Sime Darby Berhad : Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) plants 18,500 trees in Raja Musa Forest Reserve

Bestari Jaya, 28 March 2017 - Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) has planted 18,500 tree saplings on 20ha of degraded peat swamp area in the Raja Musa Forest Reserve in an effort to reduce risks of forest fires that have occurred in the area almost annually since 1992, especially during the dry season.

Located next to Sime Darby Plantation's Tennamaram estate, the total replanted area is equivalent to the size of 24 football fields.

This effort aims to ultimately reduce greenhouse gas emissions, prevent peat land fire as well as haze.

Furthermore, the planting of tree saplings will promote the natural regeneration of approximately an additional 30ha of degraded site, with the control and management of water levels in the area.

YSD's initiative, in collaboration with The Global Environment Centre (GEC), the Selangor Forestry Department (SFD) and Friends of North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest (FNSPSF) - involves a three-year commitment of RM1 million which began in January 2014.

YSD Chief Executive Officer Puan Hajjah Yatela Zainal Abidin said the project involved the planting of Tenggek Burung (Melicope lunu-ankenda) saplings, which are indigenous to peat swamp areas and was completed in the fourth quarter of 2016.

She said the water management strategy for the 20ha area will be finalised by the first quarter of 2017.

'YSD is working with Sime Darby Plantation to restore the water table in the area by partnering with local communities to create and manage water canals.

'The water canals are important to maintain the water levels of the peat swamp, allowing it to act as a carbon sink and protect the habitat for precious wildlife,' she said.

The area has been highly susceptible to forest fires due to illegal encroachment in the forest reserve for agricultural activities and unsustainable logging practices.

This rehabilitation initiative will serve as a link to the ASEAN Peatland Management Strategy, which was developed in 2003 to tackle transboundary haze pollution in the Southeast Asian region caused by fires in peat areas. It will also support the implementation of the Malaysian National Action Plan on Peatlands adopted by the Malaysian government in early 2011.