Bandar Seri Begawan - A School targeting to plant one million trees by 2016 is scrambling to secure funding to meet an end-October goal of planting 50,000 trees. The Brunei Times learned.

"Getting the trees planted is not a problem, getting the funding (for the trees) is the problem," said David Taylor, executive principal of the International School Brunei (ISB).

So far, he said, they are halfway to meeting the end-October target under the One Million Tree Project, with 26.000 trees already planted at the Badas Forest Reserve in the Belait District, which is covered under Brunei's Heart of Borneo initiative.

The project was launched in February 2007.

So far, 20 companies have committed to the project, Taylor said. "We are still looking for more." he said. "We have planted 8,300, with 17,700 more to be planted. We need another 24.000 trees to achieve the project target of 50,000 he said.

"This is a good start. We are halfway to reaching our target. October 31 is the date for the target. This also marks the one year anniversary of the planting of the 1,000th tree by His Royal Highness Prince of Wales and the 1,001th tree by His Royal Highness Prince Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office." he said.

"The Badas project is what we are currently working on now. The project is coordinated by ISB and the Forestry Department at the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources." he said.

The project is endorsed by Heart of Borneo National Council and aims to replenish the area of Kerangas (heath) forest with indigenous trees.

Aside from funding, Taylor is also worried about the prospect of forest fires. ''There will always be high vulnerability of fire as long as the authorities continue to draw water out of the peat lands," he said.

He pointed to several drainage channels drawing water out of the peat land, making the area susceptible to fire. Until the water table is restored, there is no point in planting trees in some areas, he added.

"This is why we are planting trees in Kerangas forest, not at the peat lands, as there is less likelihood for forest fires.

He thanked the Forestry Department, under the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, for providing the trees and "helping us out in ensuring that the project is going smoothly".

He stressed, "Without them, there would not be a project."

Taylor said the project means to increase environmental awareness in Brunei. "It is an educational programme ... to get people to understand and motivate them to the environmentally aware," he said.

Lie said the project is a community effort. "It makes it more meaningful if you make a contribution. The environment is a very important resource that we need to take care of," he said.

-- Courtesy of Brunei Times

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