Article: For a greener tomorrow

Monday June 22, 2009

By IVAN LOH

CHILDREN have a big role to play in protecting the rain- forest and the environment when they grow up, Pulau Banding Foundation chief executive officer Dr K. Daniel Baskaran said.

He said children should be inculcated with the passion to care for the environment at a young age.

"When they become leaders of tomorrow, they can make changes to protect nature," said Dr Daniel during a one-day environment awareness programme at the Belum Rainforest Resort recently.

Protecting the rainforest: Dr Baskaran (left) briefing the students before the forest walk at the Belum Rainforest Resort in Grik. With him is dayang (second left).

Instead of chopping down trees and clearing forests, Dr Daniel said they could learn to think of alternatives to increase forests and to handle issues on climate change.

He noted that Malaysia was blessed with thick and lush rain-forests that should be protected.

On the awareness programme,Dr Daniel said 30 students and teachers from six schools were taken on a jungle trail walk in the Royal Belum rainforest.

He said the students were educated on the various species of trees and plants during the hour-long walk.

Joining them on the awareness programme was the foundation's Ambassador for Environment Pro-tection and Conservation, singer Dayang Nurfaizah.

"The programme is a start for the children to learn about the importance of caring for nature," she said.

Dayang admitted she was more mindful of the need to protect the environment after being appointed the ambassador this year.

She had previously participated in SuriaFM's Green Everyday Concert under the 2007 environment preservation campaign.

The Sarawak-born lass said she hoped that she could start her own environmental awareness programme in the future.

This article was taken from: The Star Online: Metro: North 22 June 2009