725,000 trees planted in KK

KOTA KINABALU: City Hall has planted some 725,000 ornamental trees all over Kota Kinabalu since 2000 to last year.
Mayor Datuk Abidin Madingkir disclosed this during a tree-planting ceremony jointly organised by City Hall and Sutera Harbour Resort and Spa in collaboration with the Environment Action Centre (EAC) at Grace Point, Sembulan yesterday, to coincide with the World Environmental Day on June 5.
Thirty Tabebuai pallida trees were planted.
Abidin said the tree-planting exercise had been expanded from Kota Kinabalu to cover the suburban areas of Inanam, Menggatal and Telipok.
“City Hall’s tree-planting programme is a continuous effort to make the city greener and also to address the global warming issue that has become more critical,” he said.
Obvious changes are noticeable along the main highways and roads, under the flyovers and on the roundabouts where the planting of trees, including ornamental and decorative plants, not only provide welcome shade but also to give the city centre a facelift by making the city greener, cleaner, merrier and more beautiful, Abidin said.
He expressed hope for the tree planting effort could enhance awareness among the public, especially the city dwellers, of the importance of the effort and for environmental conservation.
The mayor also extended his appreciation to Sutera Harbour Resort and Spa for assisting City Hall in providing the tree planting site and for bearing the cost of the programme yesterday.
Meanwhile, Miss Earth Sabah 2011 Olivia Vun Kai Li said Kota Kinabalu is heading towards the direction of becoming a greener city, reflected by Abidin’s commitment towards tree planting and the beach clean-ups at Tanjung Aru and Tanjung Lipat.
Vun said she had been personally involved in various environmental activities since last year, such as the ‘No Shark Fin’ campaign with JCI Tanjung Aru, the Earth Hour as well as educating school children on the importance of environmental protection and conservation.
Also present were City Hall director-general Datuk Yeo Boon Hai, Sutera Harbour Golf and Country Club general manager Ravi Kathiravelu and City Hall officers.