GREEN INITIATIVE: Lai waters a tree to launch the tree planting programme at Desa Indah Phase 6.
MIRI: Miri City Council (MCC) in collaboration with the private sector and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) has been organising intensive tree planting activities this year in creating a vibrant and green resort city.
Targeting 1,000 trees to be planted every year, MCC would also like to establish a ‘Mini Forest Park’ in every residential area, especially in large-scale housing estates such as Permyjaya, Senadin and Taman Tunku which have wide open spaces.
“Apart from planting various high density trees, we would also like to provide and incorporate sidewalks, jogging tracks and children playgrounds in the concept,” Miri Mayor Lawrence Lai said after launching a tree planting ceremony at Desa Indah Phase 6, Permyjaya here.
Lai believed that a mini forest park will be beneficial in terms of providing recreational areas for residents apart from serving as a buffer zone.
The success of the programme, Lai explained, would depend on the help from the private sector, particularly in terms of identifying planting areas for tree seedlings. Besides that, the programme also requires volunteers to help plant the trees, in line with the concept of the “National Blue Ocean Strategy 6: Leveraging NGOs to Mobilise Volunteers For Tree Planting” implemented by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Lai added.
For a start, open spaces in Desa Indah Phase 6 in Permyjaya have been selected for planting trees on a large scale.
MCC thanked Sarawak Timber Association (STA) for their financial contribution to help the planting of trees along a main road in Piasau. It was made to understand that STA also agreed to finance the second phase of the project in the vicinity and along Jalan Datuk Edward Jeli.
“Shin Yang (Group of Companies) has also agreed to contribute to the planting of another 3,000 trees here in Desa Indah Phase 6,” he told thesundaypost.
In this context, Lai called on the private sector, housing developers and NGOs to participate in the tree planting programme next year . Contributions in finances, supplying seedlings and manpower are all welcomed.
MCC won the Chief Minister’s Environmental Award 2011/2012 (Government Agencies category) recently.
Meanwhile, MCC recognises the importance of green technologies to reduce carbon emission in a city.
As such, the Standing Committee for City Services and Green City chaired by Councillor Julaihi Mohamad has developed many activities in collaboration with the Engineering Department, Landscape Division, Public Health and Maintenance Division and Local Agenda 21 Unit to preserve the environment.
Collaborative campaigns such as ‘Say No to Plastic Bags’, ‘Say No to Styrofoam’, environmental and recycling talks and workshops have been organised.
Lai said the tree planting programme was also another initiative towards achieving a low carbon city.
In December 2009, the prime minister has made a commitment during the 15th Conference of Parties (COP) meeting in Copenhagen to reduce carbon intensity by 40 per cent by 2020 as compared to the level in 2005.
During the Budget 2010 speech, the prime minister has also expressed his desire to see Putrajaya and Cyberjaya as ‘Green Tech City’ models in the country.
The Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water has developed and conducted various programmes to achieve this goal.
Among the most important initiatives the government has drawn up is to create sustainable communities and environment through the launching of the Low Carbon Cities Framework and Assessment System (LCCF) in September last year.
Subsequently, Miri was selected, along with four other cities for the LCCF pilot project.
A memorandum of understanding was signed between MCC and Green Tech Malaysia last February for the pilot project.
The most important step in applying LCCF is the application of green technologies that reduce carbon emission rate.
On July 14 this year, MCC has signed another memorandum of understanding to undertake a joint study on the benefits of light-emitting diodes (LED). This led to the implementation of an energy saving street lighting system through LED technology at three public parks here.