RAUB: The Pahang state government has reiterated its commitment to the preservation and rehabilitation of forests within the state.
Pahang Media, in a report on Jan 29, said that Chief Minister Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, during the inauguration of the project at the Tersang Permanent Forest Reserve, had emphasised the government's dedication to maintaining and enhancing forest areas, crucial for ecological balance and as a response to climate change challenges.
"This reforestation project is crucial as it aims to ensure that the conservation and restoration of forests in Pahang are intensified and enhanced continually. The Pahang state government is deeply committed to the conservation and restoration of forests, particularly for preserving the state's forested areas.
"This is an initiative of the state government towards greening, where these forests will be conserved and rehabilitated in alignment with the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) concept," he said.
The reforestation project was initiated in 2000 and covers an area of 404.69 hectares and includes previously deforested or eroded areas identified by the Pahang State Forestry Department. As of 2023, the project's coverage has expanded to 34,342.22 hectares. The state government, through its Executive Council Meeting in 2022, approved the continuation of the project to Amat Bayu Sdn Bhd.
Amat Bayu Sdn Bhd director Datuk Ahmad Najmi outlined the company's ambitious plan to plant 180 million trees over the next 60 years, adhering to international environmental and social standards.
The company aims to obtain the PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) and has set a goal to plant 5 million trees annually, a feat recognised by the Malaysia Book of Records.