The Datai Pledge, the sustainability and conservation programme of luxury rainforest resort The Datai Langkawi, has planted 1,500 seedlings within a mangrove forest in Langkawi’s UNESCO Global Geopark in conjunction with World Mangrove Day (26 July) and World Nature Conservation Day (28 July).
The impactful planting initiative brought together 176 volunteers from The Datai Pledge and The Datai Langkawi and various parts of the community, including The Els Club Teluk Datai golf club staff, members of the local Kubang Badak fishing community, the headmaster, teachers, parents, and children of Sekolah Kebangsaan Ewa (Ewa National School), and the Langkawi District Forestry Office team.
The project supports the core objectives of The Datai Pledge by actively promoting environmental regeneration while uniting communities in an activity that will benefit generations to come.
The seedlings were of the Rhizophora apiculata (Bakau Minyak) variety and planted at two different sites in the Kubang Badak mangrove forest, part of the Kubang Badak BioGeo Trail, located within the Langkawi UNESCO Global Geopark. Kubang Badak is a small local fishing community close to The Datai Langkawi, and its livelihood largely depends on the health of Datai Bay. Hence, sustaining the mangrove is crucial to its future.
This mangrove planting activity further strengthens the relationship between The Datai Langkawi and the neighbouring Kubang Badak fishing community, helping to gain its support for The Datai Pledge mission of securing protected OECM (Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures) status for Datai Bay.
Since 2019, one of the four key pillars of The Datai Pledge, Fish For The Future, has been actively helping restore and preserve the health of Datai Bay by deploying five Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) to support local fishermen to fish sustainably, away from the fragile coral reef area. This also creates long-term benefits, allowing fish to breed whilst preserving the area’s current fish stock.
Through its continued efforts, The Datai Pledge has helped support an eightfold increase in fish biomass on the regenerated reefs in Datai Bay*.
During this week’s mangrove planting initiative, Ahmad Mukhris Mahadzir, Senior Marine Biologist at The Datai Langkawi and Pillar Leader for Fish For The Future, said: “We believe in community efforts at the grassroots level for marine conservation and preserving our mangroves, rivers and seas for many generations to come.”
The special day organised by The Datai Pledge team began early with breakfast for all provided by local stall ‘Kak Su’ near the Kubang Badak jetty. Six fishing boats then led all 176 volunteers to two different sites along the Kubang Badak mangrove to replant in these selected areas of need. By the end of the morning, 1,500 seedlings had been planted from this joint community effort.
World Mangrove Day, or International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, is a United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) holiday celebrated on 26 July each year.
World Nature Conservation Day, celebrated annually on 28 July, is dedicated to raising awareness about preserving and protecting our natural resources and ecosystems.
*As per The Datai Pledge Third Annual Impact Report, released in July 2023.
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