Teaching Sabah students to preserve the wetlands

The Star

04-07-2025

KOTA KINABALU: A mangrove preservation programme involving students across the state kicked off at the Wetland Ramsar site here.
A total of 50 students from five secondary schools entered the programme with the hope of learning more about mangroves, their uses to 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 what mangroves were and that many biodiversity thrived in this environment.
She learned about the Mangrove Preservation Outreach Campaign 2025 from her science teacher and some other friends, who were also selected to join for this first series of conservation initiatives by Hibiscus Petroleum.
The half-day event, which started on Thursday (July 3), also saw students and their teachers from SMK Likas, SM Lok Yuk, SMK Taman Tun Fuad and SM Kian Kok participating.
Theme '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.
They later attentively listened to experts from the Sabah Wetlands Conservation Society during a mangrove talk and guided tour of the mangrove forest inside the site.
Sabah Wetlands Conservation Society president Datuk Zainie Abdul Aucasa welcomed the participants and highlighted the urgency of protecting mangrove ecosystems.
He explained that mangroves were critical to environmental resilience as they protect coastlines, support marine life, and store large amounts of carbon.
He said it was vital that young people understand their value and take part in their preservation.
Hibiscus Petroleum's Head of Operated Asset, Sabah, Edmund Ang congratulated the students for involving themselves in something not only noble but 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 during his launching speech.
Through the tree planting activity, he said that each of the students took 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,' Ang said.
He said two other similar events are set to be held in districts outside Kota Kinabalu soon.
'Over the course of this campaign, we will be engaging with 15 selected schools, five from each district, and welcoming a total of 150 bright, passionate students,' he said.