In a concerted effort to ramp up its contribution towards reducing the impact of global warming, MCIS Insurance Berhad (MCIS Life) has pledged RM1 million towards the cause of planting 5,000 endemic rainforest trees within the locality of its pioneer sustainability site known as the MCIS Life Legacy Forest in Sireh Park, Iskandar Puteri, Johor.
A significant expansion to its pilot project announced back in 2019 which witnessed the planting of the initial 1,280 saplings between the year 2020 and 2022 at the same location, the new addition would raise the number of endemic rainforest species on site to more than 45 types.
Mohammad Nizar Idris, Chairman of MCIS Life said, “This is our pro-active contribution towards helping conserve and protect the environment to help mitigate the effects of climate change, after close monitoring of our pilot project’s impact over the past three years.”
“Essentially, we are planting the seeds for the future because taking concerted actions in the fight against global warming is a collective responsibility and we are leading the way to stem the loss of biodiversity through the planting of carefully selected endemic rainforest trees which are known to be of great help with carbon offset,” he added, after unveiling the MCIS Life Legacy Forest signage at Sireh Park.
MCIS Life’s endemic rainforest tree planting initiative is among the life insurer’s targeted action plan towards the goals outlined by the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), especially SDG 13, which focuses on Climate Action and the company has been progressively engaging its key stakeholders, including employees, distribution partners, customers and the local community, including schoolchildren, in its efforts to create awareness around the global threat of rising temperatures and climate change.
The new 5,000 saplings, which are presently being planted in stages with the aim of completion by August 2023, combined with the existing 1,280 trees on site, are collectively expected to help off-set approximately 567 [1] tonnes of carbon by the year 2029 as the trees stabilise and mature over time.
The latest tree planting initiative is supported by a strategic partnership between MCIS Life and The Nusajaya Natural Heritage Trust (TNNHT), a non-profit organisation which owns and operates Sireh Park, a sustainable, world-class natural heritage park focusing on conserving, documenting and promoting the naturally existing plant biodiversity in the area.
MCIS Life’s annual report for the period ending 31 December 2022 reports that the pilot initiative involving 1,280 trees has contributed to an estimated 30.03 metric tonnes of carbon offset for the reporting period, an increase from the estimated 17.6 metric tonnes noted as of 31 December 2021.
“The Board and management of MCIS Life view sustainability as an integral part of not just the company’s success and growth plans. We understand the importance of consistent actions towards the betterment of our natural environment, building a better future and helping shape a healthier population,” elaborated Mohammad Nizar.
MCIS Life’s other sustainability action plans focus on the wide aspects of Good Health and Wellbeing, Clean Energy and Life on Land, to name a few.
[1] 567 tonnes of carbon offset by 2029 is a projected data by the Sustainability Department of MCIS Life based on a total of 6,280 endemic rainforest trees aged between 6 and 9 years old at the MCIS Life Legacy Forest, by 31 December 2029.
