Bernama 25 Dec 09;
NIBONG TEBAL, Dec 25 (Bernama) -- Some five million mangrove trees were planted in coastal areas throughout the country since 2005 in the aftermath of the Dec 26 2004 tsunami tragedy which claimed the lives of 68 Malaysians.
Penang forestry director Mohd Puat Dahalan said the trees would serve as a "protective wall" in the event a tsunami were to strike again.
"Besides this, the mangrove trees will also help in reducing erosion of the coastline," he told reporters after officiating a mangrove planting ceremony in remembering the tragedy, here on Saturday.
He added that contractors tasked with the job of planting mangrove trees were being closely monitored to ensure the trees planted di dnot wilt.
Meanwhile, Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) member, Mohideen Abdul Kader suggested that the contracts to plant the trees be farmed out to the local population especially fishermen so as to help raise their income.
In Kuala Muda, Kedah, Yusoof Awang, the chairman of the Permatang Katong Tsunami Resettlement Scheme, called on the Kedah government to uphold its election promise not to charge the 126 families resettled at the scheme rent of RM50 a month.
He said PAS had promised them that they could stay at the houses for free if it were to come into power in the state which it did following the 2008 general election.
Eleven people were killed in the fishing settlement while 126 families were made homeless in the tsunami disaster on Dec 26, 2004.
-- BERNAMA
Mangrove trees slowly taking root in Penang via replanting programme
Winnie Yeoh, The Star 27 Dec 09;
GEORGE TOWN: The Forestry Department and several environmental NGOs have planted more than five million mangrove saplings nationwide over the last five years and they are not slowing down.
Penang Forestry Department director Mohd Puat Dahalan said since 2007, 88,000 mangrove saplings have been planted on 22ha of land with a survival rate of more than 70%.
“We are working closely with NGOs like Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) and the Penang Inshore Fishermen Welfare Association (Pifwa) in the planting effort which covers locations from Perlis to Johor and Sabah and Sarawak.
“We’ll monitor the saplings to make sure our efforts are not wasted,” he said during the fifth mangrove replanting programme in commemoration of the tsunami at Kuala Sungai Haji Ibrahim in Sungai Acheh, Nibong Tebal, yesterday.
More than 50 fishermen and their children took part, digging up the mud to plant 600 mangrove saplings at the site which was not spared the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami.
SAM council member Mohideen Abdul Kader said cooperation from the community was vital in ensuring the success of the planting effort as they were able to monitor the situation closely.
“Volunteers are also simultaneously planting 3,500 of these plants in seven other locations in Langkawi, Kerpan, Merbok, Tanjung Dawai in Kedah, Pontian in Johor, Kuala Kurau and Segari in Perak,” he said.
Pifwa chairman Ilias Shafie said mangrove trees were often sacrificed for modern development.
He said mangrove trees were instrumental in blocking the effects of the 2004 tsunami.
