GEORGE TOWN: Some 100 primary school pupils did their part for the environment by planting mangrove saplings at Sungai Acheh, Nibong Tebal, recently.
The pupils from SK Tanjung Tokong, SJK (T) Azad and SJK (C) Hun Bin planted 500 saplings from the Rhizophora Apiculata (bakau minyak) and Rhizophora Mucnorata (bakau kurap) species.
The initiative was spearheaded by Eastern & Oriental Berhad (E&O) and supported by Universiti Sains Malaysia Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies (CEMACS), the state Forestry Department, the Penang Inshore Fishermen Welfare Association (PIFWA) and the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP).
E&O organised the event under the ambit of its 'Think Green' long-term community education programme.
E&O Property (Penang) Sdn Bhd general manager Zawawi Yusop said the event was an extension of the group’s mangrove replacement planting effort initiated earlier on May 23.
“We are very happy to see the responsiveness of the schools towards our mangrove replacement planting initiative.
“We hope that through this exercise, these children will gain first-hand awareness of the mangroves and in the long-term, nurture a sense of eco-consciousness among them,” said Zawawi.
Present to launch the event was state Forestry Department (Development) deputy director Yusof Abd Rashid.