AEON Credit Service (M) Berhad launched a significant public-private initiative on 11th May 2024, aimed at rehabilitating the biodiversity of Kinta Nature Park, in line with the Group’s commitment to embracing sustainable best practices and safeguarding the environment.
The “AEON Credit Biodiversity Afforestation Project”, spearheaded by AEON Credit in collaboration with the Perak State Park Corporation (PSPC) and FRIM Incorporated Sdn. Bhd. (FRIM Inc.), aims to replant a total of 10,000 local indigenous, endangered species from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, as well as fruit tree species, across more than 20 hectares of the park by September 2024. In addition to enhancing the park’s biodiversity, these trees will capture and store atmospheric carbon dioxide for the next 20 years and beyond, through a process known as carbon sequestration.
The project’s launch was graced by Yang Amat Berhormat Dato’ Seri Saarani bin Mohamad, Perak Menteri Besar, and involved over 600 volunteers, including officials from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, Perak State Government officials, local university students, as well as management and employees from AEON Group of Companies Malaysia. Together, they planted the first batch of 2,000 trees in the conservatory area of the park, a former tin mining and degraded agricultural site that is a well-known habitat for migratory birds.
Daisuke Maeda, Managing Director of AEON Credit, said, “This remarkable collaborative effort marks the beginning of a transformative journey to improve the biodiversity of this park as well as to contribute towards climate-change action through carbon sequestration.”
He also explained that the AEON Credit Biodiversity Afforestation Project aligns with the Group’s 3-year Sustainability Roadmap. “When it comes to environmental stewardship, the Group aims to help create a low-carbon society while ensuring the preservation of biodiversity for future generations,” he added.
AEON Credit highlighted that the Group will also be responsible for maintaining these trees after they are planted. After 36 months, AEON Credit will hand over the planted trees to PSPC, which plans to further develop the area into an eco-tourism destination.
As part of its commitment to the environment, AEON Credit has carried out numerous initiatives targeted at environmental conservation and preservation over the years. Annually, the Group removes more than 4 tonnes of waste from coastal areas nationwide, working with local authorities, communities, and university students to ensure these efforts protect coastal areas and marine life. In January 2024, the Group planted 1,000 mangrove saplings at Setiu Wetland together with ECOSWED (an environmental social enterprise at Kampong Kuala Setiu) and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (Institute of Oceanography and Environment), where 100 volunteers worked hand in hand to plant the mangrove saplings.
