By Zareef Muzammil
SEPANG, Feb 27 — The Sepang Municipal Council (MPSepang) has planted over a million saplings of varying species in the areas under its jurisdiction from 2007 until January this year.
Its president Datuk Abd Hamid Hussain said the initiative, carried out together with developers, is proof of the commitment by the local authorities (PBT) towards creating low-carbon cities by 2030.
“Since 2008, the Selangor state government has held tree-planting campaigns, targeting an estimated 50,000 trees to be planted by PBTs.
“The effort to increase the number of planted trees will be continued, to realise this objective,” he said during the mangrove tree-planting programme at Sungai Sepang Besar in Pantai Pasir Putih earlier today.
Abd Hamid also explained the best maintenance method used to preserve and rejuvenate the trees in the district’s entire area.
“The trees should be valued since plants beautify and increase the aesthetic value of a given area.
“In other aspects, trees provide shade as well as reduce air and sound pollution, including
carbon-absorbing agents. As such we must balance between physical development and the environment,” he said.
The mangrove tree-planting programme saw approximately 1,600 saplings consisting of various species planted at two estuaries in the district, which will serve to reinforce the areas as buffer zones against the ocean waves.
1,000 Rhizophora Apiculata (pokok bakau minyak) and red magrove (Rhizophora Mucronata) trees were planted along Sungai Sepang Besar and Pantai Pasir Putih today, while the remaining 600 saplings, consisting of sea almond trees (Terminalia catappa/pokok ketapang) and whistling pine trees (Casuarina equisetifolia/pokok rhu) will be planted at Pantai Bagan Lalang tomorrow.
Abd Hamid said the initiative will help to restore the coastal habitats that are rich in biodiversity, as well as enrichening coastal resources.
“Indirectly it also plays a role in guaranteeing the security of food resources from the sea and the socio-economic aspect of local communities, especially fishermen.
“The saplings and trees serve to balance the temperature and climate, and reduce the heat island phenomenon. Global warming is a main topic that has a major impact on the environment,” he said.
Abd Hamid added that climate change is a contributing factor to disasters such as drastically-rising sea levels and floods.
The two-day programme is conducted in cooperation with the Selangor Forestry Department, the Institute of Foresters, the Malaysian Professional Center, along with forestry major students from Universiti Putra Malaysia.
