SUNGAI ACHEH, 2 Nov 2025 — A total of 69 volunteers joined the Mangrove Action Warriors programme, organised by the IEA202 Environmental Bioindicator course of the School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). The event, supported by YPASM, Polar@USM, and USIM, focused on mangrove restoration, waste assessment, and community engagement at Sungai Acheh, Nibong Tebal.
Covering an area of 2,075 m², participants planted 200 Rhizophora apiculata saplings within two hours, rehabilitating 0.2 hectares of the designated site. With each tree capable of storing about 12.3 kg of CO₂ annually, the restored area is expected to sequester approximately 2,460 kg of CO₂ per year, showing the importance of mangroves as natural climate buffers and vital components of planetary health.
The team also collected around 5 kg of waste, mainly plastics. Waste density averaged 1.2 m² per sampling point, highlighting persistent human impacts on the mangrove ecosystem. The cleanup not only improved habitat quality but also strengthened environmental stewardship among volunteers and the local community.
The programme aimed to cultivate volunteerism through mangrove planting with PIFWA and to assess waste accumulation as an indicator of habitat health—advancing both climate awareness and ecological responsibility.
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