Lyna Mohamad
The third Environmental Education Project began with the planting of 257 trees at the Berakas Forest Reserve yesterday.
The project, organised by Green Brunei in cooperation with Mitsubishi Corporation (Brunei Liaison Office) and Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sdn Bhd (BSP), aims to raise public awareness of climate change while offering the public a platform to reduce its impacts.
Deputy Minister of the Department of Energy at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Matsatejo bin Sokiaw led some 150 participants to plant saplings at the forest reserve’s Biodiversity Park. Also present were Ambassador of Japan to Brunei Darussalam Maeda Toru, Permanent Secretary of the Department of Energy at the PMO Haji Azhar bin Haji Yahya, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Core Education) at the Ministry of Education Aliuddin bin Haji Abdul Rahman and the Country Representative of Mitsubishi Corporation (Brunei Liaison Office) Tadashi Hara.
Co-founder and Community Engagement Director of Green Brunei Khairunnisa binti Haji Ash’ari, Green Brunei members and students from sixth form centres and representatives from various stakeholders also participated in the tree planting.
Tadashi Hara said it was unfortunate that last year’s project was done virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He said this year’s project will include an art competition for primary students with climate change as the theme.
It will also include two river cleanup activities with stakeholders and students from higher education institutions to promote environmental awareness.
The project is expected to run until November. Another 250 saplings will be planted on September 10.
