FOR NATURE: Around the 1 RAS 1 Tree Greening Program and Riverbank Ecosystem Conservation on 30 November at UPMKB's Nirwana Forest.

UNIVERSITI Putra Malaysia Bintulu Sarawak Campus (UPMKB) in collaboration with the Department of Environment (DOE) Bintulu Branch and Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd has organized the 1 RAS 1 Tree Greening Program and Riverbank Ecosystem Conservation 0812 in conjunction with National Environment Day (HASN) 2022 on 30 November 2022 at UPMKB's Nirwana Forest.

This riverbank conservation program can provide environmental benefits such as preventing soil erosion, reducing pollution into rivers, providing food for aquatic life and habitat for some wildlife species.

Changes in riverbanks due to local climate change such as rainfall, temperature and evaporation can cause significant modifications in the water catchment area.

The deteriorating riverbank ecosystem along the river among the main causes of the rivers failed to achieve good ecological status.

Riverbank conservation may include various mitigations aimed at enhancing the natural functioning of rivers that may have been lost or degraded due to humans.

Therefore, this program is expected to contribute to flood risk management by supporting the natural capacity of the river to control and maintain the flow of water.

The conservation of flood plains and riverbanks will provide aquatic habitat, native riparian forest corridors and create healthy river habitats.

Furthermore, it helps to maintain and release groundwater flow slowly as well as facilitate groundwater recharging as well as improving river water quality.

Riverbank conservation ecosystems can contribute to improving hydrology through reducing soil erosion, improving waterflow channels and assisting in reducing the effects of climate change.

In addition, riverbanks can help maintain the functioning of estuary and delta ecosystems and create natural forests that act as storm buffers thus protecting people and property from flood damage, also related to sea level rise and extreme storms.

Riverbanks are an important and sensitive habitat. Thus, through this program also increase the shading of the river and therefore, improve wildlife habitat, increase biodiversity, and indirectly help reduce the heat in Bintulu town.

In addition, the program can improve ecological balance, promote sustainable urbanization, increase the aesthetic value of forests, and increase human health benefits.

The program also supports SGDs such as good health and well-being (SDG3), clean water and sanitation (SDG6), sustainable cities and communities (SDG11), climate action, resilience, mitigation, and adaptation (SDG13) and terrestrial biodiversity (SDG15).

Among the objectives of the riverbank rehabilitation program is to promote the immediate recovery of degraded riverbanks and re-function as a natural ecosystem by promoting healthy ecosystems, reducing climate change, and providing natural habitat to flora and fauna.

In turn, encourage involvement or cooperation between government and private agencies with higher education institutions to foster greening the environment and caring for trees at all state and federal levels.

It is also Petronas Carigali's corporate social responsibility (CSR) program which fully sponsors this program to the community in Bintulu.

The correct selection of tree species and the ability to grow near rivers is important to ensure independence and natural growth success.

The best river trees are usually native species that have a good root system, can withstand flooding and periods of constant humidity, provide good wildlife habitat and even fruits for aquatic life species.

A total of 200 saplings of two local species, namely the heartbeat (Shorea macrophylla) and pelajau (Pentaspadon motleyi) were planted in this program.

Date of Input: 15/12/2022 | Updated: 15/12/2022 | lanz