River Care Programme
Rivers play an important role in our lives. Unfortunately, many of us have forgotten about the importance of rivers and this has led to serious degradation in our rivers today. In Malaysia, 5% of our river basins are severely polluted and 42% are polluted, leaving only 53% of all rivers classified as "clean". The lack of education and awareness of the general public about our water resourves, how they are being managed, and how they should be managed is a key factor that has led to the current state of Malaysia's overall water quality. Another important factor is the lack of skill for genuinely interested people to take action in river management.GEC is committed to provide a better understanding about the importance of our rivers and appreciate the value of them. Therefore, we established a River Care Programme (RCP) focusing on promoting community participation in river and water resource protection and sustainable use through the Civic Science approach. We work closely with all stakeholders in solid waste management and water and river management, and believe that everyone has a role to play in the environment.
Objective:
To promote integrated management of rivers and water resources with a focus on community participation, biodiversity conservation and nature-based solutions
Mission:
To promote the protection, restoration and sustainable use of rivers by enhancing multi-stakeholder participation and knowledge to stimulate local action and vision is to have clean, healthy, living and vibrant rivers for people and the environment.
Focus:
To promote and support the integrated management of river basins with particular emphasis on ensuring that biodiversity and wetland conservation and community considerations are incorporated into river basin management.
Project Sites
Sungai Kinta
Sungai Pencala
Sungai KlangRiver Care Programme Projects
GEC's River Care Programme has undertaken a range of projects and initiatives related to Integrated river basin management and has involved with various partners in the following site-based riverine assessment and management projects which emphasize community participation
Project status: Ongoing
The project is part of an expansion of the ongoing Yayasan PETRONAS Tree Planting Programme: “Walk4Trees” Challenge implemented by GEC since 2020.
Citizen Science Engagement Through River Adoption & Monitoring
Project status: Ongoing
The project focuses on empowering the local community on issues that contribute to the river care management including river monitoring and citizen science initiatives.
Stewardship for A Healthy Kinta River Basin Through Green Living Practices
Project status: Ongoing
This 3-year project aims to achieve a Healthy Kinta River Basin in a long term by redefining the definition of healthy rivers in line with living river concept.
Klang River Basin Restoration and Rehabilitation Project at Sungai Batu through Biodiversity Enhancement
Project status: Ongoing
The ‘Restoration and Rehabilitation Project’ at Sungai Batu (a tributary of the Klang River Basin) in Selangor, focuses on biodiversity enhancement through community participation.
W.A.T.E.R Project - Water Stewardship Agenda II (Phase 4)
Project status: Ongoing
This project is a consolidation of Water Stewardship Agenda I and is restructured based on four new strategies. Initiated by SPARK foundation, in collaboration with Global Environment Centre (GEC), the project aims to protect water resources at two basins: Sg Klang (Sg Penchala & Sg Way) and Sg Selangor.
Empowering Community livelihood in Upper Kinta Basin as part of post Covid-19 MCO Strategy
Project status: Ongoing
The overall objective of this project is to support the livelihood of vulnerable communities by providing immediate income opportunities post Movement Control Order (MCO) period and promote socio-economic support through capacity building.
Mainstreaming of Biodiversity Conservation into River Management
Project status: Completed
The project aims to mainstream the biodiversity conservation into riverine landscapes through improved river planning and management practices in Malaysia.
Integrated Management of Kinta River Basin for Community & Ecosystem Services through Active Community and Stakeholder Participation
Project status: Completed
This project is a collaborative effort of various stakeholders especially key relevant government agencies in Perak aims to conserve and preserve the upper catchment of Kinta River Basin that serves as water supply to Orang Asli and local communities.
W.A.T.E.R Project: Water Stewardship Agenda I (Phase 3)
Project status: Completed
This water stewardship project is a continuation of W.A.T.E.R Project working on rivers rehabilitation and educational outreach to various stakeholders to change mindsets and adopt water conservation initiatives for protection of our water resources.
River of Life Public Outreach Programme Phase 5 (RoLPOP 5)
Project status: Completed
The main objective of ROL-POP is to generate evidential improvement in attitudes and behaviours of target groups within the Project Area towards river care and preservation in order to improve water quality and reduce pollution within project area. other than that, it is to promote a sense of ownership towards the river and initiating long term and sustainable change in behaviour towards preserving the river.
