Posted on September, 12 2024

SIG joined forces with WWF-Switzerland in October 2022 to support resilient forest ecosystems around the world through WWF’s Forests Forward programme. Building on responsible sourcing in SIG's value chain, the five-year partnership aims to deliver targeted support for at-risk forests in biodiversity hotspots and deforestation fronts. The first project, launched in 2022, helps protect and restore the Central Pacific Landscape in Mexico – a critical jaguar habitat.

The second joint project, implemented by WWF-Malaysia, aims to strengthen the resilience of a landscape to provide vital ecosystem services for the northern region of Peninsular Malaysia – ensuring water security and enabling economic growth, as well as contributing to the nation’s food security. Empowering local communities to champion conservation is a key component of achieving this.

“Strong, collective private-sector action is crucial to halting and reversing forest loss and degradation globally,” says Tim Cronin, Forests Forward Global Lead. “This is not just the right thing to do, but also the smart thing to do, given the critical role of forests and other natural resources in underpinning our communities and economies. The leadership shown by SIG in supporting this work helps us to demonstrate these connections, especially between forests and freshwater supply.”

Ulu Muda: a vital biodiversity hotspot and water catchment

As one of the last remaining large intact lowland forests in Malaysia, Ulu Muda is a biodiversity hotspot and provides a key ecological connection to other forest blocks in Peninsular Malaysia. Located in the state of Kedah, it is home to a huge number of plants and animals, including a large population of endangered Asian elephants.

It is the most important water catchment for the region and its dams meet significant domestic, industrial, and agricultural water needs. More than 4,900 people from neighboring villages depend on Ulu Muda for their livelihoods and well-being. Water from Ulu Muda irrigates Malaysia’s ‘rice bowl’, contributing to 40% of national rice production. Yet Ulu Muda is threatened by several pressures including logging – which also impacts river water quality – and the conversion of natural forest to plantations.

WWF-Malaysia has been working in the landscape for 20 years, working closely with key stakeholders – especially the authorities in Kedah – in protecting and enhancing the natural ecosystems and ecological linkages within the Ulu Muda Forest Complex. SIG’s support accelerates this work, strengthens WWF’s community engagement, enables an important forest restoration trial, and opens doors to increasing conservation finance.

“Investment in Ulu Muda Forest Complex can help improve climate resilience and the management of forests, enhance water and food security, and strengthen our community empowerment initiatives," says Jason Hon, Associate Director, Peninsular Malaysia & Sustainable Markets, WWF-Malaysia. WWF-Malaysia welcomes greater investment and continued collective actions for the conservation of this landscape. Together, we can safeguard this invaluable natural resource for both present and future generations.” 

Private sector leadership

“Our partnership with WWF Switzerland has unlocked huge potential for SIG to create positive impacts for forests and their local communities globally,” says Angela Lu, President & General Manager Asia-Pacific at SIG. “With this second project, we will create tangible improvements in forest management and forest restoration in Ulu Muda while continuing to inspire others to support thriving forests.”

SIG depends on forests for the wood fibers used to produce the liquid packaging board for its cartons. It sources 100% of the paperboard for its cartons from FSC-certified forests and SIG’s goal is to invest to create, restore, protect, or improve the management of more thriving forests than it takes to make its products.

Explore the Ulu Muda landscape and its wildlife: