Aiding in the regeneration of mangrove trees

SABAK BERNAM: The villagers of Kampung Dato’ Hormat in Sabak Bernam have been actively involved in mangrove rehabilitation since 2012. The village is located about 300m from a mangrove forest on the fringes of Sungai Bernam.

Recently, the Global Environmental Centre (GEC) and Yayasan Petronas organized a briefing on the village’s upcoming mangrove replanting program. This event was crucial for the villagers as the mangrove forest serves as a vital buffer zone, protecting their village from storms, floods, and erosion. Additionally, the forest provides a source of livelihood for many villagers who fish in the area.

Kampung Dato’ Hormat has a population of 350, with farming and fishing being the main activities for most residents, according to Bernama. However, since 2006, over 20ha of mangroves behind their village have been destroyed due to unsustainable aquaculture activities, leaving the mangrove swamp lacking in moisture and water. This has had a negative impact on marine resources, reducing the available fish for the villagers to catch.

To address these issues, the Friends of Kampung Dato’ Hormat Mangrove Forest (FKDHMF) was formed in 2012, in collaboration with GEC, the Selangor Forestry Department, Sabak Bernam Irrigation and Drainage Office, and the local council. There are currently about 20 residents of Kampung Dato’ Hormat who are members of FKDHMF. So far, they have replanted a total of 42,600 mangrove trees in the 21ha mangrove forest.

In addition to replanting efforts, FKDHMF members have also been able to generate a side income and funds for the rehabilitation and conservation of their mangrove forest. They collaborate with corporate companies in tree-planting endeavors to earn carbon credits. For example, they have been working with Yayasan Petronas and GEC since 2021, not only to secure funding but also to open a nursery for mangrove saplings. The nursery, which is 65sqm in size, currently has about 15,000 saplings that are sold to other companies for their tree-planting efforts.

Mangrove trees play a crucial role in absorbing greenhouse gases and converting them into clean oxygen. According to GEC’s forest and coastal program manager, mangrove forests are capable of absorbing five times more atmospheric carbon than tropical forests. The involvement of local communities and the provision of sustainable livelihood options are essential for successful conservation efforts, according to GEC director Faizal Parish and Yayasan Petronas CEO Shariah Nelly Francis.