Zurich Malaysia and TRCRC Collaborate to Protect Endangered Species and Restore Sabah’s Rainforests

[From Left] Erin Hwang, Head, Brand Marketing & Communications of Zurich Malaysia, Dr Dzaeman Dzulkifli, Executive Director of Tropical Rainforest Conservation & Research Centre (TRCRC), Teresa Wong, Chief Risk Officer - General Segment / Head of Sustainability Risk of Zurich Malaysia and Zul Sham Zul Junaidee, Brand Specialist of Zurich Malaysia at the partnership signing ceremony between Zurich Malaysia and Tropical Rainforest Conservation & Research Centre (TRCRC).  

 

Through this renewed partnership, Zurich Malaysia and TRCRC are supporting forest restoration and biodiversity conservation, helping to ensure the long-term resilience of Malaysia’s ecosystems. Key efforts include growing over 30,000 rare tree seedlings for replanting, restoring more than 50 hectares of damaged forest, and working with local communities to protect and reintroduce vulnerable species. Most of the project’s workforce is drawn from nearby villages, supporting local employment and keeping the initiative community-driven.

“At Zurich Malaysia, we understand that protecting the health of our environment is crucial for a sustainable future. The Zurich Cares initiative represents our proactive approach to addressing the urgent challenge of biodiversity loss, and we are proud to stand alongside TRCRC in this mission. Guided by our commitment to care for what matters, Zurich Malaysia wants to contribute to initiatives supporting local climate resilience,” said Junior Cho, Country CEO of Zurich Malaysia.

Since this collaboration began in 2022, the restoration of dipterocarp species has been at the core of Zurich Cares’ efforts. With over 60% of Borneo’s dipterocarp species threatened, their recovery is vital for rebuilding forest structure, enhancing carbon storage, and providing critical wildlife habitats. These efforts are already bearing fruit, with the return of threatened species such as the Borneo pygmy elephants, orangutans, hornbills, tarsiers, and sun bears. As the forest regenerates, it is expected to become an even stronger refuge for biodiversity.

Key achievements from the Zurich Cares initiative over the past three years include:

· 54,763 seedlings of fast-growing and dipterocarp species planted across the site.

· 1,000 seedlings planted under the 1 Pledge 1 Tree campaign.

· 53.14 hectares actively reforested, including 4.17 hectares of research planting plots.

· 34,335 seedlings of dipterocarp, non-dipterocarp, and wild fruit species currently maintained in the nursery.

· 63 Rare, Threatened & Endangered (RTE) species successfully nurtured at TRLC Merisuli.

· 619 excess seedlings contributed to other forest restoration programmes across Sabah.

· 90 hectares under active silviculture maintenance to ensure long-term forest health.

· 70% seedling survival rate recorded as of December 2023.

· 37 RTE mother trees identified and tagged for future seed collection.

· 12 new localities surveyed across Sabah for seed sourcing and biodiversity monitoring.

“Restoring tropical rainforests is an urgent yet highly complex endeavour. Many of the endangered tree species we work with face extremely low natural regeneration rates, making their survival dependent on science-based propagation and sustained long-term care. With Zurich Malaysia’s continued support, we can scale up our restoration efforts and create the right ecological conditions for these forests to thrive. This partnership ensures that nature not only recovers, but also flourishes for generations to come,” said Dr Dzaeman Dzulkifli, Executive Director of TRCRC.

To learn more about Zurich Cares and our ongoing sustainability initiatives, please visit https://www.zurich.com.my/about-zurich/corporate-responsibility/zurich-cares.