Gems of Nature in the City

As I mentioned earlier today, I'm on two days training at Kota Kinabalu Wetlands.

The place is a 24 hectares of the only remains of mangrove forest that once existed extensively along the coastal region of Kota Kinabalu, Borneo. One of the programmes in the training is a walk through this place mangroves area. I took the opportunity to take photos here and there.

The 1.5 km walk full of mangroves around was just amazing and relaxing with nature surrounding you.

Forget the world and net for awhile and just enjoy the calmness it brings.

The leisurely walk with music from the birds and the crikets and the swaying of the leaves made the walk more pleasureable.

Some of the trees you can found in this area.

The importance of mangroves and wetlands are often overlooked. Consequently, mangroves, particularly, in those urban environment suffer from considerable abuse, eg. reclaimation for development, logging, refuse dumping and clearance for aquaculture.

Mangroves are important for the following reasons.

1. Provide a unique ecosystem, supporting a diversity of small animals, insects, birds, fish and other aquatic life.

2. Provide an important feeding, breeding and nursery ground for prawn, fish and molluscs.

3. Absurd, recycle and release nutrients which are subsequently used in food chain.

4. Protect coral reefs by obsorbing fresh water run-off from the land which can damage the sensitive reef environment.

5. Timber harvested from Mangroves forest is often utilised for construction due to its availability and strenght.

Knowing the facts above, appropriate measure must be taken to protect the remaining area such as this mangroves areas in Likas Wetlands. KK Wetlands is doing their wonderful job in establishing and implementing education programmes to increase the awareness and appreciation of this important area.

Overall, to be honest, I've been living in Kota Kinabalu for so many years and I never realise such place as this exist in Kota Kinabalu. I definitely recommend to visit this place to those nature lover who visit Kota Kinabalu. More info of this place can be found at this SITE