MALAYSIAN NATURALIST, SEPTember 2014
A holistic approach to mangrove conservation,
by Ng Wai Pak, MNS Senior Wetland Conservation Officer
WHENEVER SOMEONE talks about wetland conservation, the general public might think of one thing only – the replanting of mangrove trees. In reality, conservation programmes may not be able to reach their goals by using one method in isolation. The involvement of the public with direct communities is part of the holistic approach in wetland conservation, and a team from Ricoh (Malaysia) took this to heart during their recent visit to the Kuala Selangor Nature Park (KSNP).
KSNP is the Malaysian Nature Society’s first environmental education centre, established in 1987 to conserve the mangrove habitat for wildlife found in the surrounding area, especially the iconic Silver Leaf Monkey and migratory birds. From there, MNS developed outreach programmes in the neighbouring communities to ensure local socio-economic activities are run sustainably, while at the same time striving to minimise the impact on the wetland habitat. Among the communities that are connected to MNS are Persatuan Pemandu Bot Kampung Kuantan and Persatuan Nelayan Bagan Sungai Buloh, the local associations of boat drivers and fishermen, respectively, and Home Stay Sungai Sireh, which was running the tour.
Eco-functions and local communities
Every community has its own characteristic in the ecosystem. In Kampung Kuantan, the firefly tour has come into its own, allowing tourists to enjoy this spectacular natural phenomenon and, in return, support the local communities in preserving the riverine mangrove forest. Meanwhile, in Sungai Buloh, the local folks depend on healthy mangroves and mudflats, which make up the intertidal zone, for cockle farming. Mangrove forests not only serve as a natural defence in the case of an unexpected disaster, but they are also breeding grounds and nurseries for fishes, crabs, shrimps and others sea creatures that are sources of protein, as well as income, for coastal residents. Thus, cockle harvesters have to be aware of how to sustain cockle and other seafood stock.
It is very important to get local residents to understand the importance of wetland conservation. However, this is not an easy task, and in fact, it is a long-term programme that involves continuous communication, monitoring, capacity building and retraining efforts.
by Ng Wai Pak, MNS Senior Wetland Conservation Officer
WHENEVER SOMEONE talks about wetland conservation, the general public might think of one thing only – the replanting of mangrove trees. In reality, conservation programmes may not be able to reach their goals by using one method in isolation. The involvement of the public with direct communities is part of the holistic approach in wetland conservation, and a team from Ricoh (Malaysia) took this to heart during their recent visit to the Kuala Selangor Nature Park (KSNP).
KSNP is the Malaysian Nature Society’s first environmental education centre, established in 1987 to conserve the mangrove habitat for wildlife found in the surrounding area, especially the iconic Silver Leaf Monkey and migratory birds. From there, MNS developed outreach programmes in the neighbouring communities to ensure local socio-economic activities are run sustainably, while at the same time striving to minimise the impact on the wetland habitat. Among the communities that are connected to MNS are Persatuan Pemandu Bot Kampung Kuantan and Persatuan Nelayan Bagan Sungai Buloh, the local associations of boat drivers and fishermen, respectively, and Home Stay Sungai Sireh, which was running the tour.
Eco-functions and local communities
Every community has its own characteristic in the ecosystem. In Kampung Kuantan, the firefly tour has come into its own, allowing tourists to enjoy this spectacular natural phenomenon and, in return, support the local communities in preserving the riverine mangrove forest. Meanwhile, in Sungai Buloh, the local folks depend on healthy mangroves and mudflats, which make up the intertidal zone, for cockle farming. Mangrove forests not only serve as a natural defence in the case of an unexpected disaster, but they are also breeding grounds and nurseries for fishes, crabs, shrimps and others sea creatures that are sources of protein, as well as income, for coastal residents. Thus, cockle harvesters have to be aware of how to sustain cockle and other seafood stock.
It is very important to get local residents to understand the importance of wetland conservation. However, this is not an easy task, and in fact, it is a long-term programme that involves continuous communication, monitoring, capacity building and retraining efforts.
No ordinary mangrove and firefly tour
Ricoh (Malaysia) has been involved in the mangrove restoration at KSNP since 2011 under its Much About Mangroves rehabilitation project. The earliest batch of the restored Rhizophora saplings has now grown to two metres or taller, and in their recent visit on 25 June, 2014, the Ricoh team were very excited to see that their mangrove trees were fruiting.
More importantly, they had the chance to see the bigger picture, namely the flyway, which is the flight path of bird migration, and beyond KSNP, visiting other wetland areas and the local communities related to these wetlands. The itinerary of the one-day eco-tour included a boat ride out to the intertidal zone to observe water birds and cockle harvesting, as well as a visit to a paddy nursery and an agro industry site. The objective of this tour was to enable the participants to witness for themselves the importance of the flyway, wetlands and the relationship with the socio-economic activities of the local communities. In essence, to get back to nature and rekindle the relationship between humans and the ecosystem.
