KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Forestry is moving towards the development of a 10-year Mangrove Action Plan.
Its chief conservator Datuk Frederick Kugan said a holistic approach to the protection and management of mangroves will ensure better management of those areas as a whole.
"This is why a Sabah Mangrove Action Plan is necessary and the first step to this action plan is the inception workshop that we organised today," he said in a statement after launching an inception workshop at the Sabah International Convention Centre here.
The event, jointly organised with WWF-Malaysia, aimmed to convey the intention to develop the Action Plan to its relevant stakeholders, as well as serve as a platform to create an integrated management of Sabah's mangroves among the various stakeholders and to strengthen the participation of local communities.
It was attended by 51 participants from various sectors including government agencies, local district offices, private corporations, academicians, non-governmental organisations and local communities.
WWF-Malaysia Head of Conservation for Sabah Dr Robecca Jumin said the conservation of mangroves is important for both forests and seas.
"Mangroves provide an ideal breeding ground for many aquatic species. Mangrove forests also provide a habitat for many species of insects and birds.
"They hold soil in place and act as a buffer zone that protects the land from wind and wave damage. For local communities, mangrove forests provide resources in terms of food, medicine and wood.
"Today's workshop is a key milestone for us in moving towards the protection of the mangrove in Sabah," she added.
Through today's workshop and in future programmes, stakeholders will have the opportunity to engage in robust conversation to address issues on mangrove utilisation and management.
It will be followed by more consultation workshops and will culminate into an action plan for the consideration and approval of the State Cabinet.