PM plants first of 100 million trees

Branching out: Muhyiddin launching the 100 million tree-planting campaign in the grounds of Seri Perdana, his official residence in Putrajaya. — Bernama

PUTRAJAYA: The start of an ambitious plan to plant 100 million trees marks another step towards Greening Malaysia, which is among the national agendas for addressing climate change and improving the quality of life of the people.

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin planted a merbau tree in the grounds of Seri Perdana, the Prime Minister’s official residence yesterday to kick off the 100 million tree-planting campaign 2020-2025.

“To all Malaysians, let’s come together to ensure the success of the Greening Malaysia agenda by planting 100 million trees across the country by 2025, ” he said when launching the campaign, as well as its mobile app and website www.100jutapokok.gov.my

Muhyiddin said through the campaign, the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia (JPSM) estimated an increase of 20,000 to 80,000 trees in preserved forest areas by 2025.

“The campaign is expected to contribute to the absorption of carbon by plants by between 30 million tonnes in urban areas and 85 million tonnes in the forest and other areas a year, ” he added.

The Prime Minister said it was also aimed at protecting the country’s natural resources in all socio-economic development activities and maintaining the global recognition of Malaysia as one of the 12 megadiverse countries.

Malaysia is among 17 countries identified as the most biodiversity-rich countries of the world or megadiverse countries, with a particular focus on endemic biodiversity.

So far, Muhyiddin said Malaysia had managed to record forest cover of 55.3% in line with the pledge made at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit to maintain at least 50% of the country’s landmass under forest cover.

The campaign was also launched simultaneously at the state level with the theme “Greening Malaysia: Our Trees, Our Life”.

The campaign is organised by the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry with cooperation from JPSM, state forest departments, Forest Research Institute of Malaysia and state governments.

In GEORGE TOWN, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow held a simple ceremony to support this special initiative by planting the 16th Merbau tree at the Penang Botanical Gardens in Jalan Kebun Bunga.

“The national programme is targeted to be achieved within five years, while at the state level, our target of planting 100,000 trees is from 2018 to 2023 in line with Penang2030, towards a family focused green and smart state, ” he said.

In KOTA KINABALU, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said Sabah plans to plant at least 36 million trees across the state within the next five years.

He added the initiative was part of the state-level campaign to plant 100 million trees under various categories by 2025.

It involves forest restoration, forest plantations, rubber plantation as well fruit trees under the plan to ensure Sabah’s forests reserves are conserved and maintained.

Hajiji said this at the state level launch of the “Malaysia Greening Programme – 100 million Tree Cultivation Campaign” held at the grounds of the Sabah State Administrative Complex here.

The campaign which started in 2010 involved degraded forest reserves that were previously logged or damaged by floods or fires.