Sean Augustin, New Straits Times 1 Jul 09;
SETIU: Kampung Mangkuk here has become a shining beacon for other villages in the district when it comes to the conservation of mangrove trees.
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Malaysia's Setiu wetlands project community liaison officer River Foo said when the mangrove replanting programme was started last year, the people in the village were ignorant about conservation.
But all that has changed. On a scale of one to 10, environmental awareness has jumped from zero to eight, he said yesterday.
"They know what the WWF is trying to do as well as the importance of the mangrove ecosystem.
"But more importantly, they are enthusiastic about the whole project, especially the younger generation.
"We are pleased that the teachers in the school have also been encouraging their students to be more environmentally conscious," he said, adding that about 1,700 Asiatic mangrove (Rhizophora mucronata) and Nipah palm (Nypa fruticans) saplings have been planted, to date.
The project has also attracted non-governmental organisations to the site, which has in turn inspired the participation of the locals.
The mangrove ecosystem is important in preventing erosion on the riverbanks and is home to the Nipah crab and Galah prawns, which can contribute to the livelihood of the fishing community here.
Foo hopes that Kampung Mangkuk would be an inspiration to neighbouring villages and attract the people to take part in the project.
Sekolah Kebangsaan Mangkuk mathematics teacher Sahara Zakaria said he has seen a change in the villagers' thinking in the past year, especially among the younger generation.
"They are more environmentally conscious. They are looking at mangrove conservation and its benefits in the long term."
