PAPAR: PETRONAS, in collaboration with Sabah Forestry Department (SFD), embarked on a forest conservation programme, Sayang Hutan 2018, planting 1,000 trees at the Kawang Forest Reserve here recently.
The 1,551-hectare forest reserve at Kampung Tanaki, 23km from Papar town, is a popular spot among jungle trekkers and campers.
The one-day programme saw the participation of about 150 people, including representatives from PETRONAS, SFD, state authorities and the local community who worked together in a gotong royong to plant the trees, including timber species such as Kapur Paji, Gagil and Seraya Majau.
General Manager of PETRONAS Sabah and Labuan, Rokiah Sulaiman said Sayang Hutan 2018, is part of PETRONAS’ initiative to create awareness on environmental management and conservation, in line with its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
“The programme is a continuation of our previous collaboration with the SFD under a programme called Sayang Bakau, where we planted 2,000 mangrove seedlings in 2015 and 2017, to rehabilitate a mangrove forest area in Tuaran.”
The Sayang Hutan programme continues next year at a site to be identified later by the SFD.
Environment is one of three pillars of PETRONAS’ CSR programmes. One of the key projects undertaken by PETRONAS in Sabah under the environment pillar of CSR, is the conservation of Imbak Canyon — a 27,599-hectare of pristine rainforest in the heart of Sabah, in partnership with Yayasan Sabah Group.
