Friday, June 28, 2013

Sarawak Tourism Board holds tree planting programme at Rainforest World Music Festival


KUCHING: More than 200 Rainforest World Music Festival performers, foreign media, and students took part in the Sarawak Tourism Board’s (STB) tree planting ceremony yesterday.

A total of 150 Golden Shower tree seedlings were planted around the Bangunan Baitulmakmur lake compound.

Assistant Minister of Tourism Datuk Gramong Juna said STB’s programme to offset the festival’s carbon footprint was an example for all to emulate.

“Sarawakians are proud to have the world’s oldest tropical rainforests and they along with our efficient sustainable forest management are valuable tourism assets and a legacy we are but custodians of,” he said, adding that the state had 1.2 million hectares of protected forests including national parks and wildlife centres.

He acknowledged that the Rainforest World Music Festival has made a name for itself over the years to become an international phenomenon that has put Sarawak on the world tourism map.

Gramong, who is also Assistant Minister of Land Development, added that he hoped the programme would pave the way for the young people to grow with the trees they planted and in turn safeguard their ‘green treasure’ for their children’s children.

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