KOTA KINABALU: A three-part Mangrove Preservation Outreach Campaign 2025 that began in July has concluded with the replanting of over 150 mangrove trees in several locations in and around the city.
The campaign, which saw the participation of students, villagers and volunteers, was an initiative of the oil and gas company Hibiscus Petroleum.
On Wednesday (Dec 17), the company held the last leg of this initiative in Papar near here, involving tertiary students and volunteers, among others.
The event in Papar marked the culmination of a Sabah-wide environmental education and conservation programme aimed at empowering young Malaysians to become future custodians of the state's mangrove ecosystems.
The half-day event, themed "Shaping Tomorrow’s Mangrove Protectors Today", started with an opening ceremony at the community hall in Kampung Biau, where attendees also listened to a talk by the Sabah Wetlands Conservation Society (SWCS) on the importance of mangrove ecosystems.
Hibiscus’ environment and sustainable development manager (health, safety and environment) Rasima Abdul Rasid @ Awang also spoke on the environmental responsibilities of oil and gas companies.
The highlight was the planting of mangrove saplings by the participants at Pantai Manis.
Hibiscus’ head of Operated Asset Sabah, Ahmad Fazmee Baharuden, expressed pride in the campaign’s impact and the commitment shown by participants throughout the year.
He said mangroves were nature’s silent guardians, protecting coastlines, supporting rich biodiversity, and helping to mitigate climate change.
"Through this campaign, every student who planted a sapling contributed to a living legacy that will benefit future generations.
"It is crucial that young people understand the value of mangroves and take part in their preservation.
"Their participation today strengthens the foundation for long-term conservation efforts," he said.
He added that the campaign underscored the company's ongoing efforts to support environmental conservation, community engagement and sustainable development in its areas of operation.
The campaign, held in collaboration with SWCS, was launched at the Kota Kinabalu Wetland Ramsar Site in Kota Kinabalu on July 3 followed by a second event in Tuaran on Sept 30.
According to Hibiscus, it is aimed at raising awareness on the ecological importance of mangrove forests, strengthening youth engagement in environmental stewardship, and supporting long-term coastal resilience in Sabah.
The campaign involved 142 students from 14 secondary schools and three universities, fulfilling the programme’s objective of nurturing a new generation of environmentally conscious youth.
The final programme in Papar brought together more than 40 students and lecturers from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), University College Sabah Foundation (UCSF) and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Sabah.
Members of the community from Kampung Biau, Papar, also took part.
The Papar District Council played a role in the last leg of the programme by identifying the site for the planting of mangrove saplings.
