Varsity’s green project
FOR a cynic, planting a tree to offset the decades of environmental degradation is a naive notion, especially when one thinks of the dire statistics involved.
According to United Nations data, the rate of deforestation in Malaysia is estimated to be the fastest in any tropical country in the world.
A report conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) shows that the country has lost an average of 140,200 hectares or 0.65 percent of its forest area annually since 2000.
Nevertheless, it is possible that simple yet well-thought out actions may ease Mother Nature’s burden.
UPM students and staff busy planting tree saplings at its Serdang premises.
This is the premise for Universiti Putra Malaysia’s (UPM) model forest project, a collaborative effort with Mitsubishi Corporation and Yokohama National University, Japan.
The partnership started in 1990 at UPM’s campus in Bintulu, Sarawak, where RM18mil was invested in cultivating a 47.5ha model forest.
With its success in Bintulu, the university has decided to replicate the project at its main campus in Serdang, kicking off the endeavour with a tree planting ceremony last month.
Over 600 volunteers comprising the university’s students and lecturers, as well as staff from Mistubishi Malaysia and visitors from Japan, pitched in to do their part for the environment.
“This is not just about planting trees,” assures UPM’s Faculty of Forestry deputy dean (Student Affairs and Alumni) Prof Dr Mohamad Azani Alias.
“It is about finding a sustainable solution to deforestation, as well as providing us with a resource for research opportunities.
UPM students and staff had already embarked on the project last year, planting 8,000 seedlings from 130 different species of plants.
“Our long-term goal is to have around 400 species of plants and 280,000 trees in our 27ha arboretum,” adds Prof Azani.
Aside from ambition, the project also boasts the involvement of Prof Dr Akira Miyawaki, an ecologist noted coming up with the “Miyawaki Method” of reforestation.
A professor emeritus at Yokohama National University, Prof Miyawaki has guided more than 1,500 tree-planting activities around the world, having thus helped in the planting of 30 million trees.
The “Miyawaki Method” appears to be a simple concept; plant seedlings of trees that are native to the region, and allow them to grow with minimal human intervention.
Once the species of plants are identified, the data is off to the laborotary and the right mix of seeds are prepared to cultivate the model forest.
These seeds are then planted in high density, to recreate the ecosystem of a natural forest; low-level herbs, medium-sized shrubs and a canopy created by the tallest trees.
Since Prof Miyawaki also has a specific sort of soil preparation, growth is much faster than how it occurs in natural forests.
UPM Faculty of Forestry lecturer Prof Datuk Dr Nik Muhamad Nik
Majid hopes that the project will result in a thriving model forest within the city limits.
“We’ve lost so much of our natural beauty because of rapid urbanisation, and yet we continue to cut down trees to make way for shopping malls.
“Hopefully, if this project is a success as well, we can continue to use the model in more areas across the country.
“By taking an active step, no matter how small, perhaps we can undo the havoc we have wrecked upon the environment.”
by Priya Kulasagaran.
http://thestar.com.my/education/story.asp?file=/2009/12/27/education/5209721&sec=education
