South of Johor Updates:
January – March 2026
Looking Ahead in Pasir Gogok
In Kampung Pasir Gogok, a recent town hall brought the community together to talk about what’s happening along their coastline and what can be done next.
Residents shared what they’ve been seeing on the ground, from changes along the shoreline to the need for better protection. There was strong interest in starting mangrove restoration efforts, along with opportunities to be involved in related livelihood activities. What stood out to us was the willingness of the community to take part not just in discussions, but in the work ahead.
With restoration and training activities planned for 2026, this feels like a good starting point for building something together with the community at the centre of it.
Town Hall discussion session
From Learning to Action Along the Coast
Students from SMK Tanjung Datuk and SK Kampung Baru Pasir Gogok took part in a series of hands-on activities, from exploring coastal habitats to restoring them. At Desaru, the SMK Tanjung Datuk students stepped into the intertidal zone during low tide, observing marine life and coastal ecosystems up close. Over at Pulau Tanjung Surat, they explored mangrove forests and nearby village areas, learning how these important ecosystems support both nature and local communities while also learning the history of the island community.
Back in Kampung Baru Pasir Gogok, learning turned into action. Students from Sekolah Kebangsaan Kampung Baru Pasir Gogok planted 71 mangrove saplings that they had previously nurtured, working alongside teachers and parents to restore coastal habitats.
Mangrove walk session
Planting mangrove saplings
Checkout these stories
Cintai Redang Updates: January – March 2026
Cintai Redang Updates: January - March 2026 Cleaning Up Redang: Above and Below the SurfaceIn January, members of the Redang Marine Conservation Group (RMCG) carried out a series of clean-up efforts across Redang, both on land and underwater, successfully removing a...
Wastewater Management on Islands: The Missing Link in Ocean Protection
We need to talk about sewage treatment on our islands… Sheesh. It gets difficult when even the scientists can’t agree!! I recently posted a question on a coral science list server. I was motivated to do this because there was an on-going “discussion” about the...
Beyond the Data: What We’ve Learned Through Policy Lens
For 17 years, Reef Check Malaysia (RCM) has been synonymous with coral reef health survey data. We built our reputation on being the ones in the water—clipboards in hand, counting indicator fish, invertebrates and assessing substrate types. Before long, the Department...



