Chery Malaysia “Cherish the Nature” Mangrove Restoration Project

Chery Malaysia is taking its CSR work beyond cars, stepping into environmental protection that really matters to local communities.

Earlier, the company supported freshwater conservation with the Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia, helping protect the critically endangered Southern River Terrapin and raising awareness about healthy rivers and biodiversity.

Now, Chery is turning its attention to the coast. Last Saturday, it officially launched “Cherish the Nature”, an 18-month mangrove restoration project along the North-central Selangor Coast (NCSC) at Kuala Selangor Nature Park.

The project is a collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS), with IUCN overseeing the programme and working alongside MNS on the ground.

About 200 guests from government agencies, universities, local communities and private companies came to the launch, exploring Kuala Selangor’s mangroves, spotting fireflies and learning about the area’s migratory birds.

Members of the public got involved too. Chery vehicle owners from the WCWL group and Omoda | Jaecoo’s J-Club joined citizen science activities and helped plant mangrove saplings - showing that conservation isn’t just a job for scientists; everyone can pitch in.

The North-central Selangor Coast stretches roughly 130km, supporting fishing villages, protecting shorelines and providing homes for marine life. Its mangroves are key to local fisheries, eco-tourism, and the region’s biodiversity.

(L-R) Shanmugaraj Subramaniam - Executive Director of Malaysian Nature Society, Cheng Nam Weng - VP of Chery Corporate Malaysia, Puan Sri Datin Amar Nur Ashima Aziz - Chairperson and Board of Trustee of Malaysian Nature Society, Anna Wong - President of Malaysian Nature Society, Lee Wen Hsiang - VP of Chery Auto Malaysia, Chris Tan - Head of Brand of OMODA JAECOO Malaysia and Dr. Satrio Adi Wicaksono - Regional Coordinator, Forest and Drylands of IUCN Asia Regional Office.

But decades of land clearing and development have taken a toll. As mangroves vanish, fish stocks fall and coastal communities feel the impact on their livelihoods.

“Cherish the Nature” will restore at least six hectares of degraded mangrove areas. IUCN will pinpoint priority sites, while local communities nurture saplings in nurseries before planting them along the coast. Trained community members will care for the trees, and monitoring will track their growth and survival.

Education and outreach are just as important. Schools, local communities, government agencies and private partners will all be involved, helping build awareness and a lasting culture of mangrove conservation.

The project also ties into Malaysia’s commitments under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, contributing to the global 30x30 target to protect 30% of the world’s land and sea by 2030.

By restoring mangroves and empowering communities, Chery Malaysia and its partners are helping strengthen coastal ecosystems and safeguard the livelihoods of those who depend on them - proving that caring for nature is a job everyone can share.