JOHOR BAHRU: The world is collapsing as a result of the depletion of the ozone layer. We no longer appreciate a green and healthy environment and cutting down trees as a result there’s so much heat around.

As part of its efforts to ensure care for the environment, the Social Hero Foundation (SHF) launched a Tree Planting project at Kampung Pendas Laut in Gelang Patah.

Mangrove trees were planted in collaboration with Jabatan Perhutanan Negeri Johor (Johor State Forestry Department). They helped collect the rubbish and plastics which were left behind by receded sea water.

SHF Trustee Datuk Seri Teo Shiok Fu, JP, said mangroves benefit our environment and community as they help remove carbon from the atmosphere.

It also helps protect against extreme weather by acting as a buffer against large waves and help boost food security by supporting a large variety of plants and animals as biodiversity havens.

He mentioned that mangroves extract five times more carbon than other trees.

Datuk Seri Teo said, “SHF took the initiative to plant trees this year as its own little way of positively impacting on the environment.”

“So, by planting these trees, we are making the environment conducive for humans to live in. You know that we take in oxygen and breath out carbon dioxide, and when there are no trees, the air is so harsh,” he stressed.

However, he explained that when we take out carbon dioxide, the trees absorb it and give us more freshness.

“We are doing this to keep the environment clean, take care of our health and to obey the law of eco-friendliness,” he said.

Present during the tree planting project were SHF director of programs Farrah Baptist, Penghulu Mukim Tanjung Kupang Mohamad Faiz Mohd Pandi, Village Head of Kg. Pendas Abdul Jalil Hj Majid, forest conservation assistant from the district forest office Ad Nor Wahab.

Also present were 40 participants from the Johor forestry department, youth club of Kg Pendas Baru, Pelitawanis of TNB and students from SK Kg Pendas Laut.

The tree planting initiative is one of the three SHF’s proposed social and environmental impact projects in 2024. The project is funded by donations from the SHF Walk for Health and Environment in December 2023.

Meanwhile SHF plans to carry out two more tree planting projects in 2024.

This mangrove planting project is also in line with the Malaysian government’s “Kempen Penanaaman 100 Juta Pokok 2021-2025” initiative with the theme: “Greening Malaysia: Our Trees, Our Life.”

Teo went on to say that there are huge tree-planting initiatives happening.

He said their aim is to restore forest landscapes, as having more trees provides livelihood benefits, enhances biodiversity by providing a habitat for other organisms and otherwise protects the environment.

Not mincing his words, he said more trees were needed as the air was polluted with harmful gases from factories and automobiles.

“We need to restore our forest now as we do not want our future generation to see a state without any forest.

“If we do not restore our trees now, our oxygen supply will be depleted,” he said.

He added that today is the starting point and if all chips in we can do it.

SHF is a non-profit foundation established in 2019 under the Trustee (Incorporation) Act 1952 which is under the purview of the Prime Minister’s Department, Malaysia.

Besides organizing the Iskandar Malaysia Social Hero Awards (IMSHA) in Johor, SHF’s main objectives are to render effective help to the needy and underprivileged communities in Johor, promote national unity among all the races and promote awareness for the environment and sustainability.