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STUDENTS Kesn Kanagasaba and Amadeus Lai Ze Xian are actively involved in mangrove rescue and replanting at Tanjung Kupang in Gelang Patah, Johor.
They are citizen science members of Kelab Alami, an NGO which reaches out to the public on the importance of mangrove and seagrass conservation in the area.
“The club has taught me a lot about the rich biodiversity of the mangrove ecosystem,” said 17-year-old Kesn of Shattuck St Mary’s-Forest City International School (SSM-FC).
He joined the Kelab Alami Citizen Science Centre at the school in March this year with schoolmate Ze Xian.
An avid birdwatcher, Kesn has recorded the presence of migratory birds like the blue tailed bee-eater and blue throated bee-eater at 30 different locations in Forest City.
He hopes to become an environmental scientist.
Ze Xian, 18, said he had learnt a lot about mangrove species such as bakau minyak, bakau kurap and bakau kecil.
“The mangrove trees take between 10 and 30 years to grow from saplings.
“We also gain a lot of knowledge from the local fishermen who know the mangrove forests like the back of their hand,” said Ze Xian who wants to be an environmental engineer.
Kelab Alami project officer Nur Syazwani Ali said the members rescued saplings around Tanjung Kupang’s jetties that would otherwise be destroyed due to boat traffic.
“The local fishermen earn income from rescuing, transporting and replanting mangrove saplings in areas that need coastal reinforcement or more biodiversity.”
Meanwhile, local communities and students are trained in citizen science to document and monitor mangrove growth.
“Replanted mangroves have had low success in growing but we hope to improve these percentages,” Nur Syazwani said, adding that the club sold saplings to others to replant at other sites.
The initiative began in March this year with 1,873 saplings rescued and replanted by May.
“The local fishing community has earned RM28,095 so far by replanting an area of 5,500sq m,” said Nur Syazwani.
