KUCHING: Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) has launched its ‘Adopt a Tree’ initiative as part of efforts to support biodiversity and habitat restoration ahead of the upcoming Sustainability & Renewable Energy Forum (SAREF) 4.0.
Scheduled for September 3 to 4 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK), SAREF 4.0 carries the theme ‘Partnerships for Our Goals – Sustainable Growth & Prosperity for the Region’.
The “Adopt a Tree” initiative was officially launched on July 10 during a tree-planting programme at the Samunsam Wildlife Sanctuary, organised in partnership with Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC).
“This initiative exemplifies SAREF’s commitment to translating dialogue into tangible environmental outcomes that benefit Sarawak’s rich biodiversity and contribute to the region’s sustainable future.
“Under the programme, each registered SAREF 4.0 delegate will receive an e-certificate representing one tree adopted at the sanctuary.
“The initiative aims to contribute meaningfully to reforestation and support broader biodiversity efforts aligned with the objectives of the forum,” SEB said in a statement on Wednesday.
SEB’s Senior Vice-President for Corporate Services, Siti Aisah Adenan, said that this initiative strengthens the conference’s impact, enabling attendees to make a lasting impact by contributing directly to habitat restoration and biodiversity conservation in Sarawak.
“As a corporate leader in sustainability, we have a responsibility to preserve Sarawak’s invaluable natural environment and ecosystems.
“Tree-planting is a vital nature-based solution that mitigates climate change, safeguards our watersheds, and nurtures habitats in which diverse wildlife can thrive,” she said.
For the record, the tree-planting programme involved 60 staff across various departments and units within SEB, and 30 staff from SFC who collectively planted a total of 600 trees of the ‘nyatoh ketiau’ species.
As of June 2025, SEB has planted and protected nearly 200,000 trees across Sarawak under its corporate-wide Tree-Planting, Protection and Habitat Restoration Campaign 2021-2030.
With a target of 50,000 trees for 2025, the campaign contributes towards a long-term goal of 500,000 trees by 2030.
The initiative supports SEB’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Goal 13 (Climate Action) and Goal 15 (Life on Land).
Although the ‘Greening Sarawak’ campaign has already surpassed its goal of planting 35 million trees ahead of the 2025 target, SEB continues to contribute actively to the national ‘Greening Malaysia’ programme, which aims to plant and protect 100 million trees by 2025.
Present at the event from SFC were Deputy Controller of Wildlife, Madhan Kiplie, and Head of Biodiversity Conservation Research (BCR) Division, James Bali.
SEB’s delegation included Vice-President for Corporate Shared Services, Peing Tajang; General Manager for Corporate Communication, Elaine Tan, and Sustainability and Environmental Consultant, Dr Asleena Helmi.
