Freshwater Conservation Works in Setiu Wetlands, Terengganu

FRESHWATER CONSERVATION WORKS IN SETIU WETLANDS, TERENGGANU

Freshwater Team WWF-Malaysia LOCATION SCOPE

Peninsular Malaysia INTRODUCTION Terrestrial Programme (PMTC) • Established as a national conservation trust on 13 January 1972. • Early work - focused on scientific research of wildlife and important natural habitats. Later, this work expanded to the management of protected areas. • Nowadays, WWF-Malaysia’s work covers the broader issues of the natural environment, incorporating such aspects as policy work, environmental education, public awareness and campaigns. • WWF-Malaysia HQ is in Petaling Jaya, Kota Kinabalu dan Kuching. • Site offices are in Fraser’s Hill, Malacca, Ma’ Daerah and Setiu in Terengganu. WWF-MALAYSIA’S CONSERVATION EFFORTS

Ecosystem health monitoring (water quality, land use & Wetlands ecosystems hydrological changes, indicator & catchment area species)

Areas of high Advocate conservation value protection

Engagement & Advocate partnership with key threat agencies minimization

Collaboration Empower with research bodies & local experts community

Environmental Community outreach, stewardship engagement, awareness & capacity building OVERVIEW

Economic WWF-Malaysia’s Setiu district ranked development priority site for 3rd highest in agenda for the freshwater/ Terengganu in district to generate wetlands terms of poverty higher revenue conservation within level# the PM landscape.

Population of Largest and most 63,900 people* intact coastal Setiu Wetlands who depend on / wetland complex on benefit from the the east coast of (Setiu, Terengganu) wetlands directly & Peninsular Malaysia indirectly

The Setiu 4 main rivers: About 17% of the catchment area 1. Setiu Setiu catchment (i.e. river basin) 2. Chalok area comprise totals 102,500ha 3. Bari wetlands (including and covers 79% of 4. Merang lagoons and the Setiu district@ rivers)@

@ECER (2009) #Zahari et al. (2014) *UPEN (2016)

INTERCONNECTED ECOSYSTEMS AND HABITATS

Source: UMT ECOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS & SERVICES OF THE SETIU WETLANDS

1 Main spawning ground for grouper species and bivalves (specifically cockles) in the nation

2 Coastline protection, natural flood control, safeguard water resources, sustain fisheries resources (as spawning and nursery ground)

3 Provides direct and indirect economic benefits to the local community (fisheries, charcoal production, honey extraction and handicrafts)

Supplementary income for local resorts and operators as well as local community from 4 nature awareness and ecotourism activities (e.g. mangrove replanting, boating, firefly watching) FLAGSHIP SPECIES OF SETIU WETLANDS

Juvenile Painted Terrapin / Tuntung Laut (Batagur borneoensis) Critically Endangered

River Terrapin/ Tuntung Sungai (Batagur affinis) Critically Endangered

Green Turtle / Penyu Agar (Chelonia mydas) Endangered

1) Merang Jetty 2) Telaga Papan 1 and Telaga Papan 2

• Traditionally, Merang is a a fishing village. • Nesting beaches for green turtle (Chelonia • Gateway to islands of the east coast (Redang mydas) Island, Perhentian Island and Lang Tengah • IUCN Red List – Endangered species Island). • WWF-MY (Marine Programme) manages the • Merang managed to retain much of its conservation work for green turtle in Setiu originality - provides the tranquil beauty for • Beach patrolling is carried out between March tourist to experience the beauty of the islands to September/October every year to collect as well as experiencing local cultures eggs from these beaches with the help from (attractionmalaysia.com) turtle rangers

3) Turtle and painted terrapin hatchery 4) Pink House • Intended to hatching the green turtle and • Persatuan Wanita Kampung Mangkok Setiu painted terrapin eggs in order to increase the (PEWANIS) rate of hatching and hatchlings • CBO involved in entrepreneurship and • Release back to ocean and river when hatched conservation-related activities in Setiu • Hatchery rangers help to manage the hatchery, Wetlands (2007) incubate the eggs, and release the hatchlings • More than a decade – a coffee table book to • Awareness program, hatchlings release appreciate their formation, achievements, program and WWF-MY’s visitors and donors to challenges, hopes & dreams Setiu Wetlands

5) Replanting site 6) Kuala Baharu Selatan and Kuala Baharu • Located at Jalan Penarik-Mangkok after the Utara Terrapuri Heritage Village, Penarik • Nesting site for painted terrapin • Site for mangrove replanting and beach clean • IUCN Red List – Critically Endangered Species up for both PEWANIS and WWF-MY • KBU – 5 km long • Recent work involved with mangrove • KBS – 2 km long replanting and measuring – to measure the • Night beach patrolling between June – growth rate of mangrove in this area September every year to collect eggs • 4 painted terrapin rangers

8) Fish Culture in Ponds at Kg Fikri (DOF, 7) KPW Center/Kercut DID) • Kumpulan Perkembangan Wanita, Kg Beris Tok Ku – established in 2012 • 1985 - 28 ponds at Fikri were constructed by • Women association produces handicraft made the Department of Fisheries for 7 families to of Lepironia articulate (Kercut) operate for sea bass (siakap) • Involves in development planning process, • Previously opened for paddy field but failed to conservation and entrepreneurship operate due to acidity soil • Land owned by local villagers but now became abandoned areas

9) Boardwalk Setiu 10) Craft and marine product stalls • Launched in February 2018 and about 500 m • Local communities sell their handicraft long products at this stalls (Lekar made of nypa • Built across the mangrove forest till the Setiu broomstick, Budu made of fish, mud clam, Wetlands lagoon Tampi made of pandanus leave, honey, shrimp • Mangrove replanting site for Sahabat Alam paste, Nira/palm wine/tuak– taken from Sekitar Setiu (Sahabat Setiu) together with nipah’s sap) WWF-MY

ECRL

Artificial River Mouth Shrimp Aquaculture

Shrimp Nursery for Aquaculture

Silica sand mining

Wet Paddy Scheme

Oil Palm Plantations Sheep farming WWF-MALAYSIA’S VISION FOR SETIU WETLANDS

• Wetlands ecosystems that remain healthy, ecologically functioning and biologically diverse • Improved protection and sound management of the Setiu Wetlands and its surrounding catchment • Reduced threats and impacts on the ecosystems in Setiu Wetlands to enable continued provision of ecosystem goods and services • Empowerment of local community to support and participate in conservation efforts (e.g. ecosystem health monitoring; planning processes for development and protectiont of Setiu Wetlands)

Source: UMT