“The International Day of Forests is commemorated by countries organising various activities to spread awareness on the importance of trees and forests to mankind. The MTCC Photography Contest fits nicely with the theme as this is our way to raise awareness on the importance of certification as an important sustainable forest management tool to ensure forest sustainability for a sustainable future,” he says.

FRESH TAKES

Yong says MTCC and PCP Publications have set four new categories in the contest, taking into account the current movement control order imposed by the Malaysian government to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The four new categories consist of three photo categories namely Natural Forest Landscapes, Wood in Our Life and Stay Safe, Stay Green and one video category, I Wonder, I Wander. The fresh takes are meant to create more excitement and make it more practical for contestants to take their best shots and stay creative despite the restrictions.

A total of 166 participants from throughout Malaysia took part in the contest last year, with 1,384 photographs and 19 short videos submitted. We look forward to receive more amazing entries this year as the contest has never failed to attract astounding works of art since the first edition of the contest in 2017,” says Yong.

He adds that the Wood in Our Life category, which aims at portraying wood aesthetics in lifestyle settings, goes well with the World Wood Day which also falls on 21 March. The annual international cultural event is held to promote wood as an important eco-friendly material that should be used responsibly. 

New categories at the MTCC Photography Contest 2021

The MTCC Photography Contest 2021 comprises the following categories:

Category A: Natural Forest Landscapes

This category is open for images capturing the beauty of forest and forest landscapes in Malaysia. Images may include people who depend on forest-based livelihood as well as the forest-dwelling flora and fauna and the ecosystem that they sustain. The images should showcase forest in its natural beauty, diversity and uniqueness with regards to form and structure. For forest landscapes, the images could portray the geological or climatological features and natural environment of Malaysia’s forest.

Category B: Wood in Our Life 

This category calls for images that depict the varied uses of wood in our livelihood which could also bring out the intangible heritage skills of our society as well as the value of wood to humankind. Images could showcase people at work making products out of wood or people utilising wood-based utensils or equipment or wood structures or any woody things which have become part of our lives. 

Category C: Stay Safe, Stay Green (Social Media – Facebook/Instagram) #staysafestaygreen 

As we are currently leading a different way of life due to the pandemic, this category is specially created to showcase how we can play a role in greening the environment despite the limitations. This category invites social media users to post photos showing their simple yet meaningful efforts (e.g creating little gardens or hanging gardens etc) to rejuvenate the environment while staying save at home. Each entry must be posted with the following hashtags: #mtccphotocontest2021 #staysafestaygreen. The results will be announced on MTCC’s Official Facebook Page MTCC.Malaysia and AdvancedImagesTravelution Facebook Page. The winners will be notified by PM (private message).

Category D: Video – I Wander and I Wonder

This category calls for video clips of the participants experiencing nature’s wonders and sounds in Malaysia’s forests or recreational parks. The clip must be recorded using smartphone/tablet/drone/action cameras (e.g. GoPro etc), or a combination of mobile devices. The length of the clip must be at least 30 seconds and does not exceed 3 minutes. The video can be combined with text, effects or voice-over, depending on the producer’s creativity and in compliance with the relevant copyright laws.

Besides the grand prize of RM2,000, the contest offers one first prize of RM1,200, two merit prizes of RM600 and 10 consolation prizes of RM200 for each winner of the respective photo category. The social media category offers RM100 each for the best three entries and seven merit prizes of RM50 each. The best two video clips will receive a cash prize of RM500 each. All winners will also receive a book/magazine courtesy of PCP Publications.

Participation is open to all Malaysians who have a passion for forests, wood and photography. Participants may submit up to 10 images for each category and are required to upload their entries to a cloud storage system and email the link to mtcc@pcp2u.my.

For details and contest form, visit the following Facebook pages:

MTCC.Malaysia, AdvancedImagesTravelution, majalahFotografika or PhotoCreatorTravelmate

• Download Contest Poster
• Download Contest Rules and Regulations
• Download Contest Form

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Themed “Experience Forest, Experience MTCS-PEFC”, the contest is a third-time collaboration between the Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC) and PCP Publications, the publisher for photography and travel magazines namely Photo Creator, Advanced Images, Fotografika, Travelmate and Travelution. It is aimed at raising public awareness on the beauty and benefits of Malaysia’s tropical forests while promoting the importance of valuing the nature and sustainable forest management through timber certification to benefit future generations.

The contest consists of five categories including #fortheloveofnature, a new category for Instagrammers and Facebook users to show their bid in nature conservation through photography.

“Apart from inviting avid photographers to submit their best shots which capture the uniqueness of Malaysia’s forests, we look forward to see inspiring photos by Instagram and Facebook users showing how they protect the nature,” said MTCC Chief Executive Officer, Yong Teng Koon.

“As the old adage goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. By combining photography with the effectiveness of social media platform, we believe we can reach out to more people in spreading positive messages on nature conservation,” he added.  

