AEON Environmental Foundation (Chairman: Takuya Okada, Honorary Chairman and Advisor of AEON

Co., Ltd; hereafter, "the Foundation") and AEON Co. (M) BHD. (hereinafter, “AEON Malaysia) planted 8000 trees and shrubs in Bidor, northern Malaysia, on 14 September 2014 to commemorate the 30^th anniversary of the establishment of AEON Malaysia.

Around Bidor (Perak State) where we conducted the reforestation project, large-scale mining was conducted in the early years of the 20^th century to produce tin.  As the area had been left as mined land for a long time, the surface soil layer had become thin and the environment was unsuitable for tall trees to grow.  Based on these circumstances, the Forest Research Institute Malaysia of the Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment dispatched experts to Bidor and launched a biodiversity conservation project in order to improve the soil quality and restore ecosystems in the area.

In order to restore ecosystems and recover lush green forests in Bidor, AEON Environmental Foundation and AEON Malaysia, along with 1000 volunteers from Japan and Malaysia, planted 30 kinds of 8000 native trees and shrubs, under the supervision of the Forest Research Institute Malaysia. 

Since its establishment in 1984 as the first overseas store of the AEON Group, AEON Malaysia has made efforts in order to contribute to modernized distribution in Malaysia through seeking to offer good services and a variety of products with respect for Malaysian culture and customs.  Now, the number of stores has developed to 31.  Regarding the reforestation, AEON Malaysia has planted a number of trees at each juncture such as the opening of a new store, the establishment of AEON Malaysia or annual tree-planting since 1991 when the first reforestation project was conducted by an AEON Group Company at Jusco Malacca (now known as AEON Malacca Shopping Mall). 

In 2014, AEON Environmental Foundation conducted reforestation projects in Hanoi, Vietnam; Suzhou, China; Yangon, Myanmar; and Mukawa Town of Hokkaido, Japan.  In this fiscal year, we will conduct reforestation projects in cities and towns in Japan including Chita City, Aichi Prefecture; Urayasu City, Chiba Prefecture; Aya Town, Miyazaki Prefecture and Kihoku Town, Mie Prefecture.

AEON Environmental Foundation and AEON Malaysia will conduct reforestation projects in Japan and abroad in order to sustain our green planet for future generations.

 (About the Reforestation Project in Bidor, Malaysia)

Date and Time: Sunday 14 September, 2014 9:00-11:00

Venue: Bidor, Perak State, Malaysia

Number of Participants: 1000 (520 from Japan, 480 from Malaysia)

Organization: AEON Environmental Foundation, AEON Co. (M) BHD.

Number of Planted Trees and Shrubs: 8000

Attendees:

His Royal Highness Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah Ibni Almarhum

Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah Al-Maghfur-lah, Sultan of Negeri Perak

Dato’ Dr. Abd Latif Mohmod, Director General of Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM)

Takuya Okada (Chairman, AEON Environmental Foundation)

Dato’ Abdullah Bin Mohd Yusof, Chairman of AEON CO. (M) BHD

Nur Qamarina Chew, Managing Director of AEON CO. (M) BHD.

More About the Reforestation Project in Bidor, Malaysia