Jerrah (centre) waters an Enkabang sapling she just planted while others look on.
MIRI: A total of 300 seedlings were planted at the compound of SMK Baru yesterday as part of the ‘Forest Landscape Restoration Project’ of the Sarawak Forest Department.
School principal Jerrah Pandin said the programme was participated by Form 1 and 4 students, and several staff. They planted three types of seedlings – Enkabang Jantong (Shorea macrophylla), Meranti Binatoh (horea argentifolia), and Meranti Sarang Punai (Shorea parvifolia Dyer).
Jerrah thanked the Forest Department for selecting SMK Baru as the only school here to carry out the ‘Forest Landscape Restoration Project’ awareness programme.
“We want the students to know why they need to take care of the environment, which is why the Forest Department is working with us (SMK Baru) to run this programme,” she said, adding the programme really suited the school as it has a huge area .
Students plant Meranti Sarang Punai seedling in the school compound.
Acting forest officer, Asan Odau, meanwhile said tree-planting was part of their efforts to restore the environment.
He said through the Forest Landscape Restoration Project, which was launched by the chief minister in the middle of this year, the Forest Department had been actively involved in planting trees to regenerate forestation.
“We also want to instil the love for the environment from a young age, which is why we chose this school because our long-term mission is to create leaders who are sensitive to environmental conservation.
“Hopefully, the saplings we plant today will grow to become a small forest environment in SMK Baru in the coming decades,” he said.