Ocean Sentry
Advocating one thing and doing another best describes the situation in Sungai Sepang Kecil where mangrove trees lining the river have been sacrificed by a certain authority for a river-deepening and widening project.
The culprit in question is the Sepang Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID).
According to experts, the damage done is irreversible. They are lamenting the fact that the DID proceeded with the project without an impact study, crucial research and consulting the experts.
Four years ago, the Bagan Lalang-Tanjung Sepat coastline was identified as an environmentally-sensitive area.
Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) environmental education department head I.S.Shanmugaraj told the project was carried out last year without taking into account the serious repercussions.
Mangroves are formed by plants and trees that grow in salty or saline water in an inter-tidal or coastal zone.
They offer breeding grounds for seafood, control floods, protect against erosion and supply forest products like charcoal and construction material.
“When the mangrove was cleared, a thriving habitat for a small colony of fireflies was destroyed. Roosting and breeding places for migratory birds were disturbed,” said Shanmugaraj.
“But it doesn’t end there. The bunds prevent tidal waves from bringing in much needed seawater for nourishing the remaining mangrove trees and eventually the area is transformed into a wasteland.
The domino effect extends to the small permanent forest reserve nearby, formerly lush with mangrove species like “bakau minyak”, “berembang”, “api api” and “nipah”.
(From thestar.com.my, Selangor, Malaysia, by by Geetha Krishman)
