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.

(left to right) Hulu Selangor District Forestry Officer En Syed Mohd Adzha Syed Mohd Khalid, Sime Darby Plantation Central East Region Chief Executive Officer En Mohd Azlan Shah Mohd Zain, Yayasan Sime Darby Education and Community & Health Projects Head Muzdalifah Mohd Nasir, Sime Darby Plantation Sustainability and Quality Management Head Mr Tang Men Kon, Yayasan Sime Darby Chief Executive Officer Puan Hajjah Yatela Zainal Abidin, Global Environment Centre Director Mr Faizal Parish, New Britain Palm Oil Limited Chairman Dato’ Henry Barlow and Bukit Talang Estate Manager Ahmad Zairil Zainal at the tree planting site in the Raja Musa Forest Reserve. 

Yayasan Sime Darby Chief Executive Officer Puan Hajjah Yatela Zainal Abidin plants a tenggek burung sapling in the Raja Musa Forest Reserve during a visit to the area yesterday.

A student from Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil Ladang Raja Musa plants a tenggek burung sapling in the Raja Musa Forest Reserve yesterday. A total of 63 students and 11 teachers from the school planted the saplings alongside 106 representatives of Yayasan Sime Darby, Sime Darby Plantation, the Global Environment Centre, Selangor State Forestry Department and the Friends of North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest. 

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.

About Yayasan Sime Darby 
Yayasan Sime Darby, or Sime Darby Foundation, was established in 1982 and is the primary driver of Sime Darby Berhad’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives. 

The objectives of Yayasan Sime Darby are supported by its five pillars, namely: education; environment; community & health; youth & sports; arts & culture. While led by independent members of a Governing Council and managed by a dedicated team, Yayasan Sime Darby works closely with the Sime Darby Group, in areas of mutual interest. 

Since its inception, Yayasan Sime Darby has awarded scholarships worth RM253 million to 3,357 students both in and outside Malaysia. It is supporting long term research projects of significant scientific value like the Stability of Altered Forest Ecosystems (SAFE) project which is the world’s largest ecological project, and the Reforestation and Rehabilitation of Orang Utan Habitats in Northern Ulu Segama. 

Yayasan Sime Darby is also actively involved in the development and improvement of sports in Malaysia namely track cycling, cricket, sailing and golf. Under its community & health pillar, Yayasan Sime Darby supports initiatives to promote the well-being of disadvantaged people irrespective of race, culture, religion, creed or gender and works with established organisations to promote the development of arts & culture. 

For further information, please contact:

Meena Lakshana
Senior Executive, Public Relations
Yayasan Sime Darby 
Tel:  03-2691 4122 Ext 7614, 013-256 7160 (HP)
Email: meena.lakshana@simedarby.com