TWO grassroots organisations from Selangor and Perak have each received RM20,000 to carry out community-based environmental projects under a new initiative by the Global Environment Centre (GEC).
The initiative, known as the Zainudin Ismail GEC Community Impact Grant (ZIGCIG), was launched in April this year to support local groups involved in environmental restoration and sustainable resource management.
The recipients are Pertubuhan Sahabat Hutan Bakau Kampung Dato’ Hormat (SHBKDH) from Sabak Bernam in Selangor and the Sungai Terap Rukun Tetangga (STRT) from Batu Gajah, Perak.
GEC said the two groups were selected from among 21 proposals from Malaysia and Indonesia, following a detailed evaluation by the centre’s secretariat and advisory committee.
SHBKDH will use the funds to restore degraded mangrove areas by planting 1,000 mangrove trees and conducting awareness programmes with local communities to tackle coastal and riverbank erosion.
Meanwhile, STRT plans to adopt and enhance a section of the Sungai Terap riverbank through cleanup and beautification activities, a community garden project, composting, recycling and river monitoring efforts.
ZIGCIG advisory committee chairman Datuk Lim Chow Hock said the grant was designed to help active community groups start or expand their local environmental initiatives.
“The two selected projects focus on mangrove and river ecosystems, both vital for sustaining people and nature,” he said.
“Mangroves act as a natural coastal buffer and provide breeding grounds for marine life, while rivers supply water, food and livelihoods.”
The award presentation took place during a ceremony held in conjunction with World Rivers Day at the Drainage and Irrigation Department’s (DID) Sungai Penchala information centre in Petaling Jaya.
The event, attended by more than 30 participants including GEC board and advisory members, marked the official launch of the first cycle of the grant.
GEC chairman Datuk Halimah Hassan said the programme also paid tribute to the organisation’s founding chairman, the late Zainudin Ismail who led GEC for 25 years until his passing in December 2023.
“This grant not only honours his legacy but also reaffirms our commitment to empowering local communities to care for their environment,” said Halimah.