Download RoLPOP 5 project brochure.
SMART (Start Managing All Resources Today) Ranger for Schools within Klang Valley
Project status: Completed
This is a project developed to support a comprehensive recycling programme through buy-back system and increase recycling practices among school students.
Sustainable Water Resource Management for Community via Drinking Water Supply
Project status: Completed
GEC recognizes the lack of clean water supply in the rural areas and among the indigenous communities in Malaysia. This project is initiated to find solution for this problem by providing suitable and practical alternative source of potable water for them.
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W.A.T.E.R project - Sg Kinta River Education Programme
Project status: Completed
Sungai Kinta River Education Programme was funded by GAB Foundation to empower Malaysians to make the choice to conserve our water source.
Read about the first phase of the project
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Sungai Penchala River Education Programme
Project status: Completed
The W.A.T.E.R project by SPARK Foundation, in partnership with Global Environment Centre (GEC) was commenced in December 2007. W.A.T.E.R is a pioneer initiative to educate the public about the importance of water and why and how we should conserve and protect its source: our rivers.
Community-based Waste Management in Pulau Pangkor
Project status: Completed
A 3 year project focused on empowering local community to reduce coastal water pollution by managing waste and water sustainbly via Waste to Wealth concept. The initiative was implemented by GEC, funded by Vale in Malaysia and supported by Department of Irrigation and Drainage, Manjung, Perak.
Download project brochure.
HSBC Water Conservation and Environmental Programme for Schools in Malaysia
Project status: Completed
Water Conservation Programme was a two year project funded by HSBC Bank Malaysia Berhad to educate student on wise management of the water resources.
Download project brochure.
Community Flood-Proofing and Adaptation for Climate Resilience
Project status: Completed
Malaysian Water Partnership (MyWP) under the Global World Partnership (GWP) aims to create a platform and pathway to the community to be flood-proofing and adapt for climate resilience. Global Environment Centre has been entrusted as a working partner to implement this activity.
River of Life Public Outreach Programme (www.myrol.my)
Project status: Completed
The main objective of ROL-POP is to generate evidential improvement in attitudes and behaviours of target groups within the Project Area towards river care and preservation in order to improve water quality and reduce pollution within project area. other than that, it is to promote a sense of ownership towards the river and initiating long term and sustainable change in behaviour towards preserving the river.
Rehabilitation of Kelana Jaya Lakes, Selangor
Project status: Completed
The Kelana Jaya Lakes Rehabilitation Programme was developed in 2002 by Global Environment Centre (GEC) with funding from the UNDP-GEF Small Grant Fund. The goal of the project was"to rehabilitate and sustainably manage the lakes of Kelana Jaya Municipal Park through participatory approach involving all key stakeholders especially the community groups".
Community Involvement in Conservation of Biodiversity of Sg Nenggiri basin, Kelantan
Project status: Completed
The Nenggiri River Conseration Programme (NRCP) was established in 2004 following concerns expressed by the local community and other stakeholders over the degradation of Nenggiri River and loss of livelihood from fishing and other natural resource-based activities. NRCP was established by the Global Environment Centre and Titiwangsa Heritage Sdn. Bhd. in partnrship with local communities and the Kelantan State Government.
Sg Pinang River Care programme
Project status: Completed
Sg. Pinang RIVER Care Programme which is a three years project funded by HSBC Bank Malaysia Berhad in partnership with Global Environment Centre (GEC) to enhance community participation in river protection and river rehabilitation ends in 2013.
Rapid Assessment of Upper Kinta Catchment
Project status: Completed
A one year project to provide baseline data on the upper Kinta catchment
Community Flood-Proofing and Adaptation for Climate Resilience, Kuantan, Pahang
Project Status : Completed
A short term project, funded by University Putra Malaysia (UPM) to enhance and develop training module for community flood awareness and preparedness, incorporating experiential learning styles, to enhance climate change resilience. The project was implemented in partnership with GEC, MyWp and DID Pahang.
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