KUALA LUMPUR: Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) Sdn Bhd undertook an innovative environmental preservation initiative by planting 200 trees at the 'Khazanah Rimba' in Pantai Eco Park, Pantai Dalam.
The project, in collaboration with the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS), was held in conjunction with 'World Environment Day 2022'.
IWK's chief executive officer Narendran Maniam said the effort was to reinforce the importance of urban forests, by collaborating with a group of youngsters from a charity home and the surrounding local community.
He said through the 'Adopt a Tree' campaign, IWK and MNS recommenced tree planting activities after it was halted during the two-year Covid-19 pandemic.
"Following the pickup from public participation, we began adopting a forest tree to be planted in the park.
"The social collaboration between the national sewerage company and the non-governmental organisation (NGO) also reinforces the potential of IWK's by-products to be reused in preserving the environment.
"This particularly involves the use of biosolids as fertilisers for the forest trees," he said.
Last week, as part of its IWK Cares' initiative, it invited 40 students from Rumah Anak-Anak Yatim dan Asnaf Qaseh Ibu, Ampang and local communities surrounding Pantai Dalam to plant forest trees.
"They were briefed by IWK and MNS on protecting the environment.
"Some 200 forest trees were donated last week, by information technology solutions company CTC Global Sdn Bhd, an as well as IWK's staff themselves.
"Some saplings were cultivated from the Indah Water Research Centre laboratory," said Narendran.
He added that since the 'Adopt a Tree' campaign started in 2020, a total of 400 forest trees have been planted in Khazanah Rimba, with an additional 100 trees targeted to be planted in the area by the year's end.
"Together with MNS, IWK seeks to reinvigorate the surrounding greens of the area; increasing green coverage of the park with urban fauna species and transforming it into a park for communities and environmental educational purposes.
"We are thrilled to see this initiative bring together like-minded partners - from the various industries, NGOs and local communities - to preserve our environmental heritage for future generations.
"Our shared vision in building a sustainable future will kindle various socio-economic development opportunities, such as strong social networks and educational activities for the betterment of our communities and our environment," said Narendran.
Narendran added, the tree planting exercise would promote the use of IWK's by-product - the biosolid - as a soil conditioner or fertiliser to improve soil conditions and enhance plant growth for non-food crops and ornamental plants.
"These biosolids are produced at the highest quality by post-wastewater treatment from IWK's sewage treatment plants.
"In line with the theme 'Only One Earth' - IWK and MNS, through its campaign, will continue to call for collective and transformative action that businesses, organisations and individuals can take to celebrate, protect and restore the planet," Narendran said.
In 2020, IWK partnered with MNS to expand the urban forest project 'Khazanah Rimba' in IWK Eco Park and subsequently introduced the 'Adopt a Tree' donation campaign.
The campaign is open to the public with a donation fee of RM140 per tree.
