KOTA BELUD: Continued awareness initiatives must be held to educate the public on the importance of trees (pic) and protecting the environment, said Sabah Chief Conservator of Forests Datuk Frederick Kugan.
He said as the State Forestry Department observes the national Tree Planting Campaign, it is vital that the community are aware of this matter and are involved in protecting and rehabilitating trees for a sustainable environment.
He said school children must be taught from young and have them instil a love for trees and protecting flora and fauna from a young age so that they would continue to bring such attitudes into adulthood.
Frederick said this during a state-level forestry quiz and speech competition in conjunction with the 100 million tree planting campaign 2021-2025 at the Sabah International Convention Centre here, Friday (Oct 4).
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He said if the department continues to get support from the State and Federal governments, it would hold such activities and more annually.
During the speech (pidato) competition, Shane Ashton Eddie from SM St. Michael of Penampang emerged champion while Hannyss Maisarah Idayu Hussne of SMJK Tiong Hua, Sandakan won second place.
Mohamad Raziq Ridwan of SMK Arshad Kota Belud, Mohammad Hidayah Hidayat of SMK Datuk Haji Panglima Jakarullah of Smporna and Farshah Vincent of SMK Agama Keningau came in third, fourth and fifth places respectively.
For the quiz, the team to win the first place comprised Olivia Chai Jia, Ana Nurin Nadzirah and Siti Aishya Arnaib of SMK Kunak while second place went to Aleyha Aleeya Lahid, Desmond Cristiano Felix and Sebastian Lee Hau Chong of SM St. Michael Penampang.
SMK Pinggan-Pinggan Pitas with its team members Nur Syafiqah Aleesya Mohd Suno, Airelav Amir and Nur Aqilah Kaisha Izzat Aiman won third, followed by Melsy Benjamin, Elyscha Sandy and Pryinces Jay Azrian Jutin of SMK Tulid, Sook in fourth place and Faqueeny Auryne Paimol, Lisni Elisa Darius and Muldeer Mujimin of SMK Pamol Beluran in fifth place.
“We hope the winners will bring our message of loving, protecting and planting trees to the community, because trees and humans as well as living things must coexist,” said Frederick.
He believed development could not go alone without keeping sustainability at check, not only in Sabah but everywhere else in the world.
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