Some of participants undertake tree planting at a plot of Sabal Forest Reserve.
KUCHING (March 21): The Forest Department Sarawak (FDS) is making an official attempt to enter the Malaysia Book of Records by planting 5,000 trees from 60 different Shorea species at the Sabal Forest Reserve.
The initiative, held in conjunction with the International Day of Forests, reflects Sarawak’s commitment to environmental conservation and global reforestation efforts.
“This remarkable achievement is also an official attempt to set a new record for ‘Most variety of Shorea tree species planting in an event’ in the Malaysia Book of Records,” FDS said in a statement today.
The event, officiated by Director of Forests Datu Hamden Mohammad, saw an overwhelming turnout of more than 500 participants, including representatives from FDS, Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB), the Japan-Malaysia Association (JMA), and local communities.
“This initiative also aligns with the Greening Sarawak Campaign and the national Penghijauan Malaysia agenda, where Sarawak continues to lead all states with an impressive 46.3 million trees planted to date,” he said.
Shorea is a genus of tropical trees from the Dipterocarpaceae family, playing a crucial ecological, cultural, and economic role in Sarawak and Malaysia.
It is also the largest genus in the Dipterocarp family, known for its significant contribution to biodiversity and forest ecosystems.
“Today’s initiative is a testament to Sarawak’s commitment to forest conservation and biodiversity enhancement,” Hamden said.
He added that planting various Shorea species not only promotes ecological sustainability but also underscores FDS’s dedication to preserving Sarawak’s rich forest heritage and protecting this valuable tree species.
The United Nations General Assembly designated March 21 as the International Day of Forests in 2012 to celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of forests worldwide.
Countries are encouraged to organise activities such as tree planting campaigns to promote forest conservation.
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