KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has achieved an impressive milestone by planting 16.6 million trees as of last month, making a significant contribution to the nationwide initiative of planting 100 million trees.
According to Sabah's Chief Conservator of Forests, Datuk Frederick Kugan, these trees were planted by various agencies and individuals.
Kugan added that detailed information about the planting achievement is accessible directly through the "PenghijauanMalaysia" mobile app and the dedicated website www.100jutapokok.gov.my.
As of May this year, Kugan said Malaysia has planted a total of 87 million trees, bringing the nation closer to the goal set for 2025.
"With just 13 million more trees to go, the country is on track to meet its goal of planting 100 million trees by 2025.
"In Sabah, we aim to plant eight million trees annually. This campaign seeks to engage all stakeholders in collectively making the tree-planting initiative a nationwide success.
"It also aims to raise awareness about the significance of green cover and forests for enhancing well-being and quality of life, while simultaneously improving our country's ecosystem and biodiversity," he said at the launching the tree-planting project yesterday.
The programme was a joint effort with Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) at the Ulu Kukut Forest Reserve, Kota Belud in conjunction with the 100 million tree-planting campaign.
The 2021-2025 100 Million Tree-Planting Campaign was launched on January 5, 2021, with the theme '"Greening Malaysia: Our Trees, Our Life." The campaign was also held simultaneously across the country.
Kugan added that the duty of preserving and conserving flora and fauna is a collective responsibility, involving the government, the private sector and local communities.
All these groups, he said, must work together to protect and maintain the forest to reap the benefits of a well-preserved environment.
He added that the Sabah Forestry Department has been entrusted with the responsibility of managing forest areas in Sabah.
The department has received strong cooperation from various private agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in their efforts to preserve and conserve forests.
"I would like to take this opportunity to express my deepest appreciation and gratitude to the SESB for their CSR contribution of RM50,000, which will be used to replant the degraded forest areas in the Ulu Kukut Forest Reserve in Kota Belud that were affected by past forest fires.
"SESB's initiative to plant trees in the Ulu Kukut Forest Reserve would definitelyhave a positive impact, encouraging public and agency participation in tree planting and raising awareness about preserving natural resources," he said.
For today's event, they planted a Merbau tree, scientifically known as Intsia palembanica, as a symbolic gesture.
This tree, also known as Borneo teak, Moluccan ironwood and ipil, among others, was chosen as Malaysia's National Tree in 2019.
Among those present were SESB chief executive officer Mohd Yaakob Jaafar, Assistant Kota Belud district officer Sabdali Yusof representing the Kota Belud district officials and Kampung Ulu Kukut headMaicrol Elang.