Home / Environment / Grandmothers Restore Rainforests Seed by Seed
Grandmothers Restore Rainforests Seed by Seed
4 Aug
Summary
- Women sow seeds in backyard nurseries to replant degraded rainforests.
- Palm oil levies fund the restoration of 2,500 hectares of forest.
- Restoration efforts benefit endangered orangutans and other wildlife.
Sabah, Malaysia, is actively restoring its degraded rainforest landscapes, a mission bolstered by local women who are meticulously sowing seeds in backyard nurseries. These efforts are crucial for the Ulu Segama-Malua Forest Reserve, which suffered extensive damage from logging and fires.
The Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation, funded by industry levies, supports the rehabilitation of 2,500 hectares. This collaboration involves communities like Kampung Tampenau, where women have produced approximately 80,000 native saplings since the program began in 2021. They are paid RM7 for each sapling, with RM5 for their labor.
This restoration sequence prioritizes pioneer trees to establish a canopy, creating conditions for slower-growing hardwoods. This approach not only accelerates natural regeneration but also provides essential habitats for wildlife, including Sabah's 10,800 critically endangered orangutans and other species.
Phase three of the 10-year conservation plan, launched in 2019, will commence in October 2026, aiming to rehabilitate an additional 332 hectares with over 132,800 native saplings.
