Kelab Alami nurturing environmental stewardship in the Straits of Johor

Kelab Alami, also known as Kelab Pencinta Alam Tanjung Kupang, was established in 2009 by Dr. Serina Rahman and Shalan Jum’at.

This environmental club is dedicated to educating local children about the environment, covering topics such as seagrass, mangroves, and the diverse flora and fauna of the Straits of Johor.

In addition to educating the younger generation, Kelab Alami actively engages with locals, developers, corporations, and government agencies to address the environmental needs of the Tanjung Kupang area.

Kelab Alami preserving the environment

Serving as a dedicated environmental catalyst, the club aims to foster sustainable practices and promote a harmonious coexistence between development and environmental preservation in the Straits of Johor.

Serina uncovered a surprising need for increased awareness about the value of the Tanjung Kupang location during interactions with property developers.

Executives were taken aback when briefed by the young citizen scientists, who unveiled the unseen richness and significance of the area to local communities.

In a positive turn, these revelations prompted property developers to actively engage in conservation and cleaning projects spearheaded by Kelab Alami.

Through interaction with teachers from the Shattuck-St Mary’s International School in Forest City (SSM-FC), Kelab Alami helped set up a Kelab Alami Citizen Science Centre at the school.

“Through this, and our training of the whole school, both faculty and students in Citizen Science, we reignited positive engagement with Forest City.

“There was positive engagement before Covid, but then it went quiet.

“The students train with us as guides and community researchers and are engaged in documenting the flora and fauna of Forest City, as well as doing work in our community for Kelab Alami,” Serina explained.

“I am happy to say that Citizen Science is now a key pillar in SSM-FC’s approach to education,” Serina added.

Challenge to stay afloat

Kelab Alami’s transformative approach educates young minds. It inspires a broader community to actively participate in preserving the delicate balance of natural environments.

“We had thought of quitting in 2014 because we had run out of money, and the kids had grown up and finished school, and I had to return to a ‘proper job’, as it were.

“The sight of sand ships dumping sand on our much-loved Tanjung Kupang seagrass meadow sealed the deal, but then the developer met with us and asked that we continue as part of the necessary stakeholder engagement,” Serina revealed.

Between the Pulai River estuary, the Tanjung Kupang coastline, and Merambong Island lies the Tanjung Kupang seagrass meadow, which boasts the most extensive intertidal seagrass meadow in Peninsula Malaysia at 40 hectares and stretching two kilometres.

The development work on Forest City buried sections of the seagrass bed.

The reclamation heaped hardships for the coastal fishermen and women who had to move around sandbanks and ships to reach their fishing spots. They utilise more fuel for their fibreglass boats and face danger from ships and unmarked shallow areas.

There was compensation, but most did not come directly to the fishers; it went to their Association.

Funding and new programmes by Kelab Alami

In that environment of depression, the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) met up with Serina and Shalan in 2015.

“Their Social Development team headed by Nor Hisham Hussein came to us and advised that we find a way to participate and benefit from what is to come.

“They (IRDA) said that we cannot stop the development that’s coming our way, and they opened the doors for us to engage with the stakeholders, so we engaged,” said Serina.

“IRDA opened the doors, and we met with the Johor Port Authority, who gave us access to PTP and then Forest City, and Sunway Iskandar Development made overtures for engagement.

“I don’t believe in tying ourselves to trees because protests do not work. Engagement to find win-win situations is key, but the community must lead the way,” Serina added.

Ultimately, Kelab Alami wants to establish a community-led conservation area as this is in the National Biodiversity Conservation Plan, “but we need to work on making this a reality for our area; being the local habitat experts, the community can do the job,” she said.

According to Serina, the engagement with these stakeholders has proven incredibly positive.

“Kelab Alami Nature & Heritage Centre is on the Johor Port Authority land, which was leased to PTP long term, and both have agreed to let us use it,” Serina said.

Serina revealed that funding is a perennial problem.

“We have received grants for project funding, but those have a duration, and once the aim is achieved, the assistance stops.

“We must do more with our educational eco-tours because we charge for that, but that is seasonal, and tours are only possible during low tides when we take visitors onto the seagrass bed.

Raising awareness and monitoring impact

Kelab Alami also conducts curated field trips for schools, which may or may not include visits to the seagrass beds. These are good contributions to the local economy and help the club to get by, too.

“To maintain our monitoring initiatives and local youth environmental education programmes, which are spearheaded by Wani, we rely on donations and grants.

“These programs play a crucial role in raising awareness and fostering appreciation among the youth in our community and the broader Iskandar Puteri/EduCity area.

“The need for financial support is underscored by the importance of continuously monitoring the environmental impacts of coastal development and shipping traffic, making these activities essential for our community’s well-being,” Serina said.

“And over the years, we have witnessed and felt the effects of climate change, and so it’s a double whammy for the fishermen and women; global warming and increased commercial activities means low yield from the Straits,” Serina said.

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