Saving mangroves with the power of youth
KOTA KINABALU: A mangrove preservation programme involving students across Sabah kicked off at the Wetland Ramsar Site here.
Fifty students from five secondary schools joined the programme with the hope of learning more about mangroves, their role in the environment and why preservation is crucial.
A Form 2 student from SM Tshung Tsin, who only wanted to be identified as Adeline, said prior to this, she was unsure about the role of mangroves and that biodiversity thrived in their environment.
She got to know about the Mangrove Preservation Outreach Campaign 2025 from her science teacher and friends, who were also selected to join the first series of conservation initiative by Hibiscus Petroleum.
The half-day event, which started on Thursday, also saw the participation of students and their teachers from SMK Likas, SM Lok Yuk, SMK Taman Tun Fuad and SM Kian Kok.
Themed 'Shaping Tomorrow's Mangrove Protectors Today', the day started with an opening ceremony before the students proceeded to plant mangrove saplings at designated locations at the Kota Kinabalu Wetland Ramsar Site.
Experts from the Sabah Wetlands Conservation Society gave talks and a guided tour of the mangrove forest inside the site.
Sabah Wetlands Conservation Society president Datuk Zainie Abdul Aucasa highlighted the urgency of protecting mangrove ecosystems.
He explained that mangroves are critical to environmental resilience as they protect coastlines, support marine life and store large amounts of carbon.
It is vital for young people to understand their value and take part in preserving mangroves, he said.
Hibiscus Petroleum's head of operations asset in Sabah, Edmund Ang, congratulated the students for involving themselves in something crucial which is vital for the environment in the state.
'From their critical role in protecting our coastlines and supporting rich biodiversity, to their contribution in mitigating climate change, mangroves are truly nature's silent guardians,' he said in his speech.
Through the tree planting activity, Ang said each of the students had taken part in something powerful.
'This is more than a symbolic act. It is a legacy you will leave behind. A living, breathing testament of your commitment to protecting our natural heritage,' he added.
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