Wonders of Matang mangrove forest

Jaspal Singh, New Straits Times 17 May 08;

Students from 28 schools throughout Malaysia attended a recent environmental awareness programme at Matang mangrove forest in Perak. JASPAL SINGH writes on the importance of learning about the subject from young.

"MANGROVES are the first line of defence when tsunami strikes our shores," says Ahmad Naufal Basri, a 17-year-old student of Kolej Islam Sultan Alam Shah, Selangor.

Ahmad Naufal, who is also the college's Unesco Club president, admits that he and his fellow students had learnt about the importance of mangroves in college.

"I arrived at Matang mangrove forest complex on my first field trip with that on my mind.

"I believe it's the same with the others," he says during a short lunch break at Matang Mangrove Forest's Eco-Tourism Centre in Kuala Sepetang, near Taiping, Perak.

Just one day at the complex and Ahmad Naufal soon realises that the mangrove trees serve more than that one purpose.

Ahmad Naufal and 62 students from 28 schools all over Malaysia, together with Unesco Club members of the University of Malaya, had a wonderful opportunity discovering the importance of preserving mangrove forests during their recent three-day study tour of the site.

Not only did they learn about the complex ecosystem of mangrove forests at the 40,466ha jungle reserve, but they also found out that this type of forests is important in generating revenue.

Professor Dr Zulkifli Yusop, director of the Institute Of Environmental and Water Resources at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (IPASA-UTM), is one of the coordinators of this year's environmental campaign which also included a three-day visit to Langkawi Geopark.

He says nearly 98 per cent of the students selected for the seven-day Matang Mangrove Forest and Langkawi Geopark study tour under the Environmental Awareness Programme 2008 were Unesco Club members of their schools and university.

Thanks to the combined efforts of the Malaysian National Commission for United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (MNCU), Malaysia International Hydrological Programme, IPASA-UTM and the Education Ministry, among others, these lucky students got the chance to closely observe the beauty of nature and learn the importance of preserving mangrove mudflats and forests.

The Matang Mangrove Forest and Langkawi Geopark study tour is the third organised by MNCU; the first two programmes were held at Endau-Rompin National Park and Mulu National Park in 2005 and 2007 respectively.

Forming a crescent-like strip along the coast of Perak, the Matang mangrove forest stretches about 54km from Kuala Gula in the north to Bagan Panchor in the south.

With a maximum width of 13.5km, the forest is also home to various animal species and a major feeding ground for more than 100 types of migratory bird species which make their stop at Kuala Gula Bird Sanctuary during the August-April migratory cycle to escape the harsh northern winter and then fly back north to roost.

Mangroves are among the world's most productive wetlands. These trees grow by adapting to the harsh saline environment. They anchor the shoreline, slow down tidal currents and provide a natural buffer against erosion and tropical storms.

This type of coastal forest also protects freshwater sources by preventing salt water from intruding inland, as well as slows down sedimentation from inland thereby protecting coral reefs and seagrass vital to marine ecology.

And, the students gathered that mangroves too contribute immensely to human existence and quality of life.

Besides providing timber for construction, wood for fuel and charcoal, mangrove ecosystem is responsible for the maintenance of coastal capture fisheries which provide the bulk of shellfish caught off the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia.

Mangroves and the surrounding wetlands provide a host of natural resources such as honey from hives of honey bees, food and thatch from the nipah palm, tannin to "cure" leather and wood for carving as well as medicinal needs for the coastal communities.

The Matang mangrove forest's calm brackish waters are a favoured habitat for various types of animals.

The unique structure of mangrove prop roots can sometimes discourage larger predatory animals from venturing into the mangroves.

A high diversity of insects, crustaceans, molluscs, reptiles, small mammals and birds make mangroves their home. These include otters and civets which prey on the fish and crustaceans.

Silver-leaf monkeys and long-tailed macaques find shelter and survive on crabs, cockles, selected young shoots and fruits while reptiles such as water monitor and mangrove snakes feed on birds, eggs and rodents.

Many waterbird species, either local or migratory, feed along the mudflats on different types of snails, shellfishes, molluscs and worms.

"It is a rare opportunity to learn about the complex biodiversity of mangrove forests," says Associate Professor Dr Ismail Abustan, head of Water Management Cluster at Universiti Sains Malaysia.

Ismail, who is one of the programme coordinators, says more Unesco Clubs mean more students taking part in ongoing environmental programmes organised by MNCU.

MNCU executive secretary Haslinda Alias says there are 26 such clubs in Malaysia and these were set up as early as the 1970s.

Though the idea of setting up a Unesco Club in every school is an attractive one, Haslinda is quick to say that this may take time to materialise as it requires effort to ensure that the clubs are active at all times. Besides, schools need to arrange finances for the clubs on their own.

Although MNCU is given an annual grant of about RM1 million a year by the government, the sum is considerably small compared to the number of schools nationwide.

"That is why MNCU prefers to spend funds on choice environmental awareness programmes. Even then we try to source expertise and funds from government agencies and professional bodies."

That explains the limited number of students selected for MNCU's environmental programmes, says MNCU senior programme officer Norfaliza Ismail.

Zulkifli and Ismail offer a three-step proposal to help students understand their natural surroundings:

- creating more environmental awareness programmes for students in more schools;

- introducing a dedicated curriculum on the environment in schools; and

- channelling special allocation to every student in the country to enable them to discover nature through personal observation

"Expose students to environmental issues from the time they are young; perhaps in the first three or five years of primary school with a follow-up programme during their secondary years," says Zulkifli.

As for the immediate future, Ismail believes that schools or district education offices can take the lead by organising environmental awareness programmes at the district level.

"You can find educational environmental attractions in every state and in almost every district," he says.

"The other thing is for more non-governmental organisations and professional bodies to spare time and money towards arranging this type of extra-curricular activities for students."

As Zulkifli takes a long look at some of the students getting excited at the sight of an oversized mudskipper feeding on the mudflats, he remarks that it is crucial to nurture environment-friendly citizens, starting with the young.

"As the saying melentur buluh biarlah dari rebung goes, it is best to mould a person when he is still young.

"There is simply no better alternative to starting them young."