KUALA LUMPUR, June 20 (Bernama) — CIMB Foundation (“the Foundation”) has committed to plant 7,000 mangroves through its Mangrove Conservation Initiative, restoring mangrove canopy gap areas in the Kuala Selangor Nature Park (“KSNP”) over the next two years. In collaboration with the Institute for Environment and Development of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (LESTARI-UKM) and The Malaysian Mangrove Research Alliance and Network (MyMangrove), the project will be further enriched through the efforts of volunteers combined with resources and research by conservation experts and environmental NGOs, which will help increase the awareness on the importance of building healthy mangrove biodiversity and ecosystems.
Mangroves play an important function in producing and providing ecosystems which benefit the fauna and surrounding communities. They also act as an agent in protecting key environmental and climate cycles, as well as its rich biodiversity. The Foundation is taking an active step in mitigating effects of climate change through the CIMB – UKM Mangrove Conservation Initiative which consists of three parts which are Education and Awareness, Habitat Restoration, as well as Research and Development. The programmes include mangrove planting, nursery, biodiversity, and ecosystem services, as well as research on carbon stock and carbon sequestration in developing mechanisms for carbon financing.