Almost all the participants admitted that they had never before seen rice or corn “in the wild”. And, after they gazed at rows of paddy seedlings ready for planting and plucked corn by themselves, they fully appreciated the hardship of the farmers, in the amount of manual labour needed for these agro industries that provide the rice we eat on a daily basis and that delicious jagung bakar you can find at many roadside stalls.
One important fact that most people might neglect is this; a paddy field is considered an artificial wetland and it is a very important roosting site for migratory birds, especially during the high-tide period at the coast. Thus, it is essential that the usage of pesticides and chemical fertilisers follow strict guidelines, while a better alternative is the practice of biological pest control.
The boat trip to the intertidal zone was the highlight of the tour. Set several kilometres from the shore, these mudflats have been slated for cockle farming – one of the two largest yields in Peninsular Malaysia, apart from the Matang mangroves, according to research by Universiti Malaya in 2013 – with the fishermen having their own zones to seed, tend and harvest. During a high tide, the fishermen go out in boats and trawl the mudflats, at this juncture at a depth of some 20ft, armed with a steel trap at the end of a long pole. It was interesting to witness our fisherman guide pushing down the steel trap into the mud with one foot, while controlling the tiller with the other!
The cockle collectors shared that the zoning system ensured the industry is operated in a sustainable way for the people as well as non-human consumers, such as marine animals, shore birds and the migratory birds that will feed and roost along the mudflat area. The key to conserving this cockle production is to preserve the cockle breeding grounds in the mangrove and mudflats, and these coastal residents seem to be on board with the plan.
Ricoh (Malaysia) has been involved in the mangrove restoration at KSNP since 2011 under its Much About Mangroves rehabilitation project. The earliest batch of the restored Rhizophora saplings has now grown to two metres or taller, and in their recent visit on 25 June, 2014, the Ricoh team were very excited to see that their mangrove trees were fruiting.
More importantly, they had the chance to see the bigger picture, namely the flyway, which is the flight path of bird migration, and beyond KSNP, visiting other wetland areas and the local communities related to these wetlands. The itinerary of the one-day eco-tour included a boat ride out to the intertidal zone to observe water birds and cockle harvesting, as well as a visit to a paddy nursery and an agro industry site. The objective of this tour was to enable the participants to witness for themselves the importance of the flyway, wetlands and the relationship with the socio-economic activities of the local communities. In essence, to get back to nature and rekindle the relationship between humans and the ecosystem.
Almost all the participants admitted that they had never before seen rice or corn “in the wild”. And, after they gazed at rows of paddy seedlings ready for planting and plucked corn by themselves, they fully appreciated the hardship of the farmers, in the amount of manual labour needed for these agro industries that provide the rice we eat on a daily basis and that delicious jagung bakar you can find at many roadside stalls.
One important fact that most people might neglect is this; a paddy field is considered an artificial wetland and it is a very important roosting site for migratory birds, especially during the high-tide period at the coast. Thus, it is essential that the usage of pesticides and chemical fertilisers follow strict guidelines, while a better alternative is the practice of biological pest control.
The boat trip to the intertidal zone was the highlight of the tour. Set several kilometres from the shore, these mudflats have been slated for cockle farming – one of the two largest yields in Peninsular Malaysia, apart from the Matang mangroves, according to research by Universiti Malaya in 2013 – with the fishermen having their own zones to seed, tend and harvest. During a high tide, the fishermen go out in boats and trawl the mudflats, at this juncture at a depth of some 20ft, armed with a steel trap at the end of a long pole. It was interesting to witness our fisherman guide pushing down the steel trap into the mud with one foot, while controlling the tiller with the other!
The cockle collectors shared that the zoning system ensured the industry is operated in a sustainable way for the people as well as non-human consumers, such as marine animals, shore birds and the migratory birds that will feed and roost along the mudflat area. The key to conserving this cockle production is to preserve the cockle breeding grounds in the mangrove and mudflats, and these coastal residents seem to be on board with the plan.
Mangrove conservation needs continuous support
This eco-tour has been able to show that mangrove conservation is not only about replanting trees. It highlights the links between the local communities and consumers, as well as non-governmental organisations and funders, and their need to support each other.
The MNS Wetland Programme is now partnering with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE), Kuala Selangor District Council, Selangor Waters Management Authority and supporters such as Ricoh, the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme implemented by the UNDP to make KSNP a Ramsar site in 2015. At the same time, MNS would like to safeguard the North Central Selangor Coast, which is one of the largest bird flyway and remaining coastal mangroves and mudflats in Peninsular Malaysia.
This eco-tour has been able to show that mangrove conservation is not only about replanting trees. It highlights the links between the local communities and consumers, as well as non-governmental organisations and funders, and their need to support each other.
The MNS Wetland Programme is now partnering with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE), Kuala Selangor District Council, Selangor Waters Management Authority and supporters such as Ricoh, the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme implemented by the UNDP to make KSNP a Ramsar site in 2015. At the same time, MNS would like to safeguard the North Central Selangor Coast, which is one of the largest bird flyway and remaining coastal mangroves and mudflats in Peninsular Malaysia.