The Johor Port Authority (JPA) is supporting youth capacity-building in Mukim Tanjung Kupang, a stretch of 9 fishing villages around the Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP). We empower the youth community through science and environmental education. Local youth are trained from a very young age in natural habitat monitoring, learning about seagrass meadows, mangroves and island habitats in situ. This enables them to better understand, appreciate and take ownership over these ecosystems in their backyards and playgrounds.
The youth are also trained as ecotourism guides, combining local ecological knowledge with science to manage and run unique tours, benefiting the local community. Currently, trained young professionals work fulltime at local environmental NGOs being qualified as Green Badge Nature Guides (certified by Tourism Malaysia), and are recognized as Rakan Pintar (habitat experts) by the Johor Bahru Education Department (PPD).
The youth are now able to independently determine gaps in local habitat information, devise their own research plans and carry out studies to fruition. Well trained youngsters can combine and use the acquired knowledge in advancing ecotourism efforts, as well as becoming trainers themselves and passing on knowledge to more youngsters and the wider community.