Mangroves protect us from the impact of waves in large storms and act as natural barriers against coastal erosion, climate warning, floods and rising sea levels.

Did you know that they support  BIODVERSITY too? They have their very own ecosystem.   

If we wish to ACT ON CLIMATE change MITIGATION, we can start with planting more mangroves saplings. Mangroves ABSORB and STORE large amounts of carbon ( “blue carbon”) . They are vital as they :

1. Protect the coast line;
2. 2 Act as natural barriers against storms, erosion, and floods
3. Support immense biodiversity by serving as nurseries for fish and habitats for countless species. At the Kota Kinabalu Ramsar site there are 90 species of resident and migratory birds, 21 species of fish and aquatic species including crustaceans, molluscs, horseshoe crabs and jellyfish;. https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/2290
4. Support climate change mitigation, absorbing and storing large amounts of carbon ("blue carbon"), and
5. Provide essential resources, livelihoods (food, income, medicine), and water filtration.

Mangrove coverage in Malaysia ranks sixth globally, representing nearly 5% of the entire worldwide mangrove ecosystem.  The Springer review indicated that sediment carbon stocks in Malaysian mangrove forests span from 0.8 to 352 megagrams of carbon per hectare ( Mg C ha⁻¹). (Abstract https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10750-023-05431-z )

HELLO  I AM AN AXOLOTL – sometimes they call me a Salamander- come and look me up! I heard lots of Soroptimist eco warriors are heading to COC  Kota Kinabalu !

DO SPONSOR / PLANT A MANGROVE SAPLING at COC SISEAP KOTA KINABALU in MAY 2026.  You might spot a long tailed macaque, a giant egret, a salamander ( a fish that walks ??!!) or more.There are three globally threatened species, including the critically endangered mangrove Bruguiera hainesii, and two vulnerable water birds, the Chinese egret (Egretta eulophotes) and the lesser adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus).

Find out more about sponsoring/planting a mangrove sapling via the button below

Article by Nora Lam

President, SI Bangsar