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Forest City SFZ: 2.86M m² Green Space, LEED Gold, 9km Mangrove Restoration

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Forest City SFZ: 2.86M m² Green Space, LEED Gold, 9km Mangrove Restoration

2026-06-16 08:47 UTCBy AlphaScala Research DeskSource reporting: manilatimes.netEditorial standards

Forest City SFZ: 2.86M m² Green Space, LEED Gold, 9km Mangrove Restoration

Forest City SFZ publishes 2.86M m² green space, LEED Gold Pre-Certification, and 9km mangrove restoration as JS-SEZ master plan nears completion. 48 investment enquiries recorded in Q1 2026.

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Forest City Special Financial Zone released an updated ESG summary this week, publishing verifiable environmental metrics as the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone master plan nears completion. The data covers 2.86 million m² of green space, LEED-CS Gold Pre-Certification, and a coastal restoration programme that has restored 9 km of mangroves along the Johor coastline.

The release comes as the JS-SEZ master plan targets RM 260 billion in Johor GDP contribution by 2030 across 11 sectors. Forest City SFZ, designated a Special Financial Zone in 2024, sits within that corridor. The zone's governance framework now carries bilateral endorsement through the Malaysia-Singapore JS-SEZ agreement signed in January 2025.

Natazha Harris, CEO of the Johor Investment Promotion Agency, said the zone recorded 48 investment enquiries in the first four months of 2026. The potential investment value under discussion is estimated at several billion ringgit, with the annual RM2 billion target expected to be exceeded. Key sectors include financial services, the digital economy, green technology, and high-value-added services.

Green Space and Biodiversity

The master plan dedicates over 60% of total land area to non-built space. That translates to 2.86 million m² of green infrastructure: two golf courses, public parks, landscaped residential zones, and mangrove corridors. As of 2026, the site supports more than 400 documented species.

For investors conducting ESG due diligence, the green-space ratio represents a structural commitment set at the master plan stage. It cannot be replicated through incremental upgrades.

LEED-CS Gold Pre-Certification

Forest City's buildings earned LEED-CS Gold Pre-Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, an independent third party. Pre-Certification verifies design intent and formal commitment to sustainability criteria covering energy modelling, water efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. The credential offers an externally validated benchmark aligned with global standards.

Forest City has also received awards from the United Nations Global Forum on Human Settlements, including the 2020 Global Model of Coastal Ecological Environmental Protection Award and the 2021 Global Model of Low-Carbon City Planning and Design.

Coastal Restoration Programme

Forest City's landscape department implemented mangrove protection initiatives during the development phase, including monitoring the coastline, collecting seeds, and supporting germination in the nursery. The programme now collaborates with professional environmental and research institutions. In a recent partnership with HOPE 100, around 250 participants planted more than 1,000 mangrove saplings.

The coastal design extends beyond mangroves to include 4 km of accessible beachfront coastline, shallow coves and mudflats, and 250 hectares of seagrass habitat preservation. Universiti Putra Malaysia launched a long-term monitoring and assisted recovery programme (2015-2025) focused on the seagrass ecosystem at Merambong Shoal, the largest seagrass habitat in Peninsular Malaysia. Since the programme's inception, the number of seagrass species at the site has increased from 8 to 12, alongside a corresponding expansion in seagrass coverage. The area now supports more than 100 marine species, including dugongs, flounders, sea cucumbers, and seahorses.

Commercial Integration

The same green infrastructure that supports biodiversity also underpins leisure and tourism amenities. The mangrove corridors, 4 km coastline, and sea fishing programmes are open to day visitors and weekend travellers. The Forest City Golf Resort features two courses: the Jack Nicklaus Legacy Course (par-72, 7,386 yards), ranked within the top 50 of the 2024-2025 Asia-Pacific Top 100 Golf Courses list, and the Liang Guo Kun Classic Course (7,138 yards), ranked in the Top 100 Golf Courses in Asia for six consecutive years.

ESG Disclosure Context

Malaysia launched the National Sustainability Reporting Framework in 2024, requiring listed companies and large enterprises to adopt IFRS Sustainability Disclosure Standards. The Singapore Exchange has implemented comparable requirements for its listed entities. For enterprises operating within the SFZ, the integrated environment where land and marine ecosystems are preserved enhances their environmental performance and strengthens their sustainability credentials.

Forest City SFZ's latest ESG credentials indicate measurable sustainability progress, evidenced by LEED-CS Gold Pre-Certification, verified green-space and biodiversity metrics, and an ongoing coastal restoration programme. The SFZ incentive structure and MM2H programme round out the proposition for capital and talent.