On another note, reputable photographer Azul Adnan is filling up the spot as the guest judge for the competition once again (he was the guest judge in the 2018 contest). His works have been featured on National Geographic and BBC websites as well as in Digital Camera and Lonely Planet magazines. He is also a regular speaker at Malaysia’s biggest annual photography exhibition, Kuala Lumpur Photography Festival.

.Azul, who is known for his talent and skills in travel, street and documentary photography, will be judging alongside Yong and PCP Publications General Manager and Editor-in-Chief, Jessica Chan.  

Sharing some tips for participants, Azul said: “Apart from good composition, lighting and as such, the judges look for images which have the ‘wow factor’ – Photos which make us pause and gaze in wonderment and ask ourselves about the content. Essentially, a strong photo is not only beautiful but also has a compelling story or meaning behind it.

“And when taking pictures, photographers should respect their surroundings. They should avoid littering and disturbing the natural living habitats of the animals and plants, no matter how small they are. As the old saying goes, ‘take only photographs, leave only footprints’,” he added.

This year’s contest categories comprise People & Forest, Forest & Forest Landscapes, Forest & Fauna, Wonders & Sounds of Nature (short video clips) and #fortheloveofnature (social media).

For details and contest form, visit the following Facebook pages and website: MTCC.Malaysia, AdvancedImagesTravelution, majalahFotografika, PhotoCreatorTravelmate & www.mtcc.com.my 

[DOWNLOAD MTCC PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST 2020 POSTER]

[DOWNLOAD MTCC PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST 2020 RULES & REGULATIONS]

[DOWNLOAD MTCC PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST 2020 CONTEST FORM]

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The contest, themed “Experience Forest, Experience MTCS-PEFC” will run from 22 April to 6 July 2020 and includes five categories including one new category for social media butterflies to show their photography flair on Instagram/ Facebook.

MTCC Chief Executive Officer Yong Teng Koon says the contest, a third-time collaboration between MTCC and PCP Publications, is aimed at raising public awareness on the beauty and benefits of our tropical lush forests while promoting the importance of valuing the nature and sustainable forest management through timber certification to benefit future generations.

“The MTCC Photography Contest is one of MTCC’s initiatives to inculcate the love and appreciation for forests and nature among the public via visual arts – which we believe have more impact in conveying messages concerning environment conservation. We’d received high quality entries that captured the richness of our forests and the people responsible for their well-being when we organised the contests in 2017 and 2018.  We definitely look forward to see more inspiring shots by adding more prizes and categories this time around,” he says.

Besides four photography and videography categories, there will be a new category for Instagrammers who are passionate about caring and doing their bid for the environment, says Yong.

“The new category, #fortheloveofnature invites Instagrammers/ Facebook users to capture creative shots showing how they do their part to protect the environment. For example, cleaning up rubbish after having a picnic or camping in the forests. We hope they can inspire and spread positive messages to more people by sharing their entries on the social media,” he adds.       

CATEGORIES AND PRIZES

This year’s contest comprises the following categories:

• Category 1 – Forests and People: This category seeks images of people involved in the field of forestry responsible for the well-being of Malaysia’s forest resources such as foresters, forest rangers, forest researchers, auditors and indigenous peoples. Images portraying people at work and the utilisation of modern technologies for managing and conserving Malaysia’s forest resources are encouraged.
• Category 2 – Forests and Forest Landscapes: This category welcomes any shots showcasing the natural beauty, diversity and uniqueness of forests by capturing the geological, climatological features and natural environment of Malaysian forests.
• Category 3 – Forests and Fauna: This category seeks amazing images of animals in the wild including mammals, birds, amphibians or reptiles.
• Category 4 – Mobile Short Video: This category requires participants to record the wonders of Malaysian forests in a short video clip with a duration of not more than three minutes. Participants may use a variety of mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, drones, GoPros, or a combination of these mobile devices, to capture the sights and sounds of the natural environment.
• Category 5 – #fortheloveofnature This category invites Instagrammers to take creative shots on how Malaysians do their bid to protect the environment and share them on the social media with the following hashtags: #mtccphotocontest2020  #fortheloveofnature

Besides the grand prize of RM2,000, the contest offers one first prize of RM1,200, two merit prizes of RM600 and 10 consolation prizes of RM200 per category for Category 1 – 3. The best two mobile video clips (Category 4) will receive a cash prize of RM500 each. The three best entries on Instagram (Category 5) will receive a cash prize of RM100 each and 7 consolation prizes of RM50 each will also be awarded. All winners will also receive a book/magazine courtesy of PCPPublications.

Participation is open to all Malaysians who have a passion for forests and photography. Participants may submit up to 10 images for each category and are required to upload their entries to a cloud storage system and email the link to mtcc@pcp2u.my.

[DOWNLOAD MTCC PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST 2020 POSTER]

[DOWNLOAD MTCC PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST 2020 RULES & REGULATIONS]

[DOWNLOAD MTCC PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST 2020 CONTEST FORM]

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