By DayakDaily Team
MIRI, July 18: The Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) has reaffirmed its commitment to environmental conservation by planting 2,500 native tree saplings at Piasau Nature Reserve this morning.
The programme is part of STB’s ongoing ecoGreenPlanet initiative, launched in 2023, which aims to plant 10,000 trees by 2027.
In a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) news report, STB chairman and Telang Usan assemblyman, Dato Dennis Ngau, said the latest planting activity brings the total number of trees planted so far to 6,200, achieving 62 per cent of the overall target.
“In 2023, we set an ambitious yet realistic goal under ecoGreenPlanet to plant 10,000 trees by 2027, as part of our efforts to restore the environment and offset the tourism sector’s carbon footprint.
“With today’s planting of 2,500 native species, we have already reached 62 per cent of our target. Each sapling planted, in Samunsam Wildlife Sanctuary and Bukit Lima Nature Reserve to Miri, reflects our belief that tourism must serve as a force for good,” he said at the launching ceremony.
Dennis further explained that STB’s sustainability efforts went beyond tree planting, embracing a holistic approach through a series of impactful initiatives under the Rainforest World Music Festival 2025.
Among these initiatives were low-carbon shuttle bus services, solar-powered charging stations, lanyards crafted from upcycled wristbands by single mothers, biodiesel production from used cooking oil, and carbon footprint monitoring in collaboration with the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).
“These initiatives aligned with Sarawak’s Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and our aspiration to lead responsible and climate-conscious tourism in the region,” he said.
The tree planting programme was also supported by the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC), Miri City Council (MCC), Tourism Malaysia, corporate sponsors, and local community members.
The initiative contributes directly to PCDS 2030 and several SDG goals, especially SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
Also present at the event were Miri City Mayor and Pujut assemblyman Adam Yii, SFC Miri regional manager Louis Velda Dominic Salon, Tourism Malaysia Sarawak regional director Rubiah Tul’adwiyah Md Yusof, and STB acting chief executive officer Maurice Vincent Balang.
The programme featured a tree planting briefing by park rangers, hands-on planting activities, a group photo session, and a leisurely tour of the Piasau Nature Reserve before concluding with a lunch reception at Piasau Boat Club. — DayakDaily
