AEON LAUNCHES REFORESTATION PROJECT IN SEGAMAT TO CONTINUE LEGACY OF MALAYSIA-JAPAN FRIENDSHIP FOREST

Building on the success of the Malaysia-Japan Friendship Forest Programme in Bidor, Perak, AEON is proud to launch a new three-year reforestation initiative in Segamat, Johor. The project is part of the ongoing legacy of the Malaysia-Japan Friendship Forest Programme, in collaboration with the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM). It marks the next chapter in AEON’s long-standing commitment to environmental sustainability, biodiversity conservation, and community development.

The event also signified the official completion of the Malaysia-Japan Friendship Forest Programme in Bidor, which took place from 2014 to 2023. In this 3-phase project, AEON successfully planted 30,000 trees of rainforest species on a 22.75-hectare site that was once a tin mining area. The initiative also contributed to the 100 million tree planting campaign by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability.

The Segamat Reforestation Project was officially announced during a ceremony held at FRIM in Kuala Lumpur last Friday. During the event, Naoya Okada, Managing Director of AEON CO. (M) BHD and Dato’ Dr. Ismail Parlan, Director General of FRIM exchanged a Letter of Intent (LOI), symbolising the joint commitment to the initiative. The exchange was witnessed by Dr. Norwati Muhammad, Deputy Director General (Research) of FRIM, and Tsugutoshi Seko, Deputy Managing Director of AEON.

As a symbolic gesture to mark the Segamat initiative, a tree planting session was also held at Padang 44, FRIM Kepong. Among the species planted were meranti temak nipis (Anthoshorea roxburghii), meranti tembaga (Rubroshorea leprosula), and sesenduk (Endospermum diadenum).

The initiative in Segamat will see 30,000 trees planted over 36 hectares of land in three phases, with 10,000 trees planted per phase. The project, which will run from 2025 to 2027, aims to replicate the environmental success of Bidor, which transformed a former tin mining site into a vibrant ecosystem.

Naoya Okada expressed his appreciation for the continued partnership, saying, “The Bidor project is a testament to what can be achieved when corporate responsibility is combined with scientific expertise. We are proud to carry this legacy forward in Segamat. AEON has long prioritised caring for the environment as a core part of our sustainability strategy. Since we started the tree planting initiatives in 1991, we have planted over 557,000 trees nationwide through a range of green initiatives.”

Meanwhile, Dr. Ismail said that FRIM appreciates AEON’s continuous commitment towards environmental sustainability. 

“This planting site in Bidor will be maintained as a research and educational plot, as well as a future seed production area. The reforestation efforts on this former mining land have also successfully attracted various species of fauna, including migratory birds, to the area. FRIM welcomes collaboration with AEON in conserving and protecting the environment. We are also open and ready to explore other areas of collaboration in the future,” he said.

This ongoing initiative reflects AEON’s commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), supporting environmental restoration, community engagement and sustainable growth for future generations.

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