AT THE STANDARD CHARTERED’S TREE PLANTING CERENOMY
ON 29 OCTOBER 2010 (FRIDAY), 8.30 AM
Today’s event, is part of a tree planting drive called Green Fingers Program launched by the Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia in May, earlier this year. Its objective is to raise environment. Through this program, Standard Charted has pledge to plant 11,00 tress across Malaysia. This is of course very much in line with our 26 Million Tree Planting Campaign launched by my ministry on 22 April 2010.
The Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment (NRE) certainly appreciates the initiative and efforts taken by the Standard Chartered Bank in this endeavor reasons:
i. firstly, it is directly linked to efforts in addressing the issue of climate change, which has been identified as one of the greatest challenges facing mankind today; and
ii. secondly, it reflects the growing involvement of businesses and industries through their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in addressing environmental issue.
I would like to thank and congratulate the organizer for their great efforts in organizing this important and beneficial activity. It is my fervent hope that many more corporations would emulate the Standard Chartered Bank in co-operating with us and including the “environment” as part of their CSR programs.
When the federal government launched the 26 million trees planting campaign, our aim is that by 2010, about 3,000 hectares area of degraded forest, logged-over forest as well as coastal areas has and will be planted with indigenous tress species, with a total sequestration of 3 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) per hectar, per year.
To ensure its success and survival, the tree will be planted by phase. It will then be monitored closely by relevant believe a total of 20,000 tonnes of CO2 will be sequestrated which is in line with Malaysia’s pledge to reduce emissions intensity of up to 40% by the year 2020 compared as pledged by our Prime Minister at the United nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Copenhagen in last year.
We are proud that currently about 56.4 % of our land area is still covered by forests. This is achieved by our continued commitment to the policy of sustainable forest management. However, in face of the global warming phenomenon, we also believe that any action to increase the coverage of forested area and greenery such as tree planting is still the most relevant method to offset carbon footprint and in mitigating climate change as forests are important carbon sinks.
Forests play a crucial role in regulating water supplies, help minimize both water shortages in times of drought and in the rainy seasons, damaging floods. They also reduce soil erosion, thereby conserving soil quality upstream and water quality downstream.
About two months ago, after I had launched a tree planting event Standard Chartered Bank in Kuala Lumpur, I had suggested to Mr. Osman Morad, that he should organize a similar event in Sabah. He told me that they have made good on their word and as a result, 1,000 trees would be planted here in the Kebun Cina Forest Reserve in Sandakan, Sabah.
Today, we will be planting 1,000 trees in this area which was specifically chosen because it is nearby the town. It is hoped that this easy accessibility would encourage the townspeople of Sandakan to enjoy and appreciate the biodiversity in the area. It will also enhance awareness amongst the public to take of the environment, encourage them to plant more trees and generally help green the earth.
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