BALIK PULAU: A total of 5,000 mangrove saplings were planted in the Balik Pulau forest reserve in Jalan Bharu here today in a bid to strengthen the area as a wave buffer zone.
Penang Island City Council (MBPP) Mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang said this was also done to preserve the ecosystem as well as create a marine life protection location in the area.
He said the initiative was also in line with MBPP's mission to plant 100,000 trees in Penang by 2030.
"From 2008 until November this year, we have successfully planted 54,856 trees of various species in several locations, including in mangrove swamps, in an effort to green the state.
"We are confident that the target of 100,000 trees planted is achievable with the commitment and cooperation from various agencies," he said when met at the Balik Pulau Forest Reserve here today.
Present was state Forestry Department director Muhamad Ezhar Yusof.
Yew said more than 100 MBPP staff helped plant the mangrove saplings within the one-hectare site.
Meanwhile, Ezhar said the total mangrove swamp area in the Balik Pulau Forest Reserve totaled 166 hectares.
He said that, every year, they would plant mangrove saplings and other species to continuously maintain the ecosystem.
"This mangrove area is an important wave buffer zone. We know that this area was hit by a tsunami back in 2004 and the mangrove trees had proven that they could reduce the impact of the disaster.
"This mangrove swamp area must always be preserved so that it remains a strong wave buffer zone and a shelter for marine life," he said.
He added that apart from mangrove saplings, various other tree species such as api api trees were also planted in the forest reserve as they have the potential to address the problem of erosion.
"The tree species will be planted according to the suitability of the soil and it will be planted continuously here so that the mangrove swamp ecosystem continues to be protected," he said.