Canon Malaysia and Penang Hill Corporation (PHC) have formalized a five-year strategic partnership to support biodiversity documentation, conservation, and environmental awareness at the Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve (PHBR). Under the agreement, Canon has been designated as the Official Imaging Partner of PHC, contributing its equipment ranging from cameras to printers to document and promote the ecological significance of the reserve.
The PHBR was designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve under the Man and the Biosphere Programme in 2021. Covering 12,481 hectares, it is home to more than 2,000 species of flora and over 500 species of fauna, and stands as Malaysia’s only urban-adjacent coastal and terrestrial rainforest ecosystem of its kind. For Canon’s part, the camera maker has been a supporter and sponsor of the Penang Hill Festival since its inception in 2018.
Canon Malaysia Continues PHC Partnership
A central component of the collaboration is PHC’s Bird Documentation Project, for which Canon will supply professional cameras and lenses for its efforts. The project aims to create a long-term visual archive of bird species within the Biosphere Reserve, developed in close collaboration with the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS). Both organizations will jointly organize annual photography and videography workshops at Penang Hill, including programs held during the Penang Hill Festival.
Selected bird photographic works featuring native and migratory species found at Penang Hill will be exhibited at the Penang Hill Station; notably, the exhibition prints are produced using the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-510 inkjet printer. Five dedicated birdwatching spots will also be introduced across Penang Hill to improve accessibility for visitors, photographers, and birdwatching enthusiasts.
Masato Yoshiie, President and CEO of Canon Marketing Malaysia, noted that the partnership reflects Canon’s kyosei philosophy of living and working together for the common good, with imaging serving as a tool to elevate conservation and awareness efforts. Dato’ Cheok Lay Leng, General Manager of PHC, described the collaboration as reinforcing the PHBR’s vision as a model for sustainable tourism and environmental stewardship.
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