SALCRA Restores Riverside Forests through Tree Planting Programme
Collaborating for environmental stewardship, SALCRA, WWF-Malaysia, and Malesiana Tropicals initiated a Tree-Planting Programme in Lemanak Oil Palm Estate, Sri Aman, to restore critical riparian buffer zones with native species and engage local communities.
Oil palm plantations have been associated with significant environmental degradation, including soil erosion and the loss of crucial carbon sinks. These impacts highlight the urgent need for sustainable land management practices to mitigate ecological damage.
Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (SALCRA), in partnership with WWF-Malaysia and Malesiana Tropicals, initiated a Tree Planting Programme project in the Lemanak Oil Palm Estate, Sri Aman Region.
This initiative aims to safeguard against soil erosion in critical riparian buffer zones by planting a diverse array of native fruit and timber tree species. The project commenced in October 2022 with the planting of 43 seedlings, and it gathered momentum as an additional 110 seedlings took root in May 2023.
Community consultation – JKKK Meeting at Rh. Stengin with WWF Malaysia.
The project’s objectives particularly align with principle 5 of the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) standard MS 2530:2022, focusing on responsible management, biodiversity conservation, and minimising negative ecosystem impacts, all while conserving forests and meeting the demand for sustainable palm oil.
Dr Tim Hatch from Malesiana Tropicals and Mr Sugai Intan, the estate manager, unloading the tree seedlings.
Local communities from the Rumah Stengin in Lubok Antu, Sri Aman, have warmly welcomed and embraced the initiative. They are not just watching from the sidelines but are actively involved in Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC), awareness talks, and dialogues. They have also set up mini greenhouses to store tree seedlings provided by the Forest Department of Sarawak (FDS) and seedlings collected from the forest. This empowers the community to become stewards of their environment.
Transportation of tree seedlings from FDS Sabal to Lemanak Oil Palm Estate.
The goal of this project goes beyond tree planting. It is about sowing the seeds of transformation within communities. Through active social participation and regular monitoring, the project drives a culture of environmental stewardship that transcends generations.
The vision extends far beyond this initiative, with the current project serving as a catalyst for a broader impact. Plans are in place to extend these efforts to other estates and collaborate with a broader network of agencies, further strengthening a collective movement towards a more sustainable future for all.
