“Save Our Shores”, Scouts of The World Voluntary Service - Penang Group

Abstract— This week activities are carried out to identified the important of mangrove forest practically and to discover the better way of conducting the SW Voluntary Service effectively by visit to the key location and site.

Index Terms— Kuala Gula, Mangrove, Sea Corrosion, Tsunami, Kuala Muda, Balik Pulau

I. INTRODUCTION

Kuala Gula is a fishing village located along the coast of the state, about 50 km northwest of Taiping. It is part of the Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve, consisting of mangrove and mudflat. Nearby is Shell Island (Pulau Kelumpang), an island in the forest reserve, bordered by the River BMI in the southeast, Shell River (Sungai Kelumpang) in the northeast and northwest areas of the western side. Overall Kelumpang Island surrounded by newly formed mudflats where anak-anak Pokok Api-api (Avicennia spp.) Live on it. These areas are important foraging areas for migratory birds and nesting sites for birds’ resident.

Tanjong Piandang is a county located in the northern state of Perak, Malaysia. Tanjung Piandang included in Kerian district administration and is one of the districts in the area Kerian, attractive areas in Tanjong Piandang is Beach Break (Ban Pecah).

Schedule for Sunday is to visit to Kuala Muda and Sungai Pinang. Both place are the location which suffer from the disaster of tsunami on end or year 2004. The purpose to visit to both location is to observe the impact to the shore where with or without the barrier of mangrove forest.

Kuala Muda consist of two part and separate by Sungai Muda, where on South is Kuala Muda, Pulau Pinang and at North is Kuala Muda, Kedah. The first destination of second day visit is Kuala Muda Pulau Pinang. This place is a small fishing village, most of the villagers’ occupation are fishermen. A tsunami memorial had built in front of Kuala Muda Police

Station. Same to Kuala Muda Pulau Pinang, a tsunami memorial had built near to beach, different with Kuala Muda Pulau Pinang, Kuala Muda, Kedah memorial is bigger. Another interesting cultural at Kuala Muda is the Whisper Market (Pasar Bisik), where is a place of fisherman boats land and dealing for fresh fish, the bidder are bidding by whispering with the dealer.

While for Sungai Pinang, Balik Pulau, since year 2000, government had replanting and taking care of mangrove forest along the Balik Pulau coastline. When year 2004 Tsunami disaster, these barrier had functioning well to stop the impact of tsunami wave.

A.Objective of Activities1. To learn on mangrove conservation effort by Rakan

Bakau in Kuala Gula.2. To identify the impact to sea corrosion to the shore

without mangrove barrier at Tanjung Piandang.3. To conduct a site visit to Tsunami tragedy site where does

not have natural barrier.4. To conduct a site visit to Tsunami tragedy site where have

its natural barrier.5. To identify the important of mangrove forest in protecting

shores.

B.Task of Activities

Saturday (10 January 2015)

All the team member gather at fast food restaurant at Juru before depart. A short discussion and division of task had done is the small group.

Team split into two and ride on two car to depart to the first destination which is Kuala Gula. Team member had make a few stop during the journey to visit to the attraction where passed by.

Week 1 Progress Report -Educational Visit to Kuala Gula Mangrove Santuary, Tanjung Piandang, Kuala Muda Tsunami Tragedy Site & Sungai Pinang

WONG KOK NIAN, ONG SHY HANN, ONG KAI XUAN, LEE HOOI HOOI, CHEW KOK RUI, SHARONJIT KAUR MEI SZE A/P MOON SINGH,

RASHMINDER KAUR MEI HAN A/P MOON SINGH, TAY CHIH HERN

Scouts of The World Voluntary Service Team - Penang Rover Scouts Secretariat - The Scouts Association of Malaysia, Penang State

“Save Our Shores”, Scouts of The World Voluntary Service - Penang Group

The journey take one and half hour to reach Kuala Gula Bird Sanctuary. Team stopped at the mini jetty there to observe the fisherman live with related to the important of mangrove forest on fishery harvest, especially famous crab there. Surveying activity had perform there as well as interview with few fisherman to understand the important and impact of the mangrove forest to the local fishing community. Team had the honour to interview with Mr. Wahab, the President of the local Mangrove Forest Squad (Rakan Bakau). The Objective of this Mangrove Forest Squad is to protect Mangrove forest in Kuala Gula and giving some training for the local community for helping the mangrove forest planting projects.

