Nature-based Solutions to reduce carbon footprint

BY ALLAN JAY and NATASHA JEE

KUCHING: Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) and Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) are collaborating to implement Nature-based Solutions (NbS) as a strategy to reduce the carbon footprint in Sarawak.

Its general manager Abang Arabi Abang Aimran said looking at Sarawak’s Totally Protected Areas (TPAs), SFC has found areas that need improvements, in terms of habitats.

“There is a need to document degraded sites and locations, replant indigenous trees that will be nesting trees in future, and flowering and fruiting trees for wildlife.

“Trees are crucial for carbon sequestration, soil stability, and water absorption, particularly in water catchment areas.

“Fortunately, our process of doing so fit into international frameworks and procedures called ‘rewilding’ and these procedures together with the Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) component, are important to entities looking at reducing their carbon footprint.

“It is here that we began talking and discussing with Petronas about looking at Nature-based Solution (NbS) sites,” he said during the memoranda of understanding (MoU) signing ceremony between SFC and Petronas, Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), and ESG Malaysia at Hilton Hotel on Monday (Aug 19).

Meanwhile, Petronas vice president and group chief sustainability officer Charlotte Wolff-Bye said the collaboration aims to explore and develop NbS projects in Sarawak, identifying potential sites that will generate co-benefits for local communities and biodiversity.

“Our collaboration with SFC will also prioritise the development of local capabilities and knowledge required to implement these projects effectively.

“This is important as the climate crisis and the rapid loss of nature are not just future threats; they are present realities that demand our immediate attention,” she said.

Charlotte noted that NbS comprise activities related to the conservation and restoration of natural ecosystems to remove greenhouse gas emissions.

“According to the United Nations Environment Programme, this solution can provide over 37 per cent of the climate mitigation needed to meet the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

“Our hope is that our collaboration with SFC and the other two collaborations will lead to meaningful and lasting impacts on environmental protection, benefitting communities and contributing to emission reductions,” she said.