The coast is the boundary where the sea meets land. Malaysia is bordered by the South China Sea, Straits of Malacca, Straits of Johor, Sulu Sea, and Celebes Sea. Based on its strategic geographical location, coastal activities in Malaysia have increased dramatically in recent years, yet we know very little about our coastal processes.
Proper management for coastal and marine areas is essential to ensure that natural resources from these environments are used sustainably. Therefore, the Environmental Monitoring of Marine and Coastal Ecosystem (EMMCE) Project was initiated to help conserve the coastal zone and marine resources through the promotion of its sustainable use and development.
As a pilot initiative, the EMMCE Project generally focuses on training local communities, in Pulau Redang Terengganu and Kota Kinabalu Sabah, in monitoring their marine and coastal site(s), identify its environmental health, and threat(s) associated with their ecosystems over a period of two years.
Coastal monitoring involves continuous observation and recording of the changes in the coastal area. The monitoring data can be used to improve the understanding of the current coastal processes within the community. Furthermore, it assists coastal communities, environment managers and other stakeholders in making the right decisions in improving the management strategies in order to strike a balance between environment, economic, social, cultural and recreational needs for their own livelihood.
MNS conducted its first workshop in Pulau Redang, Terengganu from the 18th to 20th April 2011 . At least 30 people comprising of villagers at Kg Pulau Redang and Department of Marine Parks Malaysia officers participated. Workshop outcomes, press articles, video and image gallery are available through the website, www.emmce.org
If you are keen to know more about this project and how the project is now developed into, please send an email to projects@mns.org.my
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