UCSI University students lending a hand in replanting trees as one of the reserve's rehabilitation efforts during the annual tree planting event.

Approximately 160 students and staff of UCSI University helped out during the event with Bridgestone Corporation being the main sponsor for providing tree seedlings and caps for the participants.

UCSI University students at Raja Musa Forest Reserve, where the tree planting exercise was held.

The Selangor Forestry Department and non-governmental organization Global Environment Centre (GEC), along with the local community joined hands together to preserve Malaysia's forest reserve and to chip in their contribution in preventing global warming.

The North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest, comprises of Raja Musa Forest Reserve and Sungai Karang Forest Reserve, measures approximately 23,000 hectares in area cover and is the largest peat swamp forest complex in Selangor. However, out of 23,000 hectares of the forest reserve, 1,000 hectares has been damaged and degraded due to illegal encroachment over the past ten years.

Students from UCSI University has recently took part and lent a hand in replanting trees as one of the reserve's rehabilitation efforts during the annual tree planting event on 14^th of July which was hosted by GEC in partnership with the University's  Faculty of Engineering, Technology & Built Environment at Raja Musa Forest Reserve, situated near Batang Berjuntai / Berjuntai Bestari.

Approximately 160 students and staff helped out during the event on Saturday with Bridgestone Corporation being the main sponsor for providing tree seedlings and caps for the participants.   

GEC, a Malaysian based non-profit NGO who addresses key environmental issues globally, concentrates in bringing together individuals, communities, corporations and organisations that are of one mind to help foster lasting change for environmental benefits.

Over 500 hectares of the reserve has suffered severe damage and is in serious need of rehabilitation due to illegal farming activities carried out on the reserve's grounds. Thousands of tonnes of greenhouse gases were emitted from the clearing and burning of the forest has caused major environmental hazards to the surroundings such as thick haze, affecting the climate change gravely as well.

The partnership between Forestry Department, GEC and the community was crucial for the rehabilitation effort as it is a fairly complex and huge effort to be carried out even by the Forestry Department alone, although 1,000 hectares of the degraded areas within the reserve, located in the upper north region of Selangor State, falls within the jurisdiction of the Forestry Department.

The joint effort not only established a platform for the regional community to work closely with the government agency, it also enlightened the community on the functions of a peat swamp forest and the values it possesses as they helped out in planting the trees.

Malaysia has the third largest peatland forest surface area worldwide. Peat swamp forests are home to many threatened species and the forests are the most important ecosystem globally for preventing global warming.

In efforts to retain its former glory, the original characteristics of the peatland forest, Raja Musa Forest Reserve aims to restore the degraded area and concentrate on rehabilitation activities as it is vital in conserving the various peat swamp species.

With the desire to play an integral role in shaping the future and delivering a future that will sustain, GEC had since managed to bring together more than 2,000 volunteers for the numerous annual tree planting events at Raja Musa Forest Reserve since 2008. The tree planting events hosted by GEC are great opportunities for one to explore and to gain better knowledge of the importance and functions of the Raja Musa Forest Reserve towards nature and the ecosystem.

The primary objective of the replanting of trees is to stop peatland fires and haze, as well as adding on to the global warming prevention efforts. Besides that, the replanting will also build a forest cover which would hinder encroachment into the forest reserve and consequently reduce fire occurrences caused by illegal farming activities.

With support and group efforts with many stakeholders, corporate partners and individuals, approximately 30,000 tree seedlings have been planted in an area covering some 60 hectares.

Passionate on not only what they do but also how they execute it, GEC is a chief advocate for nature and has gained recognition for their enthusiastic work for the natural environment worldwide.

Specialists and strategists at GEC conducts a series of core programmes such as Forest & Biodiversity Programme, Peatland Programme, River Care Programme, and Outreach & Partnership Programme that provides hands-on experience and useful, valuable insights on conservation. Communities, government agencies, organisations, private sector and others are welcomed to participate and partner with them in their future programmes to address common environmental challenges.