Forestry dept attempts to save Kuala Gula wetland

08 March 2014| last updated at 09:50PM

The New Straits Times recently reported that a portion of the forest, which forms part of a local community mangrove replanting programme, was being cleared for a freshwater prawn aquaculture project by a private company from Penang.

State Forestry Department director Datuk Roslan Ariffin said the department would be submitting a proposal to the state government to protect the Kuala Gula mangrove forest from further deforestation.

However, he stressed that the forest was, presently, not in imminent danger.

"According to the latest reports from our team in the (Kuala Gula) area, land clearing has stopped for the moment," he said.

Roslan said no action will be taken against the company clearing the land as it had been acquired legally.

The Kampung Teluk Rubiah mangrove forest is the site of a massive mangrove replanting project involving the local community, Sahabat Hutan Bakau Kuala Gula, corporations, non-governmental organisations, academic institutions.

Over 200,000 saplings have been planted in the area over the past seven years.

The NST had reported that over RM500,000 had been spent by the federal and state authorities towards the replanting effort.

Roslan said that it was crucial to protect the state's mangrove forests as they play a vital role in maintaining the wetland's ecology.

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Forestry dept attempts to save Kuala Gula wetland