Club / Rotary Activities & News

The speaker, Mr Harban Singh of RC Pontian, an avid enthusiast of the preservation of the environment was introduced by PP Dr Ho. Mr Harban sits on the council of the Malaysian Nature Society and holds talks at national and international levels. He has also recently written a book on his area of specialization. W hile not giving talks on preservation of the environment, he lectures in HR in colleges and universities and provides consultancy services in this area.

Mr Harban gave a rather detailed talk on Tg Piai, its wonders and beauty and simultaneously its life-threat, if members of the public do not awaken to the reality of its gradual erosion to the waters converging the mangroves.

The Tg Piai Ramsar site was designated a Ramsar site in 2003 and this coastal mangrove is an important landmark of Malaysia, the most southern tip of the Asian continent.

Tg Piai is part of the larger SW Johor Wetlands. The south -west Johor coastal wetlands are unique as they represent diverse ecological habitats where mangroves are the dominant wetland habitat type. The SW Johor Wetlands safeguard enormous biological diversity, while providing important benefits and services of national interest, commercial fisheries, designated and protected state parts and which supports the livelihood of the local communities Tg Piai is suffering from coastal erosion and the area has been identified as one of the critical areas for coastal erosion under a National Coastal Erosion Risk Study.

In recent years, mangrove trees have been uprooted hence exposing the shoreline. This will contribute to the loss of ecological integrity. Restoring the coastal hydrology by the means of appropriate interventions, as for example the proposed planting of the seedlings by RCJB is pertinent, as this would be beneficial and yield long term environmental, social or economic benefits Maintaining the ecological integrity and characteristics of the Tg Piai Ramsar site is the prerogative of the National Parks Corporation ( PTNJ).

The Tg Piai Wetlands is frequented by students from around the country and even university students in the region, due to its rich diversity. It is an ideal location for education and even as a camping site.

Dato Freddy Long thanked the speaker for his enthusiastic, informed and detailed talk, which left RCJB members with a greater sense of awareness, for the need to be actively involved in the forthcoming project by RCJB in the planting of the seedlings.

Dato Freddy Long has been busy co-ordinating the various aspects of this project, which is hoped to take off from February – April 2012, during the dry season.