Malaysia will have 100 million more trees planted across its lands between 2021 and 2025 to increase the country’s tree cover and preserve its forest areas and rich biodiversity.
As we celebrate the International Day of Forests, which has taken place annually on March 21 since it was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012, various countries commemorate the day in different ways.
Aimed at raising awareness on the importance of all types of forests, the International Day of Forests is an important part of the Malaysian timber and forestry agencies’ role to educate and undertake efforts to organise activities involving forests and trees, such as tree planting campaigns.
One such agency doing so is the Malaysian Timber Council (MTC), which has pledged RM100,000 to the National 100 Million Tree Planting Programme.
The campaign, initiated by Yayasan Hijau Malaysia, has a target to plant 100 million trees across the nation between 2021 and 2025, in an effort to increase the country’s tree cover and preserve its forest areas and rich biodiversity.
Led by the Energy and Natural Resources Ministry with the cooperation of the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia, as well as state forestry departments and various agencies, it entails efforts to mobilise society to join the government to plant trees to achieve the target.
The campaign - themed Greening Malaysia: Our Trees, Our Life - will be carried out through the Penghijauan Malaysia app and www.100jutapokok.gov.my website.
This commitment by MTC is being undertaken to expand awareness on the importance of conserving trees and forested areas, in line with Malaysia’s pledge at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio De Janeiro to retain at least 50% of the land size of the country under forest cover.
While the country has done well so far by retaining 55.3% of its total land area under forest cover, MTC believes that it remains important to continue such efforts in perpetuity and involving also private sector organisations..
This campaign is also part and parcel of MTC’s seven must-wins for 2021 to spur sustainable green initiatives, specifically aimed at raising awareness on the importance of forests, especially in tackling climate change.
