James Kon
Minister of Development Dato Seri Setia Ir Awang Haji Suhaimi bin Haji Gafar as Co-Chairman of the Brunei Darussalam National Council on Climate Change (BNCCC) led the planting of mangrove and beach saplings yesterday at Api-Api wetlands, Tanjung Batu, Brunei-Muara District.
The Carbon-Blue Initiative Event, held in conjunction with the 37th National Day celebration, was organised by the Ministry of Development (MoD) through the Brunei Darussalam Climate Change Secretariat (BCCS) in collaboration with the Forestry Department at the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT), Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation (JASTRe) at the MoD and BruWILD.
Fifty mangrove saplings (rhizophora apiculata) and 100 coastal saplings of casuarina equisetifolia and calophyllum inophyllum were planted.
Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Energy Pengiran Haji Jamra Weira bin Pengiran Haji Petra as Acting Chairman of the Climate Change Executive Committee and members of the Climate Change Executive Committee also participated in the activity, along with Deputy Minister of Development Dato Seri Paduka Ar Haji Marzuke bin Haji Mohsin and Legislative Council (LegCo) members Yang Berhormat Khairunnisa binti Haji Ash’ari and Yang Berhormat Pengiran Haji Mohamed bin Pengiran Haji Osman @ Othman.
Heads of departments at lead agencies of the Brunei Darussalam National Climate Change Policy (BNCCP), senior officers and staff from the MoD and the Forestry Department also joined the event.
BruWILD President Liaw Lin Ji briefed on the roles of mangrove and beach trees in reducing the impact of climate change. The event, thus, reflected the government’s concerted efforts in realising a goal of Brunei Vision 2035 as well as supporting the BNCCP.
The planting of mangrove trees is significant because the species has a rapid growth rate and able to absorb carbon up to five times higher than tropical forest tree. Mangrove trees also provide protection to various wildlife species and provide nurseries for marine species.
Meanwhile, the beach trees can reduce wind speed and protect the coast from erosion.
