Undertaking a laborious task of cataloging the botanical varieties in Frase Hill’sForest Complex, WWF-Malaysia has started a project supported by CIMB Islamic Bank Berhad to inventorise these treasures as part of the Peninsular Malaysia Terrestrial Conservation programme.
Apart from emphasising floral species diversity, endemism, and conservation status, this botanical inventory project will also provide assessments and recommendations for conserving the various species, as well as their habitats. The Fraser’s Hill Forest Complex sprawls nearly 83,000 hectares across the Titiwangsa Mountain Range, comprising six forest reserves, state land forests, and the Fraser’s Hill Town Board.
WWF-Malaysia’s CEO Sophia Lim said that as a key biodiversity area, Fraser’s Hill Forest Complex meets the three International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria that qualify it as an Important Plant Area due to its high species richness and presence of threatened species and endangered habitats.
This project also aims to increase public awareness about the importance and the role of floral diversity in conservation.
It is part of a three-year Fraser’s Hill Conservation Programme, which was made possible through a contribution of RM443,900 by CIMB Islamic to advocate the security and protection of the Fraser’s Hill Complex as a State Park.
CIMB Islamic’s CEO Ahmad Shahriman Mohd Shariff commenting on the project said, in line with Bank Negara Malaysia’s Financial Sector Blueprint agenda which emphasises preparing the Malaysian financial system to be more sustainable and climate-resilient, CIMB Islamic has always been at the forefront of value based intermediation, championing initiatives that prioritise positive impact on society, which include the conservation and preservation of the environment
Customers can choose to open an EcoSave account at any CIMB Islamic branch nationwide, with a minimum deposit of RM250. Subsequently, apart from indirect contribution towards green initiatives, customers who maintain a monthly average balance of RM5,000 without any over-the-counter transactions within the month, will enjoy an RM5 monthly cash incentive. In addition, customers will also receive quarterly updates via EcoSave’s e-newsletter on green initiatives undertaken by EcoSave.
