114 WASCO BERHAD SECTION 4 SUSTAINABILITY JOURNEY BIODIVERSITY AND NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS We recognise that our operations can have an impact on local ecosystems and that protecting biodiversity is a critical component of environmental stewardship. We are committed to avoiding, minimising, and mitigating our impact on the natural world and, where possible, to making a positive contribution to habitat restoration and conservation. • Our Approach: The project’s success is built on a foundation of strategic partnerships with the Pahang Forestry Department, the Orang Asli indigenous community, and leading research institutions like UPM and FRIM. • Our Impact: To date, we have planted 160,000 native trees across 100 hectares with an impressive 87% survival rate. The project has provided RM656,000 in economic value to the local Orang Asli community. • 2025 Milestone: A Rapid Biodiversity Assessment conducted in 2025 recorded signs of returning wildlife, including the endangered Malayan Tapir, serving as a powerful indicator of improving habitat conditions. • The Next Phase: In October 2025, an event inaugurated by the Sultan of Pahang marked the launch of Phase 2, which expands the programme to 770 hectares with a long-term ambition to plant one million trees. SUSTAINABILITY JOURNEY Managing Our Operational Impact Our commitment to protecting biodiversity is embedded in our project planning and operational management. Before commencing any new project, we perform a detailed EIA to study the potential impacts of our operations on local habitats and ecological functions. The EIA is a critical tool that helps us to formulate risk mitigation approaches and ensure responsible development. For our existing operations, biodiversity risks are continuously monitored as part of our HSE management system. For example, at our site in Tanzania, we implemented specific monitoring protocols to manage and mitigate our impact on the local environment throughout the project’s lifecycle. Our Flagship Initiative: The Wasco Forest Beyond mitigating our direct impacts, we are actively invested in restoring natural ecosystems through our longterm reforestation and conservation project, the Wasco Forest. This initiative was driven by a strategic decision to move beyond simply purchasing carbon credits and instead create a tangible, transparent, and high-impact project that delivers measurable environmental outcomes while creating shared value for local communities. Located within the Berkelah and Lepar Forest Reserve in Maran, Pahang, the Wasco Forest sits within Malaysia’s Central Forest Spine, a vital ecological corridor that connects several major forest reserves and supports the movement of wildlife.
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