SHAH ALAM, 16 Sept: Approximately 1,500 mangrove seedlings were successfully planted by the Selangor State Agriculture Department (JPNS) in the Mangrove Tree Planting programme to ensure that the sustainability of mangrove forests is preserved.
The programme was carried out at the Kuala Bernam Reserved Forest,,Kampung Sungai Air Tawar, in the district of Sabak Bernam on September 7 with the help of the Selangor Red Crescent Society (MRCS) and the Selangor Department of Environment involving about 800 students and staff from 21 schools in Selangor.
The Director of JPNS, Dr Mohd Puat Dahalan, said that the effort was carried out in line with the State Government’s desire which is the concern in preserving forests and the environment.
“Acknowledging the importance of mangrove forests and the threats of it being exploited, the State Government, through JPNS, has taken positive steps to preserve it by having Mangrove Forest Conservation Zones.
“It covers a total area of 18,088.8 hectares involving permanent reserved forests, 4.442 hectares of government and owned land, bring the total to about 22530 hectares. This plan was documented in the JPNS 2009-2019 Mangrove Forest Plan book,” he told Selangor Kini.
Mohd Puat said that the mangrove forest conservation zone was established to ensure that the remaining mangrove forests are taken care of and not cut down or for the land to be used for other things like for agriculture and settlements, in addition to the planning for sustainable mangrove forests.
“The area mangrove forests are gazetted as Permanent Reserved Forests is about 18,088.8 hectares that covers the district of Sabak Bernam, Kuala Selangor, Klang Kuala Langat and Sepang,” he said.
NS
