Universiti Sains Malaysia staff initiate Malaysia’s first marine ecological engineering project
Researchers from Universiti Sains Malaysia are set to play a key role in Malaysia’s first marine ecological engineering project. The British Ecological Society & Rufford Small Grants-funded “Eco-Engineering: design with nature”, project will see the scientists, led by Dr. Su Yin Chee (Centre For Marine & Coastal Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia) and Dr. Louise Firth (School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Science, Plymouth University), assess how small-scale novel engineering interventions on artificial coastal structures (Figs. 1 & 2) can provide important habitat for marine organisms and enhance local biodiversity and ecosystem services. The 18-months project represents the beginning of collaboration between Universiti Sains Malaysia, Plymouth University, Aberystwyth University and the University of Southampton.
Penang Island is one of the fastest growing and most densely populated regions in Malaysia. To accommodate the burgeoning population, the local council are planning to construct two artificial islands and reclaim a large tract of land off the iconic Gurney Drive, Georgetown. The islands will be connected by bridge and will house 12,000 people and provide development opportunity for the retail and recreational sectors. The islands have attracted much negative criticism from locals and environmental groups alike, due to the potential negative environmental impacts.
Chee, Firth and colleagues (Prof. Richard Thompson, Plymouth University; Prof. Steve Hawkins, University of Southampton; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aileen Tan, Universiti Sains Malaysia; Drs Pippa Moore and Ally Evans, Aberystwyth University, Dr. Cheah Chee Ban, Universiti Sains Malaysia) will trial a number of small-scale ecological engineering experiments on existing artificial structures to investigate the efficacy of these techniques in the region. In September 2015, Chee facilitated Firth’s visit to Penang to oversee the drilling of artificial rock pools (Fig. 3) - this is the first ecological engineering experiment to be initiated in Malaysia. If results are positive the goal is to scale up and team up with a range of scientists and engineers to consider large-scale approaches for the artificial islands.
Fig. 1 Dr. Su Yin Chee (University Sains Malaysia) (right) and Dr. Louise Firth (Plymouth University) (left) on the rock revetments in Straits Quay. Straits Quay is one of three pilot implementation sites where rock pools are drilled to encourage habitation of coastal organisms in Penang.
Fig. 2 Dr. Su Yin Chee and Dr. Louise Firth discussed environmental challenges faced by former Chairman of Chew Jetty (far right). Chew Jetty is part of the world-famous UNESCO world Heritage site of Georgetown, Penang. Clean water is essential for maintaining the UNESCO status and is very important to the City.
Fig. 3 The drilling of artificial rock pools on the newly constructed rock revetment at Karpal Singh Drive, Penang.
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