The inaugural Fraser’s Hill Flora Hunt, a collaborative effort between WWF- Malaysia, Tourism Pahang and CIMB Islamic, brought together nearly 100 participants for a day of exploration and discovery in the renowned Malaysian biodiversity heritage site. The event held on 28 September was a key outreach initiative under the ‘Botanical Inventory of the Fraser’s Hill Forest Complex’ project.
As part of the challenge, participants were tasked with finding, photographing, and identifying a wide spectrum of native plants within Fraser’s Hill using a mobile application known as ArcGIS Survey123 to record and store their findings namely species names and photos. The event aimed to raise public awareness of the environment and foster appreciation of the site’s rich floral diversity while promoting citizen science by creating a platform for participants to contribute valuable data for researchers and conservationists alike.
WWF-Malaysia Peninsular Malaysia and Conservation Science Associate Director Jason Hon said the event is also about reconnecting with nature, deepening understanding of the environment, and recognising the importance of conservation. “The participants’ photos and plant identifications can contribute to better awareness and understanding of science, thus supporting biodiversity protection in this unique landscape. Today’s event is an excellent opportunity for the public to connect with nature and contribute to the conservation of Fraser’s Hill,” he added.
Tourism Pahang General Manager, Kamarudin Ibrahim, highlighted the significance of Fraser’s Hill in Malaysia’s ecotourism landscape. “As a biodiversity haven, Fraser’s Hill plays a crucial role in Pahang’s commitment to sustainable tourism. Events like the Flora Hunt allow visitors to appreciate the natural beauty of Fraser’s Hill while contributing to its preservation,” he said.
Ahmad Shahriman Mohd Shariff, Chief Executive Officer of CIMB Islamic reaffirmed CIMB Islamic’s dedication as a leading Islamic finance institution in spearheading initiatives that positively impact the environment, local communities and the broader economic landscape, in line with the principles of Value-Based Intermediation (“VBI”).
“We are pleased to expand on the Botanical Inventory of the Fraser’s Hill Forest Complex programme with WWF Malaysia to include the inaugural Flora Hunt, a well-rounded initiative which cultivates environmental awareness and a deeper connection with nature through exploring the grounds of Fraser’s Hill, one of our country’s most treasured biodiversity sites. We hope citizens and the wider public will be inspired to play their part in conserving Malaysia’s diverse flora and fauna, knowing that their actions – no matter how small – are instrumental in preserving the wonders of the natural world for future generations to come.”
“At CIMB Islamic, we firmly believe in the importance of multi-stakeholder collaborations between all economic factors, which include the private sector, public institutions and NGOs, in advancing sustainable development while safeguarding the well-being of the communities we operate in and the larger environment. Our collaboration with WWF-Malaysia signifies our joint-commitment towards the environment, demonstrating effective partnership which can spur efforts to protect and preserve our country’s biodiversity on a national scale,” Ahmad Shahriman added.
The three-year Fraser’s Hill Conservation Programme (2021-2024) is supported by CIMB Islamic and enabled through collaboration with FRIM. Since its inception, the project has resulted in the documentation of a broad spectrum of vascular plants found in the Fraser’s Hill Forest Complex. Just last year, the programme unveiled a series of responsible tourism signboards and a digital floral guidebook to inspire visitors and the general public to take active steps in protecting the environment.
CIMB Islamic advocates for the protection of the Fraser’s Hill Complex with a contribution of approximately RM444,000, mobilised through EcoSave Savings Account-i, the bank’s first environmentally focused savings account, which contributes 0.2% of its total average portfolio balance annually to green and social causes across Malaysia. Since 2008, EcoSave-i has contributed approximately RM8.24 million towards 17 projects, focusing on environmental sustainability and improving the well-being of the surrounding communities in Taman Tugu, Kuala Lumpur; Fraser’s Hill, Pahang; Setiu Wetlands, Terengganu; Ulu Muda Forest, Kedah; Kota Kinabalu, Sabah and Ba’kelalan, Sarawak.
The event’s closing ceremony featured the premiere of ‘The Flora Wonders of Fraser’s Hill’ video which features several flora species in the area. This was followed by the awards presentation segment for the Flora Hunt winners, judged by a panel of four botanical experts, namely Dr Saw Leng Guan, former Director of Forest Biodiversity Division at Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) and former curator of the Penang Botanic Gardens; Dr Shamsul Khamis, Head of UKM Fraser’s Hill Research Center; Aliaa Athirah and Ethan Cheah, both FRIM researchers involved in the Fraser’s Hill Forest Complex botanical inventory project.