Article: Get your ‘family tree’ at FRIM

Monday June 8, 2009

Green Day at FRIM (this video was taken from: You tube)

The Star's Green Day Celebration 2009

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians can now adopt a plant or tree for conservation in the country's oldest and largest artificial forest.

The Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) has launched the "Friends of FRIM" campaign where "foster parents" could adopt a plant, starting from RM50 each, aimed at inculcating in Malaysians a sense of ownership for their natural heritage.

Having fun: Raja Nong Chik (centre) having a go at the bowling game at the Brats/Rage booth alongside Edison Lim, five.

"Once you adopt a tree, you will have a sense of urgency to know everything about it — where it's from, what it can be used for and issues such endangerment and pollution.

"Foster parents will be able to visit their trees and see how they have grown and their significance," its director-general, Datuk Dr Abd Latif Mohmod, told reporters at the World Environment Day celebration here.

"With this programme, FRIM will be owned by Malaysians," he said, adding that the programme would enhance its status as a natural heritage site.

Dr Abd Latif said the institute also wanted to encourage Malaysians to change their mindset that forests are merely useful as a timber source.

"We want them to regard them as a more valuable source for health products and eco-tourism."

The event is held in collaboration with The Star's Green Day Celebration themed "Go Green, Live Green" yesterday and featured various booths and activities promoting the importance of the environment and its conservation.

Also at the celebration was Federal Territories Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin, who launched it, and his wife Datin Nafesah Raja Nong Chik, The Star group chief editor Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai and Bonuslink general manager Victor Goon.

Green celebration: (from right) Goon, Wong Raja Nong Chik and his wife Datin Nafesah Raja Nong Chik, and Dr Mohmod stuffing organic waste into bottles filled with brown sugar that is part of the enzymemaking process.

Later, Raja Nong Chik said the Government was committed to conserving more green lungs in the city.

"We are committed to this endeavour. Whatever green there is in Kuala Lumpur will be retained as a policy and we discourage groups to develop in gazetted green areas."

He said the ministry would engage companies in making environmental concerns part of their operations, adding that developers had been given incentives to incorporate green technology and policies into their projects.

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This article was taken from: The Star Online: Go green live green 8 June 2009