Sarawak Energy’s ambition to plant and protect 500,000 trees up to 2030 through partnership programs and initiatives progressed further when Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Sarawak Campus (UPMKB) worked with the energy developer and electricity provider to plant a total of 700 saplings of five (5) indigenous species at the university’s campus area.

The greening program, called "Leaf Life 1.0", was organised in conjunction with Sarawak Energy’s Corporate Level Integrated 10-year Tree Planting, Protection, and Habitat Restoration Campaign 2021 - 2030 on 17 March 2023 at Nirwana Forest, UPMKB.

Over 130 Sarawak Energy, Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) Bintulu, Bintulu Development Authority (BDA), and UPMKB employees and students gathered at the site to plant the 700 saplings from the Kapur (Dryobalanops beccarii), Meranti Tembaga (Shorea leprosula), Meranti Batu (Shore dasphylla), Meranti Bulu (Shorea pilosa) and Kawang Burung (Shorea mecistopteryx) species, listed as Least Concern on Malaysia’s Red List and Near Threatened on the Red List of Endangered Species by IUCN.

The Dean of Faculty of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, UPMKB, Dr. Zamri Bin Rosli stated that this program is a strategic collaboration between UPMKB and Sarawak Energy.

“In line with the 100 million Tree-Planting Campaign 2021-2025 by the Malaysian Government, we took a strategic approach to mitigate the impact of pollution through a nature-based solution at source,” he said.

“It also provides benefits such as helping in the carbon sequestration process via absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, helping to mitigate the effects of climate change. Tree planting also provides habitat for wildlife through habitat restoration and contributes to the preservation of ecosystems on a long-term basis. In addition, exposure to trees and nature has been shown to have positive effects on mental health and well-being. Trees enhance the landscape’s beauty and provide outdoor recreation and relaxation opportunities for aesthetic and recreational benefits. In general, tree planting is an important tool for promoting environmental sustainability, improving human health and well-being, and supporting sustainable development,” he continued.

Inter-party collaborations between government and industrial agencies in tree planting programs are vital as part of corporate commitment towards sustainable development, environmental stability, and biodiversity conservation. Mitigation programmes such as reducing carbon footprint or reducing the operational impact on local ecosystems through supporting tree planting programmes are important to create public-private partnerships that leverage the strengths and resources of each partner to achieve common goals.

The program also aims to foster environmental awareness among participants to appreciate the forest ecosystem that is rich in flora and fauna biodiversity. UPMKB also expressed its deepest appreciation to Sarawak Energy which has fully funded this program.

Sarawak Energy General Manager for Health, Safety & Environment, Ir. Robin Tigai in his speech said that the Corporate Level Integrated 10-Year Tree Planting, Protection, and Habitat Restoration Campaign was launched in 2021.

“We aspire to plant and protect 500,000 trees by 2030 in line with the Greening Sarawak Campaign to plant 100 million trees by 2025. In 2022, Sarawak Energy planted and protected 52,897 trees in various parts of Sarawak with various strategic partners and collaborators,” he said.

He explained that the initiative is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals No. 13 Climate Action and Goal No. 15 Life on Land towards net-zero goals.

Other Sarawak Energy personnel present during the event were Mr. Jabu anak Ngumbang, Regional Manager for Bintulu Regional Office; Ts. Julaidi Bin Rasidi, Senior Manager for Environmental Impact Assessment; and Ts. Mahmood Bin Long, Senior Manager for Environment. The program was coordinated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Geoffery James Gerusu of UPMKB together with Sarawak Energy.

Present during the event were (from left) Ts. Mahmood Bin Long, Sarawak Energy Senior Manager for Environment; Dr. Zamri Bin Rosli, Dean of Faculty of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, UPMKB; Ir. Robin Tigai, Sarawak Energy General Manager for Health, Safety & Environment; Jabu anak Ngumbang, Sarawak Energy Regional Manager for Bintulu Regional Office; Ts. Julaidi Bin Rasidi, Sarawak Energy Senior Manager for Environmental Impact Assessment

The inauguration of the greening program led by Ir. Robin Tigai

Greening Programme "Leaf Life 1.0" participants during the event

The participants were enthusiastic and actively planted tree saplings during this Greening Programme “Leaf Life 1.0” event

Date of Input: 28/03/2023 | Updated: 30/03/2023 | lanz