By: Julian Hyde
I refer to the recent incident in which a barge-grounding destroyed an area of coral reef on the island of Mabul in Sabah. This is a sad incident that perhaps reflects the regrettably low level of awareness of biodiversity in the country and why it is important to society. According to reports, the barge operator was told of the damage he would cause by mooring the barge in a particular location, but chose to go ahead anyway. Many might think that an incident such as this should be treated with leniency – after all, it was an accident; and they may be right.
But what if an activity or project is proposed that will have known negative impacts on marine ecosystems? Where does the balance tip to a position that supports biodiversity rather than accepting further damage as “a necessary consequence of development”? When will we truly start to respect nature and biodiversity and put a true value on the ecosystem services it provides?
Healthy coral reefs off the coasts of Sabah
Reef Check Malaysia recently participated in a meeting of experts to develop an improved governance system for Malaysia’s coastal biodiversity. The group, led by the Academy of Science Malaysia, is working to identify important areas of biodiversity that should be targeted for conservation. The coastal area south of Kuantan was identified as one such area, and experts agreed that efforts should be made to protect and conserve it.
At the same time, Reef Check Malaysia is working with scientists to map marine resources along the East coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The same area south of Kuantan has been identified as having important coral reefs, reefs that thrive in the turbid coastal waters common in the area. They are an important biological asset: they are an essential link in connectivity between ecosystems; and they provide habitat to a wide range of marine organisms. The area is a known fishing ground for local communities, whose food source and livelihoods depend on the reefs.
Conducting reef surveys along the coasts of Tioman Island
Given the apparent low level of awareness of the importance of our natural resources, how can we protect these coastal ecosystems from damage caused by the so-called Blue Economy – marine tourism, extractive activities, shipping, and so on? Such activities can cause severe damage to marine ecosystems – by releasing silt, or by causing physical damage, etc. This can kill the coral reefs and other marine ecosystems that local communities rely on for food and livelihoods. While acknowledging there is also an economic dimension to such activities, we urge the government to consider carefully the impact on biodiversity, livelihoods and food security that such projects can have. Careful site selection might avoid unnecessary damage to marine ecosystems.
We can avoid another “Mabul” by selecting project sites carefully, taking into account both ecosystems and the livelihoods of local communities.
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Julian Hyde is the General Manager of Reef Check Malaysia (RCM). Registered in Malaysia in 2007 as an NGO, RCM's early work was focused on coral reef monitoring and island based educational programs. Today, RCM monitors over 200 coral reefs annually around the country and is actively involved in reef management and conservation efforts.