Figure 1: Interviewing with local people

Figure 2: Observing the mangrove eco system at the estuary

Figure 3: Reflection after interview with local people

Team also make a visit to the nearest chinese fishing village and have a chance to interview with former Village Leader. According to him, the government effort in conserving of mangrove forest and enforcement had weaken from year to year. Government roles are very important in ensure the existing of mangrove forest.

Figure 4: Interviewing the former Village Leader, Mr Tan

Figure 5: Photo with Mr Tan after the interview session

Next stop will be Tanjong Piandang, a place that had been destroyed by the tsunami on year 2004. The purpose to visit to Tanjung Piandang is to observe that area being erode due to that area is not protected by its natural shore barrier. Far to 20 years ago, shore line can be extending to 1km off to current sea. The current sea there is paddy field far to 20 years back. Estimated the land sizes which erode are 1.61 hector. Few year back the government had built the man-made sea barrier for about 4km to prevent the shoreline keep erode.

Sunday (1 February 2015)

Schedule for Sunday is to visit to Kuala Muda and Sungai Pinang. SW Voluntary Service team stopped at the square in front of Kuala Muda Mosque and separate into two team to interview with local residents. According to local residents, the impact of tsunami onto the shore on Pulau Pinang part is less than Kedah Part, residents here only suffer from flooding by sea water into houses. Based on observation on the local shore, if the tsunami wave is coming, due to the shallow sea bed, the potential energy will increase while the wave is near to shore. The Tsunami alarm system also prepared and standby to give warning for likelihood event.

Second stop was made to Kuala Muda, Kedah, both location just opposite the river, but for road transport, need to cross the Sungai Muda bridge to the another side. Travel distance from Penang to Kedah’s Kuala Muda take approximately 15minutes.

An short interview had been conducted with local fisherman regarding the 2004 tsunami and question about the important of Mangrove Forest. Fishermen had stress that the importance of conserving mangrove forest which will also help to increase their fish catch.

“Save Our Shores”, Scouts of The World Voluntary Service - Penang Group

Figure 6: Interview with one of the chinese villager at Kuala Muda, Pulau Pinang

Figure 7: Group photo in front of Tsunami Memorial, Kuala Muda, Pulau Pinang

Figure 8 & 9: Group photo in front of Tsunami Memorial, Kuala Muda, Kedah, and interview with local fisherman at

whisper market

Following destination after on Seberang Perai side shall be Sungai Pinang, Balik Pulau. An interview session had conducted with local fishermen to have an idea of what the difficulties they had faced on year 2004 tsunami. Can be conclude that mangrove forest had absorb most of the tsunami wave and local people only affect from the rising tide into their premise.

Figure 10: Photo with fisherman at Sungai Pinang, Balik Pulau

II. THEORY

Sahabat Hutan Bakau (Friends Mangrove) The Objective is to spread on the importance of involving local communities in mangrove conservation program. Friend’s existence of mangrove forest is also a result of public awareness and concern about the degradation of mangrove forests and their ecosystem. This situation has greatly changed the lifestyle of the locals who were once dependent on subsistence activities of mangrove forests such as fishing and collecting the results of mangrove forests for economic purposes. Mangrove forests and a critically endangered ecosystem have affected the locals who depend on these resources.

