To raise environmental awareness: School plants gaharu saplings
Ustaz Dr Hj Norarfan Hj Zainal, the deputy ra'es of Kupu SB (L), watering the newly-planted gaharu sapling while Hj Mohamad Ali Hj Dollah, Gaharu Berjaya Resources managing director looks on. Picture: BT/ Fitri Shahminan
Fitri ShahminanBANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Saturday, March 19, 2011
THE Seri Begawan Religious Teaching University College (Kupu SB) yesterday raised environmental awareness among its students and staff by planting gaharu (agarwood) saplings and introducing the use of recycling bins in the college.
Ten gaharu saplings were planted in a garden in front of the main entrance to the college's administration building.
Prior to the planting ceremony, Gaharu Berjaya Resources Sdn Bhd Managing Director Hj Mohamad Ali Hj Dollah explained the benefits of growing the tree in the country. He underscored the importance of harvesting gaharu trees and how the company hoped that this would raise public awareness on its rarity and value.
Gaharu, he said, was beneficial to the economy via the production of various products including perfume, soaps, toothpaste and cosmetics that can be exported.
Brunei, which has an ideal environment for planting these trees, can profit, especially when the quality of its gaharu extract is considered to be among the most expensive kind.
The increasing demand for agarwood-made products has resulted in the depletion of wild gaharu trees and they are now considered endangered.
Gaharu Berjaya Resources, a locally owned company, is one of the few establishments dealing with the valuable endangered agarwood, an industry believed to be generating US$1.2 billion in Singapore.
Md Khairul Azhar Idris, chairperson of the Teachers University College Student Council (MPP Kupu SB) Community Service, told The Brunei Times that the initiative was to support the government's effort in raising awareness on environmental issues. "We are also trying to develop the sense of responsibility among everyone in the college to protect and conserve the environment through education," he said.
"We don't know what may happen to the environment with the things that we do with our hands, so it's important for the students to know."
The event also saw the launching of three classified recycling bins to be used in the school for the disposal of paper, cans and plastic. The launching of the bins was officiated by the Ustaz Dr Hj Norarfan Hj Zainal, deputy ra'es of Kupu SB, who was guest of honour.
The Brunei Times