KUCHING: Yayasan Petronas is committed to planting 50,000 trees as part of its environmental conservation Sentuhan Alaminitiative at 14 sites across 11 states to reduce carbon emissions by 2000 tonnes.
The initiative aims to improve the environment through biodiversity, conservation and carbon neutral programmes.
“Petronas has a long legacy of safeguarding the environment and embarking on environmental rehabilitation projects,” said chief executive officer Nelly Francis Shariah in a statement.
“The rehabilitation projects include rainforest conservation in Imbak Canyon, Sabah; marine biodiversity restoration in the Biodiversity, Environment & Conservation (Beacon) project, Sarawak; mangrove rehabilitation and the establishment of the EcoCare Centre in Kerteh, Terengganu,” she added.
“We are also working with the Ecosystem Conservation and Tourism programme of the Setiu Wetland, Terengganu, to upgrade its facilities and drive programmes aimed at eradicating poverty among the local folk who live off the biodiversity of the surrounding areas,” she explained.
Nelly also said its appointed implementation partner; Global Environment Centre (GEC), would manage the programme until August 2023.
“Its duties will include identifying and managing suitable planting ground, selecting suitable species, facilitating community nurseries, site preparation, monitoring and ensuring sustainable growth of trees planted,” she said.
GEC director Faizal Parish said community groups would receive extensive training in the proper collection and handling of seeds and wildlings, the preparation and maintenance of planting sites and others.
“Through the empowerment and skills transfer, we want to enable them to attain a more sustainable livelihood by generating income from forest management and protection to support daily lives and their family,” he said.
The includes enhanced protection from coastal erosion, increased fisheries for mangrove projects, reduced peatland fires and haze and create opportunities in recreation and ecotourism as well as protect for the community’s water sources.
“Tree planting and forest protection are among the best climate change solutions,” he said in the statement.
“The forest will help us better adapt to the consequences of climate crisis by protecting coastal areas from erosion, reduce the risk of flooding and provide a habitat for a wide variety of wildfire and other plant species,” said Faizal.
Another programme by Yayasan Petronas, Walk4Trees, aims to plant one tree for every million step completed by its employees and contribute 20,000 trees out of 50,000 targeted.
“With 20 billion steps, employees are therefore contributing 20,000 trees out of the total being planted through this initiative,” said Nelly.
This project also gives its employees a meaningful platform to positively improve their health, improve the climate and deliver positive outcomes for communities in need.
