A new chapter in Malaysia’s forest restoration efforts began in March with the official launch of the Seed to Tree project, a collaborative initiative led by the Alliance of Bioversity International & CIAT, and the Tropical Rainforest Conservation and Research Centre (TRCRC). Supported by the UK Mission to ASEAN through the ASEAN-UK Green Transition Fund, the project aims to strengthen native seed supply systems and support large-scale, climate-resilient reforestation.

The launch event, held at the Elmina Rainforest Knowledge Centre on 11 March 2025, brought together restoration practitioners, policymakers, Indigenous representatives and international partners. The event was officiated by Datuk Dr. Ching Thoo A/L Kim, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, and attended by Catherine West MP, UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific, and His Excellency David Wallace, Acting High Commissioner of the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur.

In his opening remarks, Dr Ching noted that the Seed to Tree project was “not merely about planting trees; it is about planting a future – efforts to strengthen biodiversity and build climate resilience for generations to come.”

He highlighted Malaysia’s commitment to nature-based solutions for climate adaptation and mitigation, noting how Malaysia had completed the National 100 Million Tree Planting Campaign a year ahead of schedule. He also discussed amendments to the Forestry Act and the upcoming Climate Change Bill (RUUPIN), which further reflect Malaysia’s efforts to improve conservation and restoration aligned with efforts in the region through its ASEAN Chairmanship.

Minister West praised Seed to Tree as a model of UK-Malaysia climate cooperation and underscored the central role of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) in environmental stewardship.

“We know that climate responses must include Indigenous peoples and local communities if they are to have any chance of success. We ignore their wisdom at our peril. So I am particularly glad that this project supports Orang Asli livelihoods and recognises their heritage as custodians of the forests, including women,” she said.

The cultural heart of the event came alive with a traditional nose flute performance by Encik Raman Bah Tuin of the Semai tribe, underscoring the deep-rooted connection between Indigenous communities and Malaysia’s forests.

Project Lead Dr. Riina Jalonen of Alliance of Bioversity International & CIAT highlighted the challenges facing Malaysia’s seed systems, noting that the lack of high-quality native tree seeds is a widespread issue across restoration initiatives.

“Lack of good quality tree seed for restoration is a global problem, including in Malaysia and our ASEAN neighbours,” said Riina, citing an international study which indicated restoration practitioners were facing difficulties with seed or seedling availability with nearly 50% reporting using fewer or different species than planned. 

Dr. Dzaeman Dzulkifli, Executive Director of TRCRC, emphasised the need for a holistic approach to biodiversity.

“We have some ‘champion species’, but it’s important to remember that those species don’t represent the entire ecosystem, and we need to protect all of the biodiversity at risk,” he said. “It is crucial to get local partners on the ground to make informed decisions using the most effective technology available: tools such as Diversity for Restoration and MyFarmTrees (MFT). We must make this information easily accessible.”

As noted by Minister West: “There is a saying that the best time to plant a tree was 30 years ago. The second-best time is today. And that is what we are doing here together – planting seeds today, for the trees of tomorrow.”

Seed to Tree’s goals include:

• Developing a restoration toolkit that incorporates both ecological data and Indigenous knowledge
• Improving monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) for seed sourcing and planting
• Building stronger links between seed collectors, nurseries, and restoration projects
• Fostering partnerships to pilot new tools and systems in 2025 and beyond

TRCRC welcomes new collaborators and restoration partners to join its upcoming multi-stakeholder platform, where knowledge sharing and tool testing will continue through 2025.

For more information about Seed to Tree, contact Teng Yu He (Project Manager) at seedtotree@trcrc.org