The Shorebirds Project of Peninsular Malaysia led by Dr. Nur Munira successfully organised a World Wetlands Day celebration on 29 February 2020. This event is one of many steps she is taking to raise awareness among the local community about the importance of protecting the shorebirds’ habitat at the Teluk Ayer Tawar–Kuala Muda Coast. The event which was supported by the members of Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) Penang and the Seberang Perai City Council, succeeded in enlisting the participation of students from local schools. It was held at Pasar Bisik, Kuala Muda, the busy fish market where artisanal fishermen and buyers congregate – a fitting location to reflect on how wetlands support our food supply and local livelihoods.
At the event, Dr. Foong Swee Yeok from the School of Biological Sciences at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) gave a talk on the importance of mangroves. Participants then took part in a beach clean-up and to observe firsthand how our coastal mudflats are important feeding areas for migratory birds! Using binoculars and scopes to observe the shorebirds was an exciting first experience for many of the participants.
During this time, The Habitat Foundation team also interviewed a few stakeholders to develop a video in the near future—stay tuned!
View a gallery of some of the images from the day below.
