Perak exceeds national target by planting 7.88 mil trees

Perak has surpassed the federal government’s target for tree planting under the 100 Million Tree-Planting Campaign 2021-2025, planting a staggering 7.88 million trees to date.

This achievement comes just three years into the five-year initiative.

Perak leads the way in reforestation efforts

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad praised the state’s accomplishment, highlighting their initial goal of planting two million trees annually.

“This does not include the additional 10,000 trees planted today by Aeon Credit Service (M) Berhad (Aeon Credit),” he remarked during the launch of the Aeon Credit Biodiversity Afforestation Project at Kinta Nature Park.

Saarani expressed confidence in achieving the national target of 100 million trees, emphasising the importance of collaboration between various stakeholders.

“We believe with the cooperation of various parties, we can achieve this target,” he said.

The Perak government remains committed to safeguarding its natural resources.

Saarani emphasised increased enforcement efforts within permanent forest reserves to ensure biodiversity preservation and prevent encroachment.

The importance of these measures was recently underscored when eight individuals were fined for entering a protected area without proper authorisation.

Aeon Credit partners for biodiversity restoration

Aeon Credit, a leading financial services provider, actively participated in the reforestation efforts.

Daisuke Maeda, Aeon Credit’s managing director, spoke at the event, highlighting their commitment to environmental sustainability.

“Today’s programme is a strategic collaboration to restore biodiversity in Kinta Nature Park,” he declared.

The collaborative project, undertaken in partnership with Perak State Parks Corporation (PSPC) and FRIM Incorporated Sdn Bhd, aims to replant 10,000 trees by September.

These trees will include local species, those listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, and fruit trees.

“This remarkable collaborative effort marks the beginning of a transformative journey,” Maeda stated.

The project not only aims to enhance the park’s biodiversity but also contributes to climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration.

Notably, Aeon Credit will ensure the long-term health of the planted trees by maintaining them for a period of three years.

After this period, the responsibility will be transferred to PSPC, which envisions developing the area into a thriving eco-tourism destination.

The launch event saw the participation of 600 volunteers, including government officials, university students, and staff from Aeon Malaysia.

Together, they planted 2,000 trees in the park’s conservation area, marking a significant step towards a greener future for Kinta Nature Park and Malaysia as a whole.