Growing up in the suburbs, the only time I came across mangrove or paya bakau were in my Geography textbooks and Steve Irwin’s Crocodile Hunter documentary series. Who could forget his unconventional and hands-on methods in handling wildlife, especially reptiles?
I have a titanic dislike for reptiles but Steve made it bearable to watch. Thanks to him, I managed to gather the courage to poke an albino snake for half a second when my Form 2 class, chaperoned by the lovely Ms Fidzah, organised a trip to the National Zoo, only two kilometers from our school in 2001.
Not until sometime last year that I made a trip to Kg Simpang Arang in Gelang Patah constituency, an Orang Asal village located by a mangrove river. Lush green leaves, visible mangrove roots, sight of tiny mudskippers skipping from one spot to another, variety of birds flying over the trees, it was a really beautiful sight. Although I did not see any crocodiles. Or snakes. Thank God.
The Simpang Arang river leads to the magnificent Sungai Pulai, the largest riverine mangrove system in Johor. I was told that the rivers are the main source of living for the Orang Asal as they are in abundance with marine life, an ideal feeding and breeding ground for a significant number of fish species. The locals also depend on the mangrove forest for wood, charcoal production, aquaculture activities and eco-tourism.
Mangroves sites in Sungai Pulai, Pulau Kukup and Tanjung Piai play significant roles in shoreline stabilisation, severe flood prevention, protection from sea-water intrusion and coastal erosion. Pulau Kukup has been identified as one of the important bird areas for Malaysia.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, extensive areas of mangroves can reduce the loss of life and damage caused by tsunamis by taking the first force of the impact and by dissipating the energy of the wave as it passes through the mangrove area.
An example was seen in Tamil Nadu, India by which the Pichavaram mangrove forest acted as a protective belt slowing down the waves and protecting around 1,700 people living in hamlets built inland.
The three sites in Johor, namely Sungai Pulai, Pulau Kukup and Tanjung Piai were named as Ramsar sites, wetlands of international importance, in 2003. Malaysia has four Ramsar sites and the other one is Tasik Bera in Pahang.
The Ramsar Convention of Wetlands is an intergovernmental treaty that embodies the commitments of its member countries to maintain the ecological character of their wetlands of international importance and to plan for the ‘wise use’, or sustainable use, of all of the wetlands in their territories.
The problem with international convention is its anarchic nature. If there is no higher authority than the state then who will enforce it? Malaysia is a signatory to the Ramsar Convention, but how serious are we in abiding to this particular convention? The truth of the matter is that vast development is affecting many mangrove areas including these Ramsar sites. We witnessed the shrinking of mangroves sites, we saw these areas being reclaimed to make way for development.
Never officially gazetted
These Ramsar sites were never officially gazetted by the state authority as a Ramsar-protected sites, thus, not giving it extra protection aligned as required by the convention. However they are protected under ‘forests reserve’ and ‘state park’ as defined by our laws. Is it enough? Do ‘forests reserve’ and ‘state park’ address the special needs and protections needed by these Ramsar sites?
We can be a signatory to the most expressive, descriptive and extensive international agreements, however, if we do not comply with our own words, there is no existence of sanctions or material consequence to non-compliance. If we employ an Austinian definition of law - i.e., a command given by a sovereign, backed by the threat of sanctions - then it is clear that international law is not law.
Machiavelli once said, if humans were honest and kept their promises, then the Prince also should do so. But they do not, and so the Prince would be foolish to abide by his commitments.
Therefore, the government may or may not comply where international conventions are concerned, especially when it is no longer in their interest or when they have greater interests somewhere else.
With the absence of effective domestic institutions to promote compliance, it is important to note that the emergence of civil society can help in remedying this problem.
Public participation of informed citizens in enforcing certain principles driven by similar honest interest arguably carries more weight and effectiveness in ensuring order, compliance and getting things done.
Due to this awareness that Jaring and Impian Malaysia Green Team are organising a Malaysian Dream project on April 5, 2014, with the objectives to show solidarity for those who are affected by the threatening of our fascinating mangrove forests, promoting awareness, sustainable use of our mangroves and preservation of our natural environment.
The half-day programme will require participants to help plant 500 mangrove seedlings at Pantai Rambah, Pontian near Tanjung Piai, Johor apart from enjoying the view it has to offer.
There is a hadith that indicates the reward for the person who plants a tree or a crop continues as long as the produce is eaten or used. Narrated by Anas bin Malik (RA) that Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: “There is none amongst the Muslims who plants a tree or sows seeds, and then a bird, or a person or an animal eats from it, but is regarded as a charitable gift for him.”
If you are interested to join this public event, please email to [email protected]
Although I still have a great dislike for reptiles and amphibians, I still want them (and other wildlife) to have a place to call home.
DYANA SOFYA MOHD DAUD is political secretary to YB Lim Kit Siang, MP for Gelang Patah.
