SHAH ALAM, Aug 22 — More than 70 volunteers from the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project participated in a mangrove cleaning and restoration programme at Mangrove Point, Port Klang, recently.

Held in conjunction with International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, they spent nearly three hours collecting trash like beverage cans.

The volunteers also replanted 100 mangrove trees, including Rhizophora apiculata or spotted mangrove, and Rhizophora mucronata or loop-root mangrove.

Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd’s chief executive officer Datuk Seri Darwis Abdul Razak said the initiative is in support of the Selangor Maritime Gateway’s efforts to enhance the mangrove ecosystem.

The initiative, which was also supported by the Selangor Forestry Department, will hopefully make Mangrove Point a new ecotourism destination.

“The mangrove restoration programme reflects our collective responsibility to protect and preserve the mangrove ecosystem, as well as to enhance the management of new mangrove sapling growth.

“This effort will contribute to a sustainable environment for future generations,” he said in a statement, adding that participants were also educated about the water quality monitoring system along Sungai Klang.

Meanwhile, Darwis said they will continue to support initiatives to protect the environment and natural heritage, noting that the ECRL project’s rail alignment also takes these aspects into consideration.

The ECRL alignment will include five stations in Selangor, including Jalan Kastam (Port Klang), Kapar, and the Gombak Integrated Terminal, which will serve as passenger-only stations.

Meanwhile, the Puncak Alam and Bandar Serendah stations will function as both passenger and cargo stations.

The 665km-long ECRL will traverse Kelantan, Terengganu, and Pahang before connecting to the Klang Valley on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia.

Source: https://selangorjournal.my/