KUCHING: Environmental awareness plays a crucial role in populating Kuching Wetland National Park with mangrove trees, as shown by the planting of 3,500 saplings this month alone.
Also present at the event was Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd Sarawak Operations senior manager Suhaimi Ahmad. — Photo by Jessica Jawing
Park and Ramsar project manager Sulaiman Jamahari said that four sapling planting programmes were carried out by various parties that organised visits to the wetland.
He estimated that between 40 to 50 hectares of land have been planted with mangrove trees.
Sulaiman was speaking to reporters after the launch of the EcoBako Programme at Kuching Wetland National Park yesterday.
The event was organised by the state Environment Department, Forest Department and Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd Sarawak, together with students from Sekolah Menengah Sains Kuching Utara.
Meanwhile Environment Department Sarawak director Ruslan Mohamad said they are committed to holding activities that increase public awareness, including the planting of mangrove saplings by students.
“This is one of the state-level activities held in conjunction with Malaysia Environment Week,” he said, adding that they were involving students in the planting of 500 saplings.
Apart from planting saplings, the department will also be holding the launching ceremony of the state-level Malaysia Environment Week 2014 on Thursday (Oct 23).
“This is held every year from Oct 21 to 27 after the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm) declared the dates for Malaysia Environment Week.”