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Monday 30 April 2018

Mangrove Forest Management & Restoration

The Sabah Forestry Department has conserved most if not all Mangrove Forests under Class V for marine life conservation and as a natural means of protection against sea erosions. At the moment, exploitation activities on mangrove forests are at a minimal rate mainly from the collection of charcoal, fire wood and timber piling for local usage. Parallel to the efforts of preserving, protecting and maintaining the steady growth of our mangrove forests from natural threats, a project has been approved by the Federal Government known as the “Replanting Project of Mangroves & Other Suitable Species On The Coastal Of Sabah Under The 9th Malaysian Plan”. A total of SDC million has been allocated to the State of Sabah in order to initiate the replanting activities of mangrove trees in areas that concur with the objectives of the project. 

Replanting efforts are focused on natural mangrove forests and coastal areas mainly in the East Coast of Sabah such as Sandakan, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna and Tawau. Whereas in the West Coast of Sabah, it is focused on beaches and forest reserves that have been identified as suitable for the purpose of the project such as Kota Kinabalu, Kota Belud, Tuaran, and Beaufort. A task force has been established at a national level that is known as the “Planting Operation of Mangroves and Suitable Species National Coasts Task Force”. The main objective of the task force is to undertake and monitor the replanting activities of mangrove trees and other suitable species on the coastal areas by sets of procedures to protect lives and properties from the threats of tidal waves (tsunami) as well as storms, especially in the coastal areas. 

For the past five years, a total area of 583.54 ha, over various selected districts, have been effected with the project in line with RMK-9, mainly areas with coastal beaches and forest reserves. In 2009, the State of Sabah was allocated a total of RM1 million from the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) project. Areas that have been replanted with mangrove trees through the SDC project are the districts of Tawau, Semporna and Beaufort. The total area effected by the SDC plantation project is 152.32ha while the overall planted area is 735.86ha. 

Objectives 
1. To conserve coastal beaches 
2. To create buffer zones 
3. To restore the habitats in costal beaches 
4. To enhance the quality of the environment as well as the esthetical value

Scope of Project The scope of work that has been initiated are as follows:- – To identify suitable planting areas (i.e areas with low risks/ less problems and virtually no conflict on legal aspects). Suggested areas for mangrove plantations have been identified clearly and accurately. These areas are identified through the same conventional methods or/and usage of upto-date technological methods such as remote sensing. – Planting efforts, on course with fixed schedules and plannings. They also encompasses works such as reviewing and establishing boundaries, mangrove tree research, preparing plant sites and posting ”KEEP OUT OF FOREST RESERVE” warning plates and fence installations. – Inspections and assessments on the implementation of the project will be executed periodically and continuously.

For further details log on website :
http://www.forest.sabah.gov.my/pdf/ar2010/Chap24.pdf

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