Lagenda partners KUASA to restore mangrove forest in Perak

PETALING JAYA (June 27): Lagenda Properties Bhd has partnered with an environmental non-governmental organisation called Persatuan Aktivis Sahabat Alam (KUASA) to restore the mangrove forest along Changkat Keruing Riverbank Park in Perak.

In a statement, Lagenda director Mohamad Ali Ariffin said: “The value of the mangrove forests in providing economic, social, and environmental benefits to the locals is extremely important. As a company that greatly prioritises sustainability and communities, we wanted to play our part in ensuring that afforestation efforts were quickly underway. We believe that volunteering on environmental conservation is a powerful way to become part of the solution as protecting our natural environment is key to the survival of fragile ecosystems, wildlife and humankind.”

Lagenda has worked together with the local community and planted 1,000 mangrove trees to date to counter the damage caused by aquaculture fishing and deforestation over the years. Mangrove forests are one of the most productive and biodiverse wetland environments on earth producing 10 times the oxygen compared with tropical forests.

These unique coastal tropical forest environments, however, are among the most threatened habitats. Apart from providing critical habitation for diverse marine and terrestrial flora and fauna, this ecosystem also reduces vulnerability to natural disasters and extreme climatic events and is a natural coastal defence system, especially for communities living around the area. To ensure a healthy and thriving ecosystem, Lagenda has invested in planting Rhizophora apiculata and Bruguiera cylindrica in the Sungai Keruing mangrove forest, both of which are plant species that are local to the area and known to be a good source of natural antioxidants for medicinal uses.

In line with the 100 Million Tree-Planting Campaign 2021-2025, Lagenda is also doing its part to ensure the success of the Greening Malaysia programme. This is where Lagenda has planted over 18,000 plants, some of which were Hopea odorata and Agathis borneensis, being vulnerable and endangered species respectively in its Bandar Baru Setia Awan Perdana development in Sitiawan, Perak. The company's consistent aim is not limited to just improving biodiversity but maintaining natural environments that generate healthy and efficient ecosystems within its townships.

“At Lagenda, sustainable development is a way of creating homes and spaces that meet all the needs of our homeowners while not compromising on the environment and the needs of future generations. Therefore, we carefully select land that requires minimal intervention of its environmental profile. This involves the assessment of long-term land productivity where Lagenda only permits land conversion from the non-primary forest and unproductive land,” said Lagenda Properties managing director Datuk Jimmy Doh.