What Malaysia Forest Fund does

Malaysia Forest Fund (MFF) is a government-mandated finance mechanism established under Malaysia's National REDD Plus Strategy and operating under the supervision of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES). Its mandate is to develop and implement solutions for financing forest conservation, protection, restoration, and sustainable management of Malaysia's forest estate. MFF operates three core instruments: the REDD Plus Finance Framework (RFF), the Forest Conservation Certificate (FCC) Protocol — approved by the Ministry of Finance on March 27, 2023 — and the Forest Carbon Offset (FCO) Program, which is under development. These instruments are supported by a publicly accessible Registry (mffregistry.my) that catalogues projects, participants, verification reports, certificate issuance, and disbursements for transparency and accountability.

MFF's business model is donation-driven rather than commercially priced. Corporations, individuals, and government entities contribute cash donations (minimum RM1,000) under the FCC Program, which are tied to specific conservation projects — the FCC does not permit collection without a corresponding project. Donors receive Forest Conservation Certificates and qualify for tax deductions of up to 10% of aggregate income under Section 44(11C) of the Income Tax Act 1967. MFF reaches stakeholders through participation in government forums, international climate conferences (COP29, COP30), ESG exhibitions (IGEM, ESG Xchange, ASEAN Carbon Forum), state-level REDD Plus Finance Framework Exploration Programs, and formal partnership signings with corporate donors, banks, capital-market intermediaries, and state investment vehicles. Documented partners include RHB Banking Group, Bursa Malaysia, KWAP, Gold Standard, ByteDance, Bina Darulaman Berhad, and Cyberview, alongside engagement with state forestry departments across Sabah, Sarawak, Kedah, Pahang, Perak, Selangor, and Peninsular Malaysia.

The organization is governed by REDD Plus Steering and Technical Committees and the REDD Plus Financial Framework Advisory Committee (RFFAC). Leadership comprises Chairman Dr. Yasmin Rasyid and former CEO Dato' Mohamed Shah Redza bin Hussein, who has departed as of 2025. MFF is headquartered at T2-L19-3, Level 19, IOI City Tower Two, Lebuh IRC, IOI Resort City, 62502 Putrajaya, Malaysia, and operates a small team. MFF is not a venture-backed or privately-owned entity; it is a statutory government body — meaning its growth depends on government-mandated budget allocations (the ecological fiscal transfer plan increased from RM70 million to RM100 million, with RM330 million allocated under the Tahap payout plan) and on its ability to mobilize corporate and individual donations through its certification and registry infrastructure.

Name

Malaysia Forest Fund

Legal name

Malaysia Forest Fund

Website

https://myforestfund.com.my

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Malaysia Forest Fund is a government-mandated finance mechanism under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability that administers Malaysia's REDD Plus Finance Framework, the Forest Conservation Certificate Protocol, and the Forest Carbon Offset Program, channeling donations from corporate and individual donors to state forestry departments and conservation project proponents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Forest Conservation Finance

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (11531)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Forest Carbon Projects & Ecosystem Services (Carbon Credits, Biodiversity) (IMAMAAAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Forestry, Land Use & REDD+ Programs (BPADALAF), Carbon Accounting, Verification & Registry Services (MRV, Audits, Certification) (IMAMAJAE), Carbon Sequestration & Forest Carbon Credits (AFAMAMAA)

Keywords

• Forest conservation finance
• REDD Plus financing
• Carbon offset programs
• Conservation certification
• Ecological fiscal transfer

Headquarters

HQ city

Putrajaya

HQ country

Malaysia

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: MFF receives donations from corporations, individuals, and government entities for forest conservation activities under the FCC program. Donors receive Forest Conservation Certificates and tax deductions of up to 10% of aggregate income for contributions of RM1,000 and above. The FCC does not allow collection of donations without a corresponding project.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Malaysia Forest Fund administers the REDD Plus Finance Framework, the Forest Conservation Certificate (FCC) Protocol, and the Forest Carbon Offset (FCO) Program to channel corporate, individual, and governmental donations into forest conservation, protection, restoration, and sustainable management projects in Malaysia. Donations of RM1,000 and above qualify donors for tax deductions of up to 10% of aggregate income, and all projects are tracked through a publicly accessible Registry. Funds are disbursed to approved conservation activities managed by state forestry departments, private landowners, and indigenous or local communities.

Product overview

Malaysia Forest Fund operates as a government-mandated finance entity managing two interconnected programs under the REDD Plus Finance Framework (RFF): the Forest Conservation Certificate (FCC) for non-carbon conservation financing, and the Forest Carbon Offset (FCO) for carbon credit programs. Both programs feed into the publicly accessible MFF Registry for tracking projects, verification, and certificate management. The FCC provides tax deduction incentives for forest conservation contributions starting at RM1,000, while the FCO enables carbon offset generation from forest protection activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• REDD Plus Finance Framework (RFF): Finance mechanism designed to incentivize activities that help keep forests standing, using funds for non-carbon benefits and carbon credits.
• Forest Conservation Certificate (FCC) Protocol
• Forest Carbon Offset (FCO) Program

