IPOH: To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the tsunami tragedy at the Changkat Keruing forest in Manjung, a non-governmental organisation planted about 700 mangrove trees.
Environmental Activists Society (Kuasa) together with the Changkat Keruing Village Community successfully organised the tree-planting ceremony on Saturday (Dec 28).
Kuasa’s secretary Hafizudin Nasarudin said the four-hour event received encouraging response with 100 participants, including environmental activists, local communities, representatives of sponsoring companies, and volunteers from various walks of life.
“A total of 700 mangrove trees have been successfully planted in mangrove forest areas that have been degraded due to the opening of shrimp ponds and unsustainable development activities for decades.
“This programme is held to commemorate the tsunami tragedy that occurred 20 years ago.
“The tragedy made us realise that areas protected by mangrove forests experienced a lower impact from the tsunami,” he said in a statement Tuesday (Dec 31).
Hafizudin said mangrove forests function as natural barriers that protect coastal areas from the threat of large waves.
He said therefore, planting mangrove trees can be a medium to increase public awareness of the importance of mangrove ecosystems in facing natural disasters.
“In addition, mangrove forests play an important role in reducing the effects of climate change, serving as habitats for various sea species, and ensuring the economic and ecological security of coastal communities,” he added.
He said the programme is supported by the Royal Institute of Surveyors Malaysia (RISM), Syarikat Lagenda Properties, and Pantai Hospital Manjung, who played an important role as the main sponsors to ensure the success of the programme.
The event, he said, also received cooperation from the Manjung Municipal Council.
Hafizudin added that the organisers together with the community had started this initiative three years ago with more than 5,000 mangrove trees planted since then.
He said the tree planting programme not only has a positive impact on environmental restoration, but has also succeeded in raising public awareness of the need to protect this increasingly endangered ecosystem.
“Hopefully, such efforts can continue in the future, and hopefully it will inspire more parties to join hands in ensuring environmental sustainability for future generations," he said.