Pilot Program Friends Mangrove Kuala GulaFriends establishment Mangrove Initiative has received strong support from the local population in Kuala Gula, Perak where mangrove conservation program was initiated by the Global Environment Centre. Among the activities that are currently being implemented by the Mangroves are as follows: -

Collection of mangrove seedlings Establishment of nurseries The replanting of mangroves through cooperative

activities Patrolling and monitoring of mangrove plants Provide training Household Expenses skills with

relevant government agencies The organization of study tours for local communities Program of environmental education and awareness Management of tourism activities

III. ACTIVITIES RESULT

A.Education area visited

Figure 11 – Kuala Gula

“Save Our Shores”, Scouts of The World Voluntary Service - Penang Group

Figure 12 – Tanjung Piandang

IV. ANALYSIS

Discussion

Data Analysis – Respondents From Kuala Gula

QUESTION 1

QUESTION 2

QUESTION 3

QUESTION 4

QUESTION 5

QUESTION 6

0

5

10

15

20

25

The Important of Mangrove Forest

YES NO

RESP

ONS

E O

F CO

MUN

ITY

FRO

M

KUAL

A GU

LA

Chat 1: Kuala Gula respondents’ response towards the important of mangrove forest

We decided to randomly pick 20 respondents from Kuala Gula and Tanjung Piandang for this survey. The survey form consists of 6 questions. The following are the questions listed in the survey form:Question 1: Do you agree that mangrove forest is important to mankind?Question 2: Do you agree mangrove tree is a very useful tree?Question 3: Do you agree that the mangrove tree can resist the tides?Question 4: Do you agree that the mangrove forest can protect the sideline?

Question 5: Do you agree that the mangrove forest can reduce the damage of the community when Tsunami occurs?

Question 6: Do you agree that government should develop more mangrove forest?

According to the above chart, we can concluded that all of the respondents from Kuala Gula agree with questions 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6. However, there is a respondent from Kuala Gula disagree with question 4, which is “Do you agree that the mangrove forest can protect the sideline?”

Data Analysis – Respondents From Tanjung Piandang

QUESTION 1

QUESTION 2

QUESTION 3

QUESTION 4

QUESTION 5

QUESTION 6

05

101520

The Important of Mangrove Forest

YES NO

RESP

ONS

E O

F CO

MUN

ITY

FRO

M

TANJ

UNG

PIAN

DANG

Chat 2: Tanjung Piandang respondents’ response towards the important of mangrove forest

According to the above chart, we can concluded that out of 18 from 20 (90%) respondents from Tanjung Piandang agree with question 1, 2 and 6. On the other hand, there is out of 17 fro 20 (85%) %) respondents from Tanjung Piandang agree with question 3 and 5. Besides that, out of 16 from 20 (80%) respondents from Tanjung Piandang agree with question 4.

“Save Our Shores”, Scouts of The World Voluntary Service - Penang Group

Data Analysis – The Comparision Of Respondents FromKuala Gula And Tanjung Piandang

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6

05

10152025

The Important of Mangrove Forest

Community From Kuala GulaCommunity From Tanjung Piandang

RESP

OND

ENT

WHO

AGR

EE

Chat 3: Kuala Gula and Tanjung Piandang respondents’ response towards the important of mangrove forest

From the chart above, we can concluded that majority respondents from Kuala Gula agree that mangrove forest is very important as compared to the respondents from Tanjung Piandang. There is 20 (100%) respondents from Kuala Gula agree with question 1, 2 and 6 while only 18 (90%) respondents from Tanjung Piandang agree with it. Conversely, there is 20 (100%) respondents from Kuala Gula agree with question 3 and 5 while only 17 (85%) respondents from Tanjung Piandang agree with it. On the contrary, there is 19 (95%) respondents from Kuala Gula agree with question 4 while only 16 (80%) respondents from Tanjung Piandang agree with it.

V. CONCLUSION

1. Effort by Rakan Bakau at Kuala Gula in conserving the mangrove forest had lead a major impact for the team in planning more effective program in the similar program for voluntary service.

2. Mangrove forest serve an important roles in preventing shore corrosion by the sea waves.

3. Mangrove forest also serve as natural barrier to buffer for tsunami wave impact.