CONSERVATION AND CSR

In March 2020, Prosper established a partnership with the Global Environment Centre (GEC) (www.gec.org.my), a Malaysian Non-profit organisation with more than 20 years’ experience in peatland and forest conservation and restoration throughout Southeast Asia. Through this partnership, Prosper is financing a Recovery Project in the form of a long-term conservation initiative to be undertaken by GEC in a portion of the North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest (NSPSF) in Selangor State, Malaysia. NSPSF is one of the largest contiguous peat swamp forests remaining in Malaysia, covering 81,000ha (larger than Singapore). This area is of global significance for biodiversity conservation and very important for carbon storage and water resource management. Biodiversity includes Tapir, Malayan Sun Bear, Black Panther, False Gharial (freshwater crocodile), hornbills and 124 species of fish including 6 endemic species found no-where else in the world.

The project will focus on the long-term protection and rehabilitation of the Bukit Belata (Extension) Forest Reserve (BBEFR) which covers an area of 3,140ha of lowland dipterocarp and peat swamp forest, in the SE portion of the NSPSF. This forest reserve is facing increasing challenges from drainage, fire and degradation linked to development of small-scale plantations and agriculture along its boundary as well as encroachment and drainage within the reserve. More than 350ha of forest and peatland in BBEFR have been degraded by fires, drainage and encroachment in recent years.

Please click here for the joint statement by Prosper and GEC on this project.