14.5.4 : Collaboration for shared aquatic ecosystems
In September 2024, UTM joined forces with the Yayasan Johor Corporation (JCorp), the Jabatan Pengairan dan Saliran Malaysia (JPS) and civil-society partners to organise the national-level celebration of World Rivers Day 2024 at the banks of the Sungai Tebrau in Johor Bahru. Over two days beginning 20 September 2024, some 300 volunteers from UTM, secondary and teacher education institutions, private-sector firms, NGOs and local individuals contributed their energy to clean-up operations themed “Rivers and Waterways in our Communities.” These volunteers removed 857.1 kg of waste from the riverbank through the “KUDAH” (Kutip Sambil Riadah) activity, demonstrating hands-on commitment to river health and ecological quality.
The event exemplifies the methodology’s criteria for impactful conservation events: It mobilised multiple stakeholders, engaged local communities, and targeted restoration of a waterway that connects to larger coastal and marine systems. By focusing on a river that drains into downstream marine ecosystems, the programme strengthened awareness of how inland water-courses and riparian zones influence broader aquatic and coastal health.
UTM’s leadership in the event aligns with the methodology’s emphasis on “Education & Awareness for sustainable use of water & aquatic ecosystems” and “Partnerships for community engagement and environmental stewardship”. The volunteer-driven clean-up built individual agency, fostered collective behavioural change and reinforced the concept of shared responsibility over rivers, seas, lakes and marine resources. The presence of over 2,000 visitors and the awarding of community-recognition initiatives such as the “River Rangers” and “National River Care Fund” further amplified the programme’s reach and legacy.
Moreover, the event demonstrated sustainable-utilisation messaging: by cleaning the river banks, the programme restored ecosystem services (such as water purification and habitat protection) and improved the aesthetics and functionality of the river corridor for local recreation and community wellbeing. These outcomes reflect the methodology’s focus on “impact reduction and ecosystem resilience” as well as “resource sustainability”.
By organising a high-visibility, community-based event that links local river conservation with broader aquatic and marine ecosystem health, UTM made a measurable contribution to the sustainable use of water-based resources. The collection of more than 857 kg of waste serves as a tangible indicator of immediate impact. The event also lays the groundwork for longer-term awareness-raising, behavioural change and future monitoring — essential elements in the Sustainability Impact Ratings framework. In short, the World Rivers Day 2024 event at Sungai Tebrau stands as a strong model of how universities, public agencies and civil society can collaborate to promote conservation and sustainable utilisation of rivers and interconnected marine resources.
Source :
https://news.utm.my/2024/09/300-sukarelawan-jayakan-program-hari-sungai-sedunia-2024-di-tebrau/
