Malaysia: Restocking mangroves on Kukup Island

Peggy Loh New Straits Times 28 Mar 14;

CONSERVATION OF NATURE: Students and teachers join members of the Rotary Club of Johor Baru to undertake reforestation of mangroves on the island

OHOR BARU: FORTY-FIVE students and their teachers from five secondary schools here joined 20 members of the Rotary Club of Johor Baru (RCJB) in their second Mangrove Reforestation Project at Kukup Island recently.

While the inaugural exercise in 2012 was held at Tanjung Piai Johor National Park, this biennial reforestation event under the RCJB's "Preserve Planet Earth" initiative was at Kukup Island Johor National Park.

A five-minute boat ride from the Kukup jetty brought the participants to Kukup Island which is located just one kilometre off the shores of Kukup fishing village.

Before leaving for the island, participants met at the Kukup Visitors Centre for a briefing by Johor National Parks, Ramsar manager Siti Nur Azimah Abd Wahab.

They learnt that Kukup Island, covering 6.472sq km and surrounded by eight square kilometres of mudflats, is the second largest uninhabited mangrove island in the world.

In 2003, the island was granted a Ramsar Site status or designated a Wetland of International Importance by the Geneva-based Ramsar Convention Bureau.

Covered by luscious mangrove, Kukup Island is home to a myriad of wetland wildlife including mammals like wild boar and long-tail macaques, reptiles, amphibians, birds, fish, molluscs and crustaceans.

As a Ramsar Site, the island is an internationally important site where the ecological character of the site cannot be changed by human activity either within or in the vicinity of the island.

Participants learned about the benefits of mangrove forests not only for its ecological and economic functions but also as a valuable protection against the impact of natural disasters like the deadly tsunami.

Malaysia's mangroves are more diverse than those in tropical Australia, Africa and the Americas.

Mangroves are a unique ecosystem along our sheltered coasts and they have an important function as wave breaks and serve as natural barriers against heavy storms.

"Teenagers aged between 13 and 17 from the schools' Interact Clubs are encouraged to join RCJB in the Mangrove Reforestation Project to expose them to more active roles in a community activity," said club president Tan Chee Seng.

Concerned about how our mangrove forests must be preserved for future generations, Tan hoped that this replanting exercise will make the students think about how each one of them can make a difference.

"Don't ever say that this is not my job or not my responsibility, but (instead) do something to preserve what God has given us," he added.

On arrival at the site, the participants exchanged their footwear for rubber boots before climbing down from the boardwalk to the mangrove forest where they were assisted by the park staff who demonstrated how the saplings should be planted in the mudflats.

RCJB members and their families were joined by members of other Rotary Clubs in Johor, as well as members from the Johor Baru Senior Citizens Association.

The Singapore consul-general, Ian Mak, its vice-consul Nicholas Lee Shi Wei and some Singaporean families who live here, were also among the participants.

Tan Jie Yi, Tessa Tan Su En, Nicole Yong and Stefanie Lim were among the students from Convent Infant Jesus Johor Baru, who did not mind the mud knowing they were doing their respective parts in contributing to the Mangrove Reforestation Project.

"It's good for the students to come out to see our environment and do something useful," said Jeanne Conceicao, a Singaporean who has lived here for the last five years.

An urbanite who used to live in a flat, she feels very privileged to be able to enjoy the beauty and charm of a vibrant ecosystem in Johor.

Bordered by the Strait of Malacca, Tanjung Piai and Kukup Island are exposed to the changing tides and pollution from ships that ply the busy sea lane.

As mangroves are being destroyed, they have to be replanted and through the project, the RCJB is educating the younger generation and promoting public awareness of the importance of our mangrove ecosystem.

Kukup Island Johor National Park is located about 69km from Johor Baru.

For group events and enquiries, call Johor National Park Corporation at 07-223 7471 or 07-224 2525, fax 07-223 7472 or visit www.johorparks.com.

Read more: Restocking mangroves on Kukup Island - Johor - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/streets/johor/restocking-mangroves-on-kukup-island-1.535682#ixzz2xE2MEbEO