Sime Darby Property is advancing a sustainability-driven initiative to restore the Hamilton Biodiversity Park, located within the Hamilton Industrial Park in Nilai, Negri Sembilan, Malaysia. Spanning 114.9 hectares, the park aims to transform a previously degraded plantation area into a vibrant ecological asset by 2031, contributing to broader environmental and community goals.
Once dominated by oil palm plantations, the site has been undergoing active restoration since September 2025. The effort includes planting over 1,500 native trees and shrubs from 52 species to re-establish a resilient ecosystem. The park is strategically situated between the Galla Permanent Forest Reserve and a growing industrial township, creating an ecological corridor that links the forest reserve with urban green spaces through planned 13-kilometer natural trails and a 10-kilometer biodiversity corridor.
Surveys have recorded 337 species within the park, encompassing 93 plants, 49 fungi, 22 mammals, 64 birds, 81 insects, 19 herpetofauna, seven fish, and two shellfish, including several threatened species and three newly documented fungi under study by Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS). These findings underscore the site’s potential to support diverse life forms despite its history of environmental degradation.
The project is aligned with Malaysia Vision Valley, a regional initiative aimed at fostering sustainable urban development. This focus emphasizes the delicate balance between accommodating rapid industrial growth and preserving ecological health. The presence of Kampung Tekir, an orang asli village nearby, further highlights the need to integrate biodiversity conservation with respect for cultural heritage, facilitated through ongoing community engagement and the Free, Prior and Informed Consent process.
Leadership and collaboration have been central to the project’s progress. Sime Darby Property’s Business Unit 3 head, Hazlan Husin, actively manages the restoration work, while Appollo Leong, chief operating officer for township development, oversees the broader strategic direction to ensure ecological considerations remain integral to development activities. The biodiversity management plan guiding restoration efforts involves partnerships with multiple Malaysian universities, including Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, University Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, and UMS.
Hamilton Biodiversity Park recently received Gold in the Biodiversity Conservation category at The Star’s ESG Positive Impact Awards 2025, recognizing its environmental significance. Additionally, the restoration project is certified under the Preferred by Nature Ecosystem Restoration Standard, a first in the Asia-Pacific region for a property developer. This certification validates the ecological restoration outcomes and aligns the project with international environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards.
Beyond biodiversity gains, the park serves multiple ecological functions, acting as a carbon buffer, a natural cooling area to mitigate urban heat, and a space fostering connections between people and the natural environment. Plans for opening the park to the public by 2031 include a visitor center and facilities for education, recreation, and cultural activities.
While still ongoing, the Hamilton Biodiversity Park project exemplifies how urban development and ecological renewal can coexist through careful planning, scientific rigor, and community involvement. Sime Darby Property views the certification and recognitions not as endpoints but as milestones in a long-term process of landscape regeneration. The project illustrates the potential for rehabilitating fragmented and degraded environments, underscoring a hopeful narrative of restoration in rapidly changing landscapes.