KUALA LUMPUR, June 19 (Bernama) — CIMB Foundation has committed to planting 7,000 mangrove trees through its Mangrove Conservation Initiative, towards restoring mangrove canopy gap areas at the Kuala Selangor Nature Park (KSNP) over the next two years.
In collaboration with the Institute for Environment and Development of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (LESTARI-UKM) and The Malaysian Mangrove Research Alliance and Network (MyMangrove), the project will be further enriched through the efforts of volunteers combined with resources and research by conservation experts and environmental NGOs.
This effort would help increase awareness of the importance of building healthy mangrove biodiversity and ecosystems, CIMB and LESTARI-UKM said in their joint statement, here, today.
“The initiative will have a sustainable impact on approximately 40 per cent of the 200,000-strong population of the Kuala Selangor district, through protection against the effects of land erosion, storms and tidal surges.
“In addition, it will expand the mangrove forests, aid the restoration of abandoned aquaculture ponds, and is also expected to have a spillover effect on the Kuala Selangor district community and offering an additional economic venture for five fishing communities through the creation of marketed and commercialised products.
“Mangroves play an important function in producing and providing ecosystems which benefit the fauna and surrounding communities. They also act as an agent in protecting key environmental and climate cycles, as well as the rich biodiversity,” it added.
The foundation is taking an active step in mitigating the effects of climate change through the CIMB-UKM Mangrove Conservation Initiative which consists of three parts, namely, Education and Awareness, Habitat Restoration, and Research and Development.
The programmes include mangrove planting, nursery, biodiversity and ecosystem services, as well as research on carbon stock and carbon sequestration in developing mechanisms for carbon financing.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency