THE Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) has planted 300 mangrove trees of the species bakau minyak (Rhizophora apiculata) along Sungai Tembus in conjunction with World Wetlands Day.
Its mayor Datuk Azhar Arshad (pic) said the programme was also meant to mark World Migratory Bird Day.
“We want to raise awareness among the public on the importance of conserving migratory birds and their ecosystems on a global scale.
“The 8km-coastal area, from Teluk Air Tawar to Kuala Muda, Penaga including Sungai Tembus, is recognised as a ‘flyway site’ for migratory birds that migrate through the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.
“Generally, it is estimated that more than 15,000 migratory birds from northeast Asia, including Russia, China, Japan and South Korea stop at this Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) every year before flying to other destinations.
“This area is also home to at least 3,000 local water birds.
“This requires the preservation and maintenance of the environment to create an ecosystem that provides habitat for various marine and coastal species, including migratory birds,” he said during a forest bathing and mangrove tree planting programme held in conjunction with World Migratory Bird Day near Sungai Tembus, north Seberang Prai.
Also present was Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) Penang branch chairman Tan Choo Eng.
Azhar was also quoted by Buletin Mutiara as saying that mangrove planting was one of the methods to conserve and preserve wetland and mangrove areas that serve as stopover sites for migratory birds and also habitats for water birds.
“There are various benefits of mangrove trees that can provide multiple economic benefits to fishermen in this area.
“In addition, mangrove forests act as buffers against strong winds, storms, and stabilise shores and rivers,” he said.
