UPM, Mitsubishi Corp plant 3,100 seedlings
BINTULU: Universiti Putra Malaysia ( UPM) and Mitsubishi Corporation conducted the 27th tree-planting ceremony at Tropical Rehabilitation Project site ( phase 4) of UPM Bintulu campus here recently.
About 3,100 seedlings from local species namely Medang Engkala ( Litsea garciae), Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum), Pulasan ( Nephelium mutabile), Belian ( Eusideroxylon zwageri) and Medang Pawas (Litsea ellipticum) were planted.
More that 350 participants from Mitsubishi Corporation, representatives from the government and private sectors, and university staff and students were involved in the annual event, which was officiated at by UPM vice chancellor Professor Datin Paduka Dato’ Dr Aini Ideris.
Mitsubishi Corporation deputy general managers ( Corporate Sustainability Department) Yutaka Uno, Shigeru Nakahira and Yee Tham Wah were also present.
The objectives are to rehabilitate the tropical forest, and create awareness on the importance of the environment and forest sustainability.
Aini said the long-term cooperation between UPM and Mitsubishi Corporation is still going strong on since the project started 27 years ago.
“This is a reflection of our high commitment in restoring the degraded tropical forest,” she said, adding that the ceremony was also held in line with the International Day of Forests with the theme ‘Forest and Sustainable Cities’.
Yutaka Uno meanwhile reiterated their commitment to the project.
“Mitsubishi Corporation has seven materiality to tackle Sustainable Development Goals ( SGDs) set by United Nations in 2015, and one of them is transitioning to a low carbon society.”
He said this planting activity is in line with the goal, and they are proud for being able to contribute to the SDGs through this project, which is led by Prof Dato’ Dr Nik Muhamad Majid on behalf of UPM and Prof Dr Akira Miyawaki representing Mitsubishi Corporation.
Since its inception in 1991, a total of 511,100 seedlings from over 130 local species have been planted at the Bintulu campus.
This is a reflection of our high commitment in restoring the degraded tropical forest. Professor Datin Paduka Dato’ Dr Aini Ideris, UPM vice chancellor