KUALA LUMPUR (June 21): Nestlé Malaysia has completed the first million of its 3 million tree ambition under its Project RELeaf.

In a statement, the company said it commemorated the milestone with a nationwide tree planting event on World Environment Day, which also formalised its newest planting collaboration partner with TDM Plantation (FDMP).

Nestlé Malaysia said TDMP will contribute 514 hectares of land within its estates to enable the plantation of another 350,000 trees for Nestlé’s Project RELeaf, to restore riparian and forest ecosystem, as well as the protection of wildlife and critical water supplies. Due to Nestlé Malaysia’s excellent reforestation programmes, there is strong collaboration with various stakeholders, including ongoing partner Sime Darby Plantation Bhd (SDP).

Nestlé (Malaysia) Bhd chief executive officer Juan Aranols said Project RELeaf is part of Nestlé’s nature-based Forest Positive strategy that strives to combat climate change and lower carbon emissions by preserving Malaysia’s forests and promoting sustainable livelihoods.

“Over 10 years, we aim to achieve 700,000 tonnes of carbon removal. The project is now back to full steam, after the temporary Covid lockdown. We are on track towards three million by early 2025, with the completion of the second million within the next year,” he said.

Meanwhile, SDP’s chief sustainability officer Rashyid Redza Anwarudin described reforestration and tree planting as important nature-based solutions to create carbon sinks, so that net zero emissions are attained by 2050.

“To date, over 420,000 trees have been planted under Nestlé Malaysia’s Project RELeaf in SDP’s operation areas, and another 390,000 more trees should be added by the end of this year,” he added.

The nationwide tree planting event and officiation ceremony for TDMP’s new partnership was held at SDP Carey Island estate in Selangor, SDP Gunung Mas estate in Johor, SDP Melalap estate in Tenom, Sabah; Hutan Simpan Bukit Bintang in Perlis, and TDMP Jernih Estate in Terengganu, respectively.

450 Nestlé Cares volunteers and associates from TDMP and SDP mobilised to plant trees nationwide. A total of 7,000 trees were planted, comprising native species such as Sea Apple (Kelat Jambu Laut), Bitter Bean (Petai), Bintangor, Pongam (Mempari), and Sea Poison (Putat) trees, among others.