By Marilyn Menezes Simon
SELANGOR — The Creation Justice Commission (CJC) of the Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur organised a Mangrove Plantation activity at the Kuala Selangor Nature Park on February 4, as part of its initiative to promote decarbonisation.
From zero waste to beach cleaning, and now moving towards the planting of mangroves, the archdiocese is heeding the voice of creation, is concerned, and is taking action.
The activity was a collaboration with the Kuala Selangor Nature Park and the Malaysian Nature Society. It brought together 117 enthusiastic environmentalists from different faiths, communities, and age groups. Archbishop Julian Leow, Fr Andrew Manickam OFM Cap, Fr Edwin Peter, and Fr Bernard Hyacinth, SJ, were among the participants.
On arriving at the Kuala Selangor Nature Park, everyone was greeted by volunteer staff and invited for breakfast. CJC head, Fr Andrew, welcomed and thanked everyone for their participation. The aim was to plant 150 trees and 200 seedlings.
Dato Dr Dionysus (Dino) Sharma, from the Church of Divine Mercy, introduced the staff and shared how the park collaborates with the Malaysian Nature Society to engage people to become responsible for their choices, to share resources and to promote reusability along with conservation.
Archbishop Julian then reminded everyone that two festivals – Thaipusam and Chap Goh Mei, were celebrated over the weekend and that our fellow brothers and sisters were remembered. The archbishop incorporated the examples of the coconut and the orange and invited those present to reflect on how we could break the hardness of our hearts and build the pure holiness of the coconut fruit. And just like an orange that is orange in colour on the outside and inside, we could be true to ourselves and pure on the outside and the inside, thus beginning a journey of being aware.
Shan, the park manager, said the park was managed by an NGO and funds were collected to protect the mangrove area. He mentioned that the amphitheatre where everyone was seated, was earlier covered by sea and there were salt pans around. Mangroves act as a natural filter to block out pollution by trapping plastic, garbage, etc. washed in from the sea, and the huge mud flats which become home for the migratory birds that visit each year.
Shan added that as some of the mangrove trees had been uprooted and destroyed by wind and lightning strikes, new trees were planted. He appreciated everyone that supported ecology-based activities.
Mangroves play an important role in decarbonisation and improving the quality of water. The group was then briefed on rules to observe during the activity.
The participants were divided into two groups – those helping to prepare seedlings and those who would plant the trees. The volunteers put on Wellington boots and started their walk toward the plantation area. They used the time to connect with nature and each other as they waited for the entire group to finish their tasks.
The second group that prepared the mangrove seedlings consisted mainly of children between the ages of four and 14. When nine-year-old Mia was asked about her experience, she said, “It was amazing and fun! I think we had more fun than the adults and learnt a lot. We held tiny crabs, spotted a monitor lizard, saw birds, and mud skippers, and learnt survival skills if we are lost in a mangrove area, names of plants, etc.”
Once both activities were completed, participants freshened up and gathered for lunch. It was truly a time to ponder on our call to be the Salt of the Earth and Light of the World as we reflected on the love of our Creator God.
The CJC and the Archdiocesan Prayer Ministry will hold “An Outdoor Lenten Recollection” on March 4, at Lake Gardens.
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