The Elmina Rainforest Knowledge Centre serves as a vital educational and conservation hub for the community and Malaysia’s lush environment.

SELANGOR: Sime Darby Property Bhd remains an environmental leader with a great win at the esteemed FIABCI Malaysia Property Award 2023. The property developer took home the prize in the Environmental Category for its Elmina Rainforest Knowledge Centre (ERKC) in the City of Elmina, Shah Alam.

The award acknowledges the property developer’s contribution to environmental literacy and urban biodiversity conservation, as well as its positive sustainability impact on Malaysia’s real estate industry.  Sime Darby Property group managing director Datuk Azmir Merican said the ERKC showcases their holistic approach to development, where nature and human well-being are intertwined.

“Facilities like the ERKC provide invaluable spaces for the community to engage in impactful nature conservation activities, educate younger generations about the importance of nature and also serve as a hub for research and co-working among forestry NGOs and related bodies,” said Merican.

“Building sustainable townships while nurturing healthy communities and ecosystems should be the way forward for property developments because it would in turn inspire residents and the public to care about and protect the environments they are living in for a better future,” he continued.

Organised by FIABCI Malaysia, the Malaysia Property Awards 2023 is the gold standard in the property development industry and recognises companies in pursuit of excellence and continuous value creation along all steps of development.

The ERKC was launched in October 2020 in partnership with the Tropical Rainforest Conservation and Research Centre. Nestled within the 300-acre Elmina Central Park and adjacent to the 2,700-acre Bukit Cherakah Forest Reserve, the facility serves as a vital educational and conservation hub, offering a diverse range of activities aimed at fostering a deep connection between the community and Malaysia's rich natural heritage.

The ERKC has already made significant strides in conservation, with the cultivation of 187 species of plants, including 35,000 seedlings and 10,000 tree saplings at the Elmina Living Collection Nursery (ELCN). This effort is part of a broader initiative to plant 50,000 trees from the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List by 2030.

In addition to environmental conservation, the ERKC and ELCN have become focal points for community engagement and education, hosting a variety of programmes that promote awareness of environmental issues and encourage active participation in conservation efforts. The Friends of ERKC community interest group further exemplifies this engagement, having attracted over 10,000 members including students, educators and representatives from various corporate and authoritative bodies.

“Thank you FIABCI Malaysia for the honour. This acknowledgement is a testament to our triple bottom approach in building sustainable futures, and our purpose to be a value multiplier for people, businesses, economies and the planet," Merican said.

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