SD Guthrie hosts university students participating in Coastal Flooding Adaptation and Resilience (COFAR) Challenge in Carey Island, Selangor
CAREY ISLAND came abuzz as 38 university teams from across Malaysia converged to compete in the Coastal Flooding Adaptation and Resilience (COFAR) Challenge, organised by the Securities Commission Malaysia together with ICAEW Malaysia and SEADPRI-UKM.
SD Guthrie Berhad (Guthrie), in its role as the technical partner for the COFAR Challenge, hosted the site visit in Carey Island, Banting, on Sept 11, which allowed participants to learn firsthand about coastal vulnerability, environmental adaptation and resilience strategies — all set against the vivid backdrop of one of Malaysia’s most ecologically significant plantation areas.
Carey Island, with its 1,441 hectares of mangrove forests, 55-hectare biodiversity park and robust water-management system (including bunds and subsurface water monitoring), provided the participants a living case study in the urgent challenges and opportunities of coastal adaptation.
The COFAR Challenge aims to engage undergraduates in designing real-world solutions for coastal flooding, adaptation and resilience. The challenge, running from August to November 2025, offers students the chance to win up to RM50,000 by developing proposals that tackle Malaysia’s growing exposure to coastal flooding.
“Guthrie is honoured to provide a real-world testbed for solutions that can strengthen climate resilience not only here in Carey Island, but potentially other vulnerable coastal areas around the nation.
“Collaboration is key to building a sustainable future, and we are excited to be part of an initiative that allows young minds to contribute to practicable solutions of our current and future challenges,” said Guthrie chief innovation and research officer Dr David Ross Appleton who is also one of the panel judges in the competition.
Guthrie chief innovation and research officer Dr David Ross Appleton.
During the COFAR Challenge Webinar held in August, students had their first look at Malaysia’s climate adaptation needs and learned how finance and innovation can be mobilised through platforms like COFAR.
Thereafter, the Challenge progresses through a series of stages, starting with the first site visit to Carey Island to reinforce their understanding of the coastal challenges, followed by checkpoints to refine their proposals. The teams will then submit a detailed proposal and video pitch in October.
Finalists are shortlisted to present their solutions at the ICAEW-ASEAN Sustainability Summit in November before the winners are announced at the ASEAN Capital Markets Forum (ACMF) International Conference 2025.
Appleton further remarked that hosting the COFAR Challenge underscores Guthrie’s commitment to sustainable development and climate resilience. The company’s experience in water management, biodiversity conservation, and stewardship over Carey Island’s ecosystems aligns closely with COFAR’s aspirations.
“Carey Island is an example of how nature, engineering and community stewardship can work together to protect against climate risks.
“For Guthrie, the COFAR University Challenge represents more than just a competition. It reaffirms Carey Island’s role as a living laboratory for climate adaptation, where nature, innovation and collaboration converge to shape solutions for one of the most critical challenges facing us today.
“We also hope this competition will inspire future thought leaders and practitioners who can continue the fight for our planet, coastlines and ecosystems into the future,” he added.
As the competition advances to the next stage, one message is clear: confronting climate change demands bold ideas, cross-sector collaboration and solutions grounded in real-world environments like Carey Island.
The eventual winners will not only celebrate their success but, more importantly, help shape Malaysia’s coastal adaptation roadmap at a time when rising seas and shifting weather patterns call for urgent action.
FUN FACTS:
> Carey Island sits 2 metres below sea level during high tide.
> 120km of earth bunds (2 – 4 metres high) around long stretches of the island keep seawater out. These bunds are monitored around the clock and maintained by SD Guthrie.
> Mangroves are Carey Island’s first line of defence against coastal erosion and flooding. Their tangled roots slow down surging waves, trap sediment and keep soil stable to stop erosion from eating away at the coastline.
> The 1,441 hectares of mangrove forests on Carey Island is home to over 40 mangrove species. These include the rare Nyireh Batu mangroves, used by the Mah Meri – an indigenous community living on the island – to hand carve their exquisite crafts.
> Carey Island is also home to 65 species of resident and migratory birds, and more than 180 tree species that are considered rare, threatened and endangered.
