KOTA KINABALU: A smart community programme has seen the planting of 2,000 Bankita mangrove seedlings at the Sungai Gum Gum and Sungai Loboh Forest Reserves in Sandakan.

Themed "Plant Mangroves, Plant Hope for the Future and SDGs", the programme focuses on mangrove ecosystem conservation and contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

According to a statement issued by the Polytechnics and Community Colleges, the relevant SDG particularly emphasises the importance of marine and coastal governance.

The statement mentioned that mangrove restoration efforts are also in line with other SDGs, including eradicating poverty and hunger, ensuring sustainable economic growth and livelihoods, and halting the loss of mangrove biodiversity.

The programme yielded various positive impacts, including training participants in the importance, planting techniques, and care of mangroves, and fostering awareness about the significance of preserving mangrove ecosystems for the well-being of future generations.

It also strengthened relationships and cooperation between the government, educational institutions, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in mangrove restoration efforts and achieving the SDGs. 

"It is hoped that this Smart Community Programme will be a catalyst for more environmental conservation initiatives in the future," said the statement.

Close cooperation between various parties is key to success in ensuring the sustainability of mangrove ecosystems and achieving the country's sustainable development goals, it added.

This event is a joint effort between the Sabah Forestry Research Centre (FRC) Sandakan and the International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems (ISME).

Forestry Department representative Dr Joseph Tangah, Deputy Head (Administration and Development) of FRC, who is also an ISME member, is an active participant.

The programme was attended by 251 participants, including accompanying officers and participants of the Festival Agromakanan dan Bioteknologi (FAMB) 2024 from the Polytechnics and Community Colleges.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/08/27/sandakan-community-programme-plants-hope-with-mangrove-seedlings