SETIU Wetlands is a natural wonder of Malaysia, consisting of nine unique ecosystems in one location found nowhere else in the country, which needs special attention to preserve the biodiversity from being destroyed by development.
Being the first state park, a lot more research needs to be done to identify and describe unknown flora and fauna as well as recommendations to turn the wetlands into a must visit destination for local as well as foreign visitors.
While some form of research has been carried out by Universiti Malaysia Terengganu based in Mengabang Telipot, their ventures were only a tip of the iceberg.
It will require a lot more commitment from the researchers to produce reading materials understood and appreciated by the layman.
Although researchers have unveiled an inventory of species such as 33 species of mangrove,, including three new records and a hybrid, 50 species of butterflies, 17 species of mangrove snails and 30 species of plants in the gelam forest, more macro and micro researches need to be done.
Sungai Setiu is also one of the few places in the world where there is a viable populations of the painted terrapin. Research also needs to be done on the fish species, crustaceans such as shrimps and crabs, birds and mammals.
The Setiu Wetlands is also the only other location where a large colony of the Papilionanthe hookeriana, a species of orchid also known as Kinta weed and, as the name suggests, it can be found in swamps in the Kinta Valley in Perak. It is a protected species in the state.
There could be other species of orchids, ginger and herbaceous plants that have not been described in the wetlands and it is the role of the researchers, especially biologists, to make it known to the public.
Making all these findings public knowledge would create a sense of awareness and appreciation of the ecosystems. It could also invite poachers.
As such, an authority or security should be established to register all entries into the wetlands and also conduct random checks on people whose presence raise suspicion. This is one important element that is missing.
As it is, there are many entry points into the wetlands and these must be identified. Security posts must be set up to check poaching.
As a catchment area, the wetland also serves as a reservoir that collects excess rain from flooding low-lying areas in Setiu. Therefore, development, either for agriculture or otherwise, within and at the fringes of the wetland, must be controlled to maintain a balance in the ecosystem.
The threat to the ecosystem, however, has already begun following the development of a large-scale shrimp farm in Penarik, where sea water was drained into Sungai Calok, a tributary of Sungai Setiu, which has changed the salinity of the water.
Shrimp fishermen have been complaining of poor catches and wanted the Department of Environment to conduct constant inspection on the shrimp farm’s activities as well as measure the salinity in the river to protect the ecosystem and their livelihood.
They are also worried about the narrow bund which separates Kuala Sungai Setiu and the sea. A year ago, the sea breached the bund causing increased salinity in the water which killed sea bass and grouper bred in cages.
The fishermen who rear fish in cages make about RM4 million a year and share the income among the 70 participants of the aquaculture project, which is also a tourist attraction. The fishermen could double that earning if there is an assurance that the salinity in the river would remain constant.
Another element that has yet to be provided to make the wetland a must stop for tourists is an information booth and a gallery to showcase the treasures of the wetland so that visitors could learn a bit more about the fragile ecosystem.
Fishermen who live at the fringes of the wetlands are all ready to serve visitors with guided boat tours and show them how to harvest clams abundant in the river or simply watch the wildlife, including crocodiles, from the safety of the boats.
In a recent meeting with the fishermen, they were aware of the potential income from guiding tourists in the wetland, but the support was not forthcoming from travel agencies to make the Setiu Wetlands a destination in their package.
So, it seemed that many parties have a role to play to make the Setiu Wetlands a premier tourist destination. It would require not only commitment, but also coordination from those involved with its development, including the researchers, local authorities, sponsors and local community.
The Setiu Wetlands is a valuable asset and a potential money-spinner which will directly benefit the local community who have voiced their willingness to become caretakers of the ecosystem.
Email: rosli_zakaria59@yahoo.com
Rosli Zakaria, is NST's Specialist Writer based in Terengganu. He is an environmentalist and enjoys capturing the beauty of flora and fauna in its fragile environment. He draws his inspiration from cross county drives on and off-road adventures.