KUCHING, Oct 12: Sarawak Energy Berhad continues to maintain and manage the Murum Flora Conservation Garden on one of the islands at the Murum Hydroelectric Plant (HEP) reservoir as part of its long-term commitment towards sustainable environmental conservation and 10-year campaign to plant and protect 500,000 trees under the corporation’s Tree Planting, Protection and Habitat Restoration Campaign 2021-2023.
Its group chief executive officer (CEO) Datu Sharbini Suhaili visited the island on a walkabout accompanied by SEB Power chief executive officer Ir Bunyak Lunyong, senior vice president for Health, Safety, Security and Environment Marconi Madai and vice president for Hydro Ir Polycarp Wong.
According to a media release today, they and other members of Sarawak Energy management team and staff also planted 50 trees as part of the campaign in conjunction with Global Hydropower Day.
Commenting on the activity, Sharbini said Sarawak Energy is targeting to plant or protect 50,000 trees in 2022 and will also be enriching hydropower catchment areas by planting more trees while protecting existing species and associated ecological services.
“As a responsible hydropower developer, we continue to build on our previous environmental initiatives and make it our priority to sustain these initiatives.
“Tree planting is part of a suite of important nature-based solutions in our goal to conserve the environment and combat climate change, especially when we do it together on a larger scale and in collaboration with our partners and stakeholders,” he said in the statement.
In June this year, Sarawak Energy and Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the Sama Jaya Nature Reserve, formalising a partnership for the planting and protection of trees and conduct other biodiversity related research projects across Sarawak Energy’s assets, facilities, locations and project areas in Sarawak.
The signing ceremony was held in conjunction with the official launch of the Sarawak Energy 10-Year Integrated Tree Planting, Protection and Habitat Restoration Campaign by Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Since the establishment of the Murum Flora Conservation Garden, Sarawak Energy has planted 1,528 trees and plants consisting of mixed dipterocarp species like gaharu, belian, keruing, meranti, nyatoh, ensurai and engkabang and other species such as tongkat ali, bamboo, and non-tree species namely wild orchids and ethno–botanicals, among others.
The Murum Flora Conservation Garden was set up in 2015 under the Wildlife Monitoring and Rescue (WiMOR) operation done in preparation for the construction of the Murum HEP, to conserve native plant species in the dam’s reservoir area.
An estimated 32,000 plants with around 12,000 tree seedlings have been relocated or planted at the reservoir area including on the island which covers approximately 1.4ha. The island is a 30-minute boat ride from Murum HEP Intake jetty.
In 2020, a book on the wild orchids of Murum Dam, Sarawak, was published in collaboration with SFC,, and documents the collection of wild orchids found in the Murum catchment area. — DayakDaily
