On 3 November 2017, Japan Malaysia Association received a certificate of commendation issued by the government of Japan.  JMA has long been working on the reforestation in Malaysia, and recognizing its significant contribution, the emperor of Japan awarded the certificate of commendation to JMA on behalf of the government. JMA was one of 22 organizations that received the certificate in fall 2017.   (Source: Cabinet Office)

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Malaysia lost 1 million hectares of its natural forest between 1995 and 2005, replaced by palm-oil trees.  JMA started planting trees in 1995 to regenerate the rainforest in Malaysia, and worked with various sponsors in Japan to plant as many as 400,000 trees in Malaysia by 2016.

Forests are the common heritage of the human kind. While respecting the sovereignty, we also need to participate in an effort to protect them as we do for the global commons.  At JMA, we are committed to cooperate with our local partners and sponsors, governments and individuals, who share the same goal to pass them down to the future generation.