In the midst of development and modernity of Johor Bahru lies a luscious public forest park, thriving with flora and fauna. Undulating tall trees as far as the eyes can see, vast land of green grass by the cool shimmering lake. It is a place that offers peace for those who desire tranquility, and adventure for those who dare to seek further.

Named as the largest urban community green recreation park by the Malaysia Book of Records in July 2025, the 343-acre SIREH Park nestles in the heart of Iskandar Puteri. Surrounding the park are flagship townships of Malaysia’s leading property developer, UEM Sunrise Bhd, namely Horizon Hills, East Ledang, Nusa Idaman and Gerbang Nusajaya, making the park accessible for nearby neighbourhoods.

But just 30 years ago, the landscape was once a coconut plantation, buzzing with workers and whirring roaring trucks.

As the sounds of labour and hard work faded into history, they are now replaced with uncoordinated yet harmonious sounds of birds chirping, rustling leaves dancing to the tune of the wind, and the occasional hum of chatter from both adults and children.

Long walks along the forest for those longing for calm and serenity, windy trails for adrenaline junkies on their mountain bikes, water rafting in the 25-acre lake named after its shape, Chicken Feet Lake, for the aquaphile. Or maybe just sitting down for a picnic with a basket filled with packets of nasi lemak, colourful kuihs and a thermos of teh tarik, SIREH Park is for everyone.

Strategically nestled in Iskandar Puteri, within easy reach of Johor Bahru and Singapore, the park has been attracting over 160,000 visitors annually. In 2024, more than 50 diverse events have been held, catering to all age groups, showcasing that SIREH Park is more than just a recreational park.

SIREH stands for Sustainable, Initiatives, Recreation and Education Haven, a multipurpose space for the public to play, learn and also become part of a conservation initiative.

As a playground, activities are well coordinated and organised by authorized licensed partners for visitors across all communities. From kayaking, fishing, ATV to glamping, facilities are provided and with a nominal fee, visitors are welcomed to participate in activities of their choosing under trained personnel’s supervision.

Envisioned as an immersive learning ground for children and adults alike, education oriented activities are also available on the ground. Birdwatchers can rejoice at the sight of 35 species that have made SIREH Park their homes. The park’s on-site Edufarm offers a unique opportunity for children to get up close with domestic animals such as goats, pygmy chickens, cows and even peacocks.

Keep your eyes peeled and you might spot squirrels, geese and wild chickens around the park!

For plant enthusiasts, there is Garden.MY, an on-site nursery, houses edibles and 120 native and exotic plant species, including Podocarpus, Orchids, Monstera, Pastazanum Silver and Alocasia Watsoniana Sulawesi, all available for purchase.

The vision for SIREH Park is for it to be a space that brings in concerted efforts for nature conservation from individuals or organisations. UEM Sunrise Bhd handed the park to be managed by The Nusajaya Natural Heritage Trust (TNNHT) as a model for ecological sustainability that would encourage community engagement and multi-stakeholder participation through diverse environmental and empowerment programmes especially, from corporate organisations.

Although SIREH Park is integrated with nature-based solutions through biodiversity conservation, air quality improvement and rainwater management, the park aspires to become a convenor for conservation efforts by enabling organisations and individuals to do their part in preserving the nature.

Since its inception, the park has brought together academic institutions, non-profits, private organisations, government bodies and the public to play their role, for the benefit of biodiversity, nearby communities and beyond.

Plant That Tree is one of the anchor initiatives with an ambitious goal of planting 25,000 native forest trees by 2028. As of 2025, more than 10,000 trees have been planted with 80% of them listed on the IUCN Red List of threatened species, including those of native species. The initiative also doubles as a programme to control invasive species by restoring native biodiversity.

Some of the native plant species that are under the park’s habitat restoration project include Kelat Kayu, Timah-Timah, Penang Slow and Bertih Paya.

To contribute to reforesting SIREH Park, participation is made easy with just a few clicks. Individuals or organisations can pledge online and choose the number of trees they want to plant to be part of the mission. And the best part is, contributors can track the growth of their tree, accessible through the GeoTrees application.

So far, the Plant That Tree programme has received 11,309 pledges, supported by individuals and corporate organisations such as MCIS Life, CIMB and Canon Malaysia, including non-profits and educational institutions such as Persatuan Rakan Celik P.I.P.I (Physical, Intervention, Psychological, Intelectual), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Medini.

As a natural carbon sink, SIREH Park aims to sequester around 300,000 kg of CO2 annually, aligning with UEM Sunrise Bhd’s carbon neutrality target by 2050.

For those who prefer a more hands-on approach, there are other ways they can contribute.

On a regular basis, the park offers educational initiatives where individuals can be part of the network of experienced naturalists, citizen scientists and biologists, and get their hands dirty by participating in the various nature-based programmes, suitable for all ages.

SIREH Park is equipped with on-site organic composting for green waste, part of the 3R initiative (Reduce, Recover, Recycle).

Participants can be part of the data collection exercise by spotting and identifying various bird species and wildlife within the area, supporting the park’s broader conservation efforts.

Nature is the foundation of life, not merely a facility or resource for humans to use and capitalise irresponsibly. Collectively, humans have the responsibility to treasure, celebrate and most importantly, protect our flora and fauna for now and the future.

Built on mutual respect for the environment and the importance of conservation, in Islam, it is said planting trees is an act of everlasting charity as its benefits can be enjoyed by generations to come.

So let’s come together and do our part in making sure that our natural treasures are intact and appreciated for many more years to come.

SIREH Park is aligned to the following SDGs:

Planning Your Visit to SIREH Park – Here is What You Need to Know

Opening Hours:

7.00 am to 12.00 am (Closed on Mondays)

Getting to SIREH Park:

You can Waze, Google or Grab here by searching SIREH Park. Entry is free, and parking is both ample and complimentary for all visitors.

What to expect:

To find out more about SIREH Park, visit: sirehpark.org