KOTA KINABALU: Mangrove areas in Sabah should be avoided when planning the construction of new roads in the state.
Coalition of Humans Habitats Highways (3H), a joint platform of civil society and scientific research organisations, said it is possible for Sabah, globally known for successful conservation efforts to have both infrastructure development and to preserve its mangroves.
3H comprises of the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC), Borneo Futures, Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC), Forever Sabah, Seratu Aatai, Land Empowerment Animals People (LEAP), PACOS Trust and WWF-Malaysia.
"Landfilling to build roads across mangrove swamps and river channels disturbs both surface and underground hydrology, as the free exchanges between sea tide and freshwater rivers are natural processes crucial for mangroves' vitality.
"Therefore, the construction (of roads) should be realigned to inland areas. Such an approach avoids further mangrove fragmentation and degradation from noise, construction waste pollution and, importantly, hydrological disturbances," the coalition said in a statement.
Sabah is home to over 232,000 hectares of mangroves, an area equivalent to roughly three times the size of Singapore, and accounts for a whopping 58 per cent of the mangroves in Malaysia.
Mangroves are scientifically known as effective carbon sinks, provide protection against tsunamis, storms, erosion and rising sea levels, and are spawning refuge for many economically important seafood species. It also offers traditional medicine and remedies critically needed by coastal communities who have little access to modern healthcare.
Forever Sabah chief executive facilitator Cynthia Ong said road building is generally appreciated and needed by society to facilitate movement and economic growth.
"However, road building should be carefully done by also considering cultural and environmental elements. Plenty of scientific data is readily available to inform which places should be avoided, and the reasons behind such suggestions.
"Some roads are planned and built to improve livelihoods through ecotourism products, such as boating safaris for viewing wildlife including proboscis monkeys and fireflies.
"What would there be for tourists to see and experience if the mangroves are damaged?" she said adding that the Proboscis Monkey Action Plan for Sabah 2019-2028 which was gazetted last year specifically cautions against destruction of their habitat.
The current alignment of the new two-lane coastal road from Tuaran to Simpang Mengayau in Kudat will cross several Class V Mangrove Forest Reserves and the Kota Belud Bird Sanctuary.
Those are important eco-tourism and fisheries assets for the northwest coast region of Sabah that must not be destroyed.
Meanwhile, WWF Malaysia's Head of Conservation Dr Robecca Jumin said the coalition's suggestion to realign road building inland was based on factors such as the high cost of elevating and constructing roads on soft mangrove soil.
There are also the threats from rising sea levels due to climate change, which may see the roads eventually being inundated.
"Hydrology disturbance from building roads in mangroves will drastically reduce the livelihoods of fishermen and Sabah's overall food security as the ecosystem is a key seafood nursery.
"Subsequent human settlements on roadsides will further deplete and degrade remaining mangroves," she said.