Products and services

• Forest Conservation Certificate (FCC) Protocol A certification protocol under the REDD Plus Finance Framework that provides a mechanism for companies and individuals to contribute to forest conservation, protection, restoration, and sustainable management efforts, offering tax deductions of up to 10% of aggregate income for contributions of RM1,000 and above.
• Forest Carbon Offset (FCO) Program A forest carbon offset program under the REDD Plus Finance Framework that enables carbon credit generation and trading from forest protection and conservation activities, aimed at corporations and organizations seeking to offset carbon emissions through verified forest projects.
• REDD Plus Finance Framework (RFF) A finance mechanism under the National REDD Plus Strategy that incentivizes forest conservation by channeling funds for both non-carbon benefits and carbon credits, delivering environmental and socio-economic benefits alongside climate benefits.
• MFF Registry A publicly accessible central repository (mffregistry.my) containing information on participants, projects, project status, conformity to Cancun Safeguards, project location, activities, documentation, verification reports, and certificate issuance records for forest conservation projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• Incentive for states to preserve nature increased from RM70 million to RM100 million under the ecological fiscal transfer plan.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bina Darulaman Berhad (BDB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2025Conservation Agreement signing ceremony between MFF, Bina Darulaman Berhad, ByteDance, and BDB Infra Sdn Bhd held at Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur Hotel on 26 February 2025. The agreement covers forest conservation at Darulaman Sanctuary, Langkawi, Kedah, including tree planting programs with BDB and ByteDance.
• ByteDancecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 February 2025ByteDance participated in the Conservation Agreement signing ceremony with MFF and Bina Darulaman Berhad for the Darulaman Sanctuary conservation project in Langkawi, Kedah, involving tree planting activities alongside BDB.
• RHB Banking GroupcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 February 2025Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony between RHB Banking Group and Malaysia Forest Fund, held on 12 February 2025. The partnership represents a strategic collaboration with a major Malaysian banking group for potential conservation financing initiatives.
• Gold StandardcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Memorandum of Understanding exchange ceremony between Malaysia Forest Fund and Gold Standard — a leading certification standard for global environmental and social impact projects. This collaboration aims to enhance the integrity and credibility of MFF's conservation programs through alignment with Gold Standard certification requirements.
• Perbadanan Teknologi Hijau MelakaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Letter of Intent exchange session between Perbadanan Teknologi Hijau Melaka (Melaka Green Technology Corporation) and Malaysia Forest Fund, signaling potential collaboration on green technology and conservation initiatives in Melaka state.
• Bursa MalaysiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMemorandum of Collaboration exchange ceremony between Bursa Malaysia (the Malaysian stock exchange) and Malaysia Forest Fund. This partnership positions MFF within the capital markets ecosystem, potentially enabling listed companies to access conservation finance mechanisms.
• CyberviewminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCyberview served as ESG Strategic Partner at the Sustainability Pledge Ceremony held at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, with MFF as a participant.
• Yayasan Hijau MalaysiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCourtesy visit from Yayasan Hijau Malaysia (National Green Foundation Malaysia) — a government-linked foundation focused on environmental sustainability — indicating ongoing engagement with Malaysia's green ecosystem.
• MBI Modal Sdn Bhd / Menteri Besar Terengganu IncorporatedminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCourtesy visit from MBI Modal Sdn Bhd, Menteri Besar Terengganu Incorporated & Terengganu Strategic & Integrity Institute, representing state government investment vehicles in Terengganu exploring forest conservation collaboration.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Gold Standard: A leading certification standard for high-integrity carbon and sustainability credits, with strong REDD+ project methodology. Directly comparable to MFF's FCC Protocol in providing verified forest-conservation certification; MFF is in fact a Gold Standard MoU partner.
• Indonesia REDD+ Agency (BP REDD+ / Ditjen PPI under KLHK): Indonesia's national agency responsible for REDD+ strategy implementation and climate finance for forest conservation. Most directly comparable to MFF as a sovereign-mandated forest finance mechanism in a neighboring Southeast Asian jurisdiction.

Broad incumbents

• UN-REDD Programme: A UN collaborative initiative supporting national REDD+ strategies across more than 60 partner countries. Comparable to MFF in mandate (national REDD+ finance and strategy support) but operates at international policy level rather than as a national finance mechanism.
• Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF): A World Bank-administered global facility that channels results-based finance to REDD+ programs across developing countries. Comparable to MFF in mission and instrument design (carbon payments for verified forest emissions reductions), though operating at global scale rather than single-country.
• Verra (Verified Carbon Standard): The world's largest voluntary carbon standard body, issuing REDD+ and forest carbon credits globally. Comparable to MFF in certifying forest-conservation outcomes, though Verra is a private multi-program standard rather than a sovereign finance vehicle.

Others

• Conservation International: A global conservation organization with substantial REDD+ and forest carbon finance programs across tropical forest countries including Malaysia. Adjacent comparator given overlapping forest-conservation-finance mission and corporate-donor engagement model.

Regional players

• Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN): An Indonesian conservation foundation (formerly WWF-Indonesia) active in forest landscape management and conservation financing in Southeast Asia. Comparable as a regional conservation-finance actor, though operates as an NGO rather than a state-mandated vehicle.

Emerging players

• South Pole Group: A major private-sector developer of nature-based carbon credits including forestry projects across Southeast Asia. Comparable to MFF's FCO program in originating and monetizing forest carbon, but as a commercial developer rather than a government-mandated body.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/myforestfund
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/malaysia-forest-fund

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Malaysia Forest Fund