ABB employees plant 100 saplings at the Kota Damansara Community Forest Reserve to support rehabilitation of one of the last remaining green lungs in Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Kuala Lumpur, August 26, 2011 – Rain failed to dampen the spirit and enthusiasm of more than 50 volunteers from ABB Malaysia as they planted 100 saplings to help rehabilitate the Kota Damansara Community Forest Reserve (KDCFR) in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
The initiative is aligned with ABB’s efforts to collaborate with local communities in support of a wide range of initiates aimed at socioeconomic progress and environmental conservation.
The event kicked off with an interpretive walk through KDCFR followed by a gotong-royong to collect rubbish and plastic bags strewn around the area. Participants were then taken through the first community herbal garden built by the Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya (MBPJ) and maintained by local residents. Later, armed with gloves and their gardening tools, ABB volunteers together with participants from Friends of Kota Damansara and youths from the nearby PPR low cost housing project planted 100 saplings native to the forest reserve.
Originally known as the Sungai Buloh Forest Reserve, the site was first gazetted in 1898 covering an area of approximately 6,590 ha of primary forest vegetation. Over the years, development pressures resulted in gradual degradation of the forest to its current size of 321.7 ha. However, thanks to the relentless effort of local residents and environmental groups, KDCFR was re-gazetted in 2010, offering urbanites a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Jeffrey Phang, President of the Friends of Kota Damansara said, “The event is a reflection of the tri-sectoral partnership promoted in Local Agenda 21 at the Earth Summit to promote Sustainable Development. In this regard, we are pleased that responsible corporate citizens like ABB Malaysia has taken the initiative to team up with local communities and MBPJ to encourage environmental protection.”
“We are delighted to be partnering Friends of Kota Damansara in this project which offers our employees an opportunity to participate in collaborative and sustainable community initiatives supporting protection of our natural environment,” said Sim Boon Kiat, President and Country Manager of ABB Malaysia Sdn Bhd.
“As part of a leading power and automation technology group, ABB’s innovative solutions have shaped the world that we live in today and as we continue to infuse leading technologies to meet the growing demand for energy worldwide, we remain mindful of our societal responsibility of creating a better environment for the community in which we serve,” Sim concluded.