KUCHING: A total of 1,050 Bakau Kurap (Rhizophora mucronata) mangrove trees were planted at the Sarawak Mangrove Forest Reserve in Kampung Telaga Air today.
Forest Department Sarawak (FDS) Director, Datuk Hamden Mohamad, said the initiative formed part of continued efforts to strengthen forest restoration and environmental sustainability in the state.
He said environmental sustainability remains one of the key pillars under the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, which includes restoration programmes, forest replanting, tree-planting initiatives and the Greening Sarawak Campaign to support balanced development.
“These initiatives are aimed at balancing Sarawak’s rapid development with environmental sustainability.
“Hence, we are not just planting trees, we are planting life. More importantly, we are planting oxygen and what we are doing today is an effort to produce oxygen for the future,” he said.
He said in his speech when officiating the Perodua Mangrove Tree Planting Programme 2026, organised in collaboration with the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS), at the Sarawak Mangrove Forest Reserve in Kampung Telaga Air here today.
Hamden added that Sarawak has set a target of planting 50 million trees under Greening Programme 2.0 from 2026 to 2030 in line with the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), including continued mangrove restoration efforts.
He said the state’s new target builds on Sarawak’s strong performance under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) and the National 100 Million Tree Planting Campaign from 2021 to 2025.
Under the campaign, he said Sarawak had accepted responsibility for planting 35 million trees which is equivalent to 35 per cent of the national target.
“Sarawak took on the challenge of planting 35 million trees within five years. Alhamdulillah, we exceeded the target and successfully planted 55 million trees instead of 35 million and this effort will continue,” he said.
He attributed the achievement to broad public participation and support from private companies, educational institutions and local communities.
Hamden also expressed appreciation to the MNS, Perodua, the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) of Kampung Telaga Air and all parties involved in ensuring the success of the programme.
He said the FDS welcomed Perodua’s involvement in conducting its first mangrove tree-planting initiative in Sarawak through collaboration with MNS, noting that the company has been actively supporting environmental conservation through similar programmes nationwide.
“I hope today’s programme will mark the beginning of more strategic partnerships in conserving and restoring forest ecosystems across the state,” he said.
Meanwhile, Perodua Auto Corporation Sdn Bhd’s Executive Director, Abdul Hayy Ismail, said a total of 70 volunteers participated in the programme, comprising Perodua employees from Sarawak, staff from Perodua headquarters, and members of the local community.
He said the programme reflected Perodua’s continued commitment to environmental conservation through its corporate social responsibility initiatives while strengthening engagement with local communities.
