“This is one of the major efforts, where originally Jimah was an empty area and today when we come here, there are already many trees. In fact, some of them have started bearing fruit. That was among the first phases that we planted previously and today we have reaped the results,” he said in a video interview with Bernama.

He said the physical transformation of the area was a clear illustration of the ecosystem restoration journey that began with open land before gradually transforming into an increasingly dense mangrove forest.

“We can see that through several series of planting, an empty area has become a forest and an area dense with trees. So, we can say that the increase in tree canopy actually provides benefits, not only to TNB but to the environment itself,” he said.

Muhammad Raffi said the high survival rate of the trees had also enabled the planting area to be expanded closer to the sea, while the earlier planting areas had now become increasingly dense and difficult to enter.

He said the continuity of the effort was important because environmental conservation does not end after trees are planted, but instead requires continuous commitment to ensure that the green areas created continue to be preserved.

“There is no longer mangrove tree planting, it’s more to awareness,” he said.

According to him, the approach is in line with the Malaysia Brighter Green Initiative (MBGI), which highlights cooperation between the corporate sector, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and communities in translating environmental awareness into tangible action.

Apart from Jimah, Negeri Sembilan, the conservation of forest and mangrove trees through MBGI is also being carried out in Kubang Badak, Langkawi; Tanjung Burung, Perak; Tanjung Tuan, Melaka and Nibong Tebal, Penang.

For MNS, Muhammad Raffi said ecosystem restoration efforts through natural solutions were becoming increasingly important in facing the challenges of climate change.

“One way that we can think about is natural solution. We can carry out restoration in collaboration with TNB, we can increase and maintain the number of existing trees and at the same time, add to the number of trees.

“We hope that what we are doing can have an impact on the surroundings, the environment and also the local community,” he said.

In Jimah, the selection of kurap mangrove and minyak mangrove was made based on the conditions of the area as well as the pattern of species growing there, with both showing good growth since previous planting.

The presence of marine life around the mangrove area can also be seen, including crab nests and signs of crab-catching activities, but Muhammad Raffi stressed that MNS does not have specific research data to measure changes in biodiversity at the location.

With the mangrove planting area in Jimah now having reached its limit for expansion towards the sea, MNS sees the next phase as potentially shifting from planting to environmental education and awareness.

Therefore, Muhammad Raffi hopes that the area can be developed as a centre of excellence that not only tells the transformation of an empty area into a mangrove forest, but also provides opportunities for the younger generation to get to know and appreciate nature.

“I think it’s a good time to focus more on the education of our young generation because if we look at Gen Z (Generation Z) now, most of them are confined to gadgets and have very limited opportunities to go outdoors,” he said.

According to him, an education centre in the area could also potentially create a connection between mangrove conservation, the community and energy, while providing opportunities for the local community to participate in activities such as food preparation and guiding services.

“Besides talking about mangroves, we can see overall how we can explain and create a storytelling, so that it links in terms of energy, mangrove and community,” he said.

From an open and sandy area to rows of increasingly mature mangroves, the journey of Jimah proves that a green legacy is not formed in a day, but instead emerges from the continuity of action and the involvement of various parties.

In conjunction with National Month, the story serves as a reminder that independence also carries the responsibility of ensuring that the natural treasures enjoyed today continue to be preserved and can be passed on to future generations.

-- BERNAMA