World Environmental Day Celebration
World Environmental Day began nicely with a group of about 100 nature lovers converging at Bukit Hantu River. It was celebrated with the planting of 400 native trees around a water feature. These “gifts to nature” were sponsored by two organizations on Langkawi.
A very big THANK YOU goes to Jalpak I’ll brand Guest whom through JungleWalla Initiative had sponsored another 200 trees and Frangipani Hotel on Pantai Tengah who sponsored 200 trees too. Four species of trees were planted this day, all specially chosen for its benefit for wildlife especially birds, bees, butterflies and small mammals.
These groups of nature lovers were made up of members of the Malaysia Nature Society, LADA, LTAC, JPS, JAS, other local government authorities, tourist, hoteliers, nature guides, expatriate, and families. A special thanks to JPS for allowing us to plant on their site and Majlis Pembandaran Langkawi for the trucks and manpower to transfer the plants from Arshad Nursery.
It was a good outing and the participants had lots of fun. We had mums and their kids and even mums to be planting trees. Talk about starting them early… Well done mums and mums to be!
Half way through we realized there were a couple of mango (Mangifera indica) and rambutan trees (Nephelium lappaceum) planted as well which in several years or so will make good food for Homo sapiens too. Even at the closing hours people were still trickling in and at the least had a chance to plant a tree as well.
The atmosphere was fun with many familiar faces and many new ones too. Peter & Maria long time residents of Langkawi took the opportunity to inform us of a event on youtube in conjunction with World Environment Day. So check out the film HOME- hymn for the planet by Yann Arthus-Bertrand. Just go and watch the video at (http://www.youtube.com/user/homeproject).
The planting was completed within two and half hours. It left participants with lasting memories of the day and I am sure many left with a little pride that they in a little made mother nature smile in her heart. May god bless all the trees and it will last forever and ever. Happy World Environmental Day!!!
Pictures by : James Kok , Ku Ismadi and Ida Halim