Straits Energy Resources Berhad, a Bursa Malaysia-listed company, announced today that its subsidiary, Benua Hijau Sdn Bhd (“Benua Hijau), had on 10 December 2023 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Management Council Of Terengganu State Parks (“MPTN”) and the Setiu Land Office, two bodies under the jurisdiction of the Terengganu State Government, for a multi-year reforestation project to restore degraded forest areas in the Setiu Wetlands State Park, one of the largest natural wetland in the East Coast region of Peninsular Malaysia.
Dato’ Sri Ron Ho Kam Choy, Managing Director of Straits Energy Resources Berhad, said:
“Firstly, I would like to thank Yayasan DiRaja Sultan Mizan for opening the door for this ESG collaboration with MPTN, to kick-start this project. We are thrilled to sign this MoU with MPTN and the Setiu Land Office for this large-scale reforestation project that will be spearheaded by our CSR and ESG-focused subsidiary, Benua Hijau.
This ESG initiative involves taking important action on the ground, which will give us a high level of involvement and visibility into our projects and help us ensure we make a quantifiable positive impact. In line with this, Benua Hijau will be involved in physical ground work at Setiu Wetlands, releasing MPTN’s resources that can now be deployed to other important areas.
From Left：
1. Setiu Land Office Chief Assistant Land Administrator Encik Zul Izhar Bin Mohd Zulkifli
2. Setiu Land Office Land Administrator Encik Ahmad Rizal Bin Mamat
3. Terengganu State Secretary and Terengganu State Parks Chairman of Management Council YBM Tengku Seri Bijaya Raja
4. Sultan of Terengganu KDYMM Al-Wathiqu Billah Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Ibni Almarhum Sultan Mahmud Al – Muktafi Billah Shah
5. Menteri Besar of Terengganu YAB Dato’ Seri Dr. Ahmad Samsuri Bin Mokhtar
6. Benua Hijau Sdn Bhd Chairman YAM Dato’ Seri Tengku Baharuddin Ibni Sultan Mahmud Al- Muktafi Billah Shah
7. Terengganu State Park Management Council Director YM Tengku Mohd Arifin Bin Tengku Dato’ A. Rahman
8. Board of Trustee Yayasan DiRaja Sultan Mizan Dato’ Haji Azizulrahim Bin Ahmad Zambri
We view this project as a critical step towards not only restoring the natural beauty of the Setiu Wetlands, but also contributing to the global fight against climate change. In addition
the reforestation of Tasik Berombak will unlock valuable economic opportunities, through the production of sustainable forest resources, ecotourism, and a local cottage industry. This, in turn, will create job opportunities for locals from the surrounding community.
We would like to thank MPTN and the Setiu Land Office for this opportunity to make a meaningful impact, which aligns with our long-term values and commitment to building an environmentally, economically and socially sustainable business. We look forward to making this a truly win-win collaboration.”
Benua Hijau, a 51%-owned unit of Straits, is focused on ¬the development and execution of environmental and social sustainability initiatives.
As part of this reforestation project, Benua Hijau plans to plant 100,000 Pokok Gelam (melaleuca) trees across a land area of 200 acres, the equivalent of 113 soccer fields. The reforestation activities, which will take place over five years, will be focused on a designated area surrounding Tasik Berombak within Setiu Wetlands. Tasik Berombak is one of the largest freshwater lakes and Gelam ecosystems in Malaysia’s East Coast region.
Benua Hijau will coordinate activities across this designated area, including the physical planting of the trees and community engagement activities. Benua Hijau will also invest in the setting up of a dedicated nursery and research center to prepare Gelam saplings and study the Gelam ecosystem and value chain. lings and study the Gelam ecosystem and value chain.
Source: Straits Energy Resources Berhad