Action plan for conserving nation’s mangrove forests

Vulnerable ecosystems: A mangrove forest at Kuala Sepetang, Perak. There has been a notable decline in mangrove forests nationwide since 2017. — File pic

MANGROVE forests have been protecting Malaysia’s coastal areas from monsoons, sheltering young marine life and burying huge amounts of carbon underground for centuries.

According to the Natural Resources and Environment Sustainability Ministry, mangrove forests currently span about 586,548ha of the country with Sabah holding 57%, Sarawak 23% and Peninsular Malaysia 20%.