Reforesting Sungai Buaya

Our Mission

Green Tree Plantation is dedicated to restoring degraded lowland rainforest ecosystems in Malaysia through long-term, science-backed reforestation efforts focused on biodiversity recovery, habitat restoration, and climate resilience. Led by David Lok and Moo Fook Yow, our work is grounded in a simple belief: forests are not just collections of trees, but living systems that, when given time and care, can regenerate into resilient, self-sustaining landscapes.

We have planted 9,223 trees across 153 species to date, including 18 species that are endangered or critically endangered in Malaysia, across 30 acres of degraded forest. All this has been achieved through a combination of self-funding, grassroots fundraising initiatives, and volunteer-supported planting efforts. We are now preparing for the next phase of restoration, with the goal of an additional 8,000 native trees planned for planting to deepen canopy structure, strengthen biodiversity, and accelerate ecological recovery.

The Land, The Challenge & Why It Matters

Our project site sits within Hutan Simpan Kekal Rantau Panjang in Hulu Selangor, a 20-hectare degraded forest plot surrounded by rapid development along the Rawang–Tanjung Malim corridor.

While the wider forest reserve remains extensive, the pressures around it are intensifying. Land clearing, infrastructure expansion, and industrial activity are steadily fragmenting the landscape. What remains is increasingly functioning as an ecological island — a shrinking green refuge surrounded by hard edges of development.

Inside the site itself, the forest has been heavily degraded. What remains is a thin secondary canopy dominated by pioneer species such as acacia, macaranga, and mahang. The structure of a healthy rainforest — layered canopy, rich undergrowth, and species diversity — has largely been lost.

Without active restoration, this land will continue to decline in ecological function, biodiversity, and resilience.

What We Are Doing

We are rebuilding this forest from the ground up through continuous, on-the-ground restoration work.

Our approach focuses on enriching the existing landscape rather than clearing it, gradually reintroducing native and endangered species to rebuild a complex, multi-layered forest ecosystem.

We plant and maintain trees daily with a dedicated team on site year-round. Our target is to introduce at least 8,000 trees annually, carefully selected to restore the structure of a true lowland dipterocarp forest.

These include emergent canopy species such as dipterocarps, merbau, jelutong, and tualang, alongside native fruiting trees, medicinal species, and ecologically important understory plants.

Rather than rushing growth, we focus on survival, soil health, and long-term ecosystem stability. Each planting cycle is followed by ongoing maintenance, enrichment, and observation to ensure the forest can sustain itself over time.

We are also currently employing two indigenous workers Don and Julia from Kampung Orang Asli Manchong, a husband-and-wife team who are deeply involved in daily site operations. Their work includes tree planting, maintenance of young saplings, site clearing, and upkeep of on-site infrastructure. Their role is central to ensuring consistent, grounded care of the forest as it regenerates.

Beyond our core on-site team, larger-scale planting efforts are also supported by volunteers who contribute their time and labour to restoring the forest alongside us.

How We Work

We treat this site as both a restoration landscape and a living field laboratory.

We are actively testing and refining reforestation methods in collaboration with forestry experts, researchers, and partner organisations. This includes exploring how different native species respond to degraded soils, how planting density affects canopy recovery, and how biodiversity returns over time.

We source seedlings from a range of trusted nurseries and conservation partners, including FRIM, Free Tree Society, research centres, and local and indigenous growers. This ensures both genetic diversity and ecological relevance to the region.

Our goal is not only to restore one site, but to contribute practical knowledge that can improve reforestation efforts across Malaysia.

Use of Funds

Funding will directly support the continuation and expansion of on-the-ground restoration work.

This includes:

• Sourcing and cultivating native and endangered tree saplings
• Daily planting operations and long-term forest maintenance
• Fertilisation, enrichment, and survival care for planted areas
• Employment of full-time field staff working on site year-round
• Research, monitoring, and documentation of ecosystem recovery

To date, much of this work has been sustained through self-funding and community-led fundraising initiatives. One of our earliest efforts, “Buy a Bench, Re🌳grow a Forest”, transformed fallen trees from the site into handcrafted benches, with proceeds channelled directly into purchasing more native saplings and supporting wages for our field workers.

We also have an upcoming fundraising initiative, Forest Speaks, continuing this approach through art, storytelling, and public engagement. Running from 26 June to 10 July 2026, the exhibition brings together paintings, tracings, furniture, and forest-derived works. Proceeds from artwork and furniture sales will go directly towards supporting the planting and nurturing more native trees at the site.

Impact We Are Working Toward

We are working toward a forest that functions as a resilient ecological core within a rapidly changing landscape.

As the forest matures, we expect to see:

• Increased biodiversity and return of native wildlife
• Stronger soil structure and improved water retention
• A stabilised microclimate within and around the site
• Greater carbon storage capacity
• A functioning seed bank of native lowland rainforest species

Just as importantly, we aim to create a long-term model for restoration that can be replicated across other degraded landscapes in Malaysia. Watch our story here and see how we turned a flooded pond into a flowing stream for the forest here.