KUALA LUMPUR: UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd (UMWT) and UMW Holdings Bhd (UMW) has planted close to 40,000 trees to date to reach their goal of planting 300,000 over the next two years.
In a statement, the company said 50 per cent of the planted trees are mangrove trees and this is towards their commitment to offset carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions while realising their zero carbon goals.
Director of customer first group Faraed Mohd Sharif said the company's initiatives contribute to climate resilience while cementing Toyota's global commitment towards achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 through activities that offset CO2 emissions.
"We have also integrated the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as part of our operations as a guideline to help us reach carbon neutrality.
"Moving forward, we are focused on providing 'Mobility For All', by supporting the creation of more independent, safe and eco-friendly mobility solutions in line with Toyota's local mass manufacturing plans towards a 'Clean, Safe and Secure Society"," he said during a tree planting programme hosted by the Malaysian Nature Society at the Kuala Selangor Nature Park.
The programme is part of UMW's Green Shoots Initiative (UGS) in conjunction with the National 100 million Tree-Planting Campaign 2020-2025 which carried the theme 'Greening Malaysia: Our Trees, Our Life.'
The event was led by Faraed together with UMWT management, UMW CSR team, UMWT staff and students from Politeknik Sultan Idris Shah, Sungai Lang.
Together, they planted 1,500 mangrove saplings of the Bakau Kurap or Rhizophora Mucronata species within the mangrove swamp forest.
The 80 participants were taken on an ecology walk through parts of the 296-hectare wide Kuala Selangor Nature Park to learn about the importance of mangroves to the environment and coastal communities.
They were also exposed to a seedling and germination demonstration, while learning about the four families of mangroves and 13 different species of mangrove trees.
"UMW Toyota Motor will continue our active participation with sustainable tree planting activities in two more locations this year as part of the UMW Green Shoots Initiative to inspire more environmental conservation and restoration works within communities as we take steps toward investing in nature-based solutions for carbon sequestration," added Faraed.