Protect Coral Reefs in Malaysia

Our work in South Johor goes beyond raising awareness. We believe that when people understand the marine ecosystems around them, they should also have opportunities to take action to protect them. That is why our education programmes combine learning with hands-on conservation activities that encourage students and local communities to become active stewards of their coastal environment.

With students from SK Kampung Baru Pasir Gogok, our team conducted a seagrass nursery-based planting activity to introduce them to the importance of seagrass ecosystems and their role in the coastal environment.

The students discovered that seagrass meadows are found right in their own coastal area and explored three seagrass species collected from Sungai Johor. They then got their hands dirty, planting the seagrasses in baskets and tanks at their school. By caring for the nursery and monitoring the plants as they grow, the students can continue learning about these ecosystems long after the activity is over.

This hands-on experience helps turn knowledge into action, giving young learners a personal connection to the seagrass ecosystems in their community and a better understanding of why they are worth protecting.

This year, we also expanded our mangrove conservation efforts to include the Kampung Pasir Gogok community. Working alongside local community members, we established four mangrove nursery plots and planted 55 Rhizophora mucronata propagules.

More than just planting mangroves, the activity gave community members an opportunity to play a direct role in caring for their coastal environment. The enthusiasm and participation shown by the community reflected a growing sense of shared responsibility for protecting the ecosystems they live alongside.

To further raise awareness, we also installed a marine awareness signboard highlighting the unique marine ecosystems found in the area. The signboard serves as a reminder to both residents and visitors of the natural heritage around them and the importance of protecting it. These may be small steps, but together they help build a community that understands, values and takes action to protect its coastal environment for future generations.

In Pulau Aur, Johor, we are helping local communities see waste in a new way. Through a recent Community Education and Public Awareness (CEPA) programme, 28 community members participated in hands-on training to learn how discarded glass bottles can be transformed into a valuable resource for marine conservation.

Participants were introduced to a glass crusher machine and learned how used glass bottles can be cleaned, crushed, and repurposed as an alternative material for coral rehabilitation structures. Beyond demonstrating a practical recycling solution, the programme helped raise awareness about responsible waste management and encouraged greater community involvement in protecting the island's marine environment.

The learning did not stop in the classroom. Together with volunteers from the Mersing Marine Conservation Group (MMCG), community members also took part in preparing recycled glass bottles for use in reef rehabilitation efforts. These materials will be incorporated into structures designed to support coral growth and habitat recovery in damaged reef areas around Mersing.

By turning waste into a resource, this initiative is addressing two challenges at once: reducing glass waste on the island while supporting the restoration of coral reef ecosystems. More importantly, it is empowering local communities with the knowledge and skills to take an active role in conservation, creating lasting benefits for both people and nature.