Study of environmental Sustainability and wetland rehabilitation at Setiu

Constructed and natural wetlands are being utilized for water quality management of a broad variety of wastewater types worldwide. While water treatment is a primary goal of many of these systems, there is a general recognition that ancillary benefits for public use and wildlife habitat are typical of some of these wetlands. Also, there are growing numbers of constructed wetlands that are primarily focused on providing habitat and/or public use while relying on pretreated wastewater as the principal water supply. Efforts are currently underway to document the normal ranges of human and wildlife use benefits of treatment wetlands, and to provide a reasoned assessment of the potential environmental risks associated with these systems. Information collected from existing surface-flow treatment wetlands indicates consistent net benefits for wildlife habitat and public use. An understanding of the relationship between design and operation of treatment wetlands, and their positive and negative ecological and societal responses, will allow for optimization of new wetland systems Introduction Public participation is now considered a necessary component of environmental management planning, decision-making, and implementation (Johnson and Walker, 2000; Burroughs, 1999). Generally, it is accepted that public participation facilitates increased democracy, which empowers local communities and increases the likelihood of management actions being supported (Kapoor, 2001; Shindler and Cheek, 1999). Public participation in natural resource management often entails the involvement of community members in the implementation of on-ground management actions, for instance, in monitoring water quality or revegetation of a cleared site (Davis et al., 2001a; Moore et al., 2001; Stenhouse, 2001). Public involvement in the planning phase of natural resource management projects is equally important

(Kapoor, 2001). One way for people to participate is by providing local knowledge of their environment. Local ecological knowledge is the knowledge of a particular group of people about local ecosystems, and in contrast to traditional ecological knowledge, does not assume a continuous historical and cultural connection with the ecosystem (Olsson and Folke, 2001). Local ecological knowledge can be collated using questionnaires (e.g. Lunney et al., 2000), by examining written documents and maps such as diaries of early explorers and squatters (e.g. Curr, 2001), and through oral history (Clark, 1990; Egan and Howell, 2001). Oral history, as dened by Fogerty (2001, pp. 102), is a structured conversation between two peoplean interviewer pursuing a carefully dened line of inquiry, and a narrator with information that the interviewer seeks to acquire.Local knowledge of the history and ecology of wetland ecosystems can be a valuable resource in wetland rehabilitation projects. Public participation is now considered a necessary component of environmental management planning, decision-making, and implementation (Johnson and Walker, 2000; Burroughs, 1999). This is especially the case when other historical ecological information is unavailable. Setiu wetlands are one of the wetland areas in Malaysia are very rich diversity of natural resources. There is much that can be seen in wetlands Setiu privileges. Setiu wetlands have unique landscape because of the presence of various types of natural habitats ranging from freshwater, brackish water and the beach. This includes riparian forest, swamp forest paperbarks, peat swamp forests, mangrove forests, lagoons, sea grass, and sandy beaches. Setiu wetlands have the lagoon. There is a freshwater lagoon and the longest lagoon (22km) in peninsular Malaysia. This lagoon is a breeding site of most species of freshwater and marine fish of commercial value. It is also very rich in shellfish seed and fry grouper important

for the aquaculture industry. Setiu wetlands is part of the wetland complex basin-Chalok Setiu-Bari-Merang who have an interest in economic, ecological, and biological diversity. Beautiful panoramic Setiu Wetlands can captivate every eye of the beholder. Privileges of rivers, lagoons and beaches distinctive promising for Setiu wetlands to be one of the major tourist destinations in the state terengganu. between potential and major tourism attractions are river and lagoon Setiu attractiveness as a potential fishing locations interested in recreational fishing. local economy can benefit by taking wages handle boat takes anglers go fishing in the river either Setiu, on the coast or in the deep ocean. River cruise activity has the potential to be introduced in the river Setiu to tourists who love to enjoy the beauty of nature and wildlife viewing. Location Setiu is located at Kg. Bari Besar, Penarik, Setiu, Terengganu eastern part of Peninsular Malaysia facing the South China Sea. On the north is the state of Kelantan, whilst to the south is the state of Pahang. It is approximately 55 km from Kuala Terengganu and 460 km from the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. Total hectarage of the substation is approximately 53 ha and possessed from the state government of Terengganu on 26th July 1993. According to Choo (1991) approximately 71,000 ha of BRIS soil recorded in Terengganu which are inherently poor in fertility status. There have been very little progress made on the rehabilitation of these land except for some work by MARDI promoting tobacco planting. Abdullah (1997) estimated that majority of the area being left idle, which only 5-10% of the total BRIS soils in the country for agriculture development and that. Objective How are business activities affecting your local community and on the wider environment. To identify needed among poverty, inequality and environmental degradation.