SANDAKAN: Some 2,000 Bankita mangrove seedlings (Rhizophora apiculata) were planted at Sungai Gum Gum and Sungai Loboh Forest Reserves on Tuesday.
It is as an effort to restore mangrove ecosystem through the Smart Community Programme themed “Plant Mangroves, Plant Hope for the Future and Sustainable Development Goals” (SDGs).
The is a strategic collaboration between the Sabah Forestry Research Centre (FRC) Sandakan and the International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems (ISME), with the active participation of the Forestry Department representative, said Dr Joseph Tangah, Deputy Head (Administration & Development) of FRC who is also an ISME member.
The planting programme was attended by 251 participants including accompanying officers and participants of the Festival Agromakanan dan Bioteknologi (FAMB) 2024 from Polytechnics and Community Colleges.
It focuses on mangrove ecosystem conservation and contributes to the achievement of SDGs, particularly SDG 14 which emphasises the importance of marine and coastal governance.
Mangrove restoration efforts are also in line with other SDGs including eradicating poverty and hunger (SDG 1 and 2), ensuring sustainable economic growth and livelihoods (SDG 8), and halting the loss of mangrove biodiversity.
The program has yielded various positive impacts, including training and exposing participants to the importance, planting techniques, and care of mangroves, fostering awareness about the importance of preserving mangrove ecosystems for the well-being of future generations.
Apart from that, the programme is able to strengthen relationships and cooperation between the government, educational institutions, and Non-Government Organisations in mangrove restoration efforts and achieving the SDGs.
