UUM VOLUNTEERS PLANT 200 MANGROVES IN MERBOK

SSD ONLINE, 2 Dec. 2015: A total of 39 students from the course of Volunteering (SSWP1033), Group A, Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) led by Syamir Marwan b. Abdul Murad and Nor Azizah Md Yusup successfully planted 200 mangrove trees in Kampung Sungai Pasir, Merbok, Sungai Petani, Kedah on 21 November. The two types of mangrove trees planted were Rhizophora Apiculata (bakau minyak) and Rhizophora Mucronata (bakau kurap). The volunteer programme with the theme Save Our Shores, Man in the Mangroves was organized with the collaboration of the Kedah State Forestry Department and the Malaysian Association of Youth Clubs (MAYC), Kedah.

Mangrove replanting activity began with a briefing on the importance of the mangrove swamps and its ecosystem presented by Mr. Muhammad Firdaus b. Abdul Kadir, Assistant Director of Forest Protection and Silviculture. He also explained the role of the State Forestry Department in conserving the environment and participation in programmes in the form of voluntary work together with the community. Also present during the briefing was Mr. Zahari Hamzah, Deputy Chairman of MAYC. Mangrove planting procedure was explained by the Kuala Muda District Forest Ranger who also assisted volunteers in the activity.

The volunteer programme is a project based learning (PBL) which is applied in the course of Volunteering (SSWP1033). The main objective ofPBL is to expose UUM students to the role of volunteers that can contribute to the external community through caring for and conserving the environment.

Students of the course of Volunteering (SSWP1033) Group A express appreciation and gratitude to the UUM management and all the sponsors as well as individuals who are involved directly and indirectly in succeeding this volunteer programme.

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