Green Brunei leads mangrove forest rehabilitation

ONE hundred mangrove trees were planted along Sg Damuan, Bengkurong on Saturday by over 30 volunteers.

The Mangrove Planting Project 2014 hopes to rehabilitate the area to restore the habitat for the wildlife at the river bank such as the proboscis monkeys.

Aside from planting trees, the volunteers from Green Brunei, HSBC, educational institutions, the Forestry Department and general public, also collected trash on the river bank to be recycled.

It was the second mangrove tree planting in Bengkurong organised by Green Brunei.

“Last year, we planted 200 trees with the help of the Forestry Department together with participants of the ASEAN Young Professionals Volunteer Corps (AYPVC) Seminar. Both events were supported by HSBC Brunei.

“Hopefully we will be able to engage more volunteers to take part in our future mangrove planting initiatives,” said Green Brunei community engagement director Khairunnisa Ash’ari.

The planting site is close to a popular tourist stop to catch a glimpse of proboscis monkeys, crocodiles and mangrove snakes.

Mangrove forests is also one of nature’s best ways to fight global warming with its ability to serve as carbon sinks, Green Brunei said in its press release.

Green Brunei hopes to continue doing rehabilitation effort and monitor the progress of the planted trees at the Sg Damuan mangrove forest.

The Mangrove Planting Project 2014 is supported by the Forestry Department, Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources and HSBC Brunei.

Source: The Brunei Times