JEDDAH, 2 May 2007 — The municipality is working on a major project to increase the green areas by Jeddah’s Corniche, according to Jeddah Mayor Adel Fakieh.
The initial study for the project aims at greening 12 kilometers of the Corniche within a few months, the mayor said while inaugurating the 30th Tree Week on Monday night.
This year’s Tree Week event started with the planting of a flower carpet of approximately 30,000 flowers. Municipality officials and volunteers planted the flower carpet by the Nawrus Roundabout on the Corniche.
The mayor noted that the two-week event includes many activities that were implemented for the first time, including painting, garden design contests, flower art and other activities that would generate public interest in greenery.
Bahjat Hamoh, head of the Department for Parks and City Beautification at the municipality, said this year’s Tree Week included 15 activities and events that have direct participation from the public, especially the young ones.
“The main priority in this year’s event was to create better cooperation and interaction between the municipality and the public and to spread the awareness on the importance of greenery,” he said.
Hamoh noted that the municipality has concentrated on young people and given them the chance to compete in order to spread awareness about the concept of greenery. A number of programs have been organized for people with special needs to give them a chance to participate in this important public event.
He said that many signboards and leaflets would be given to the public during the two-week campaign to spread the message. There would also be school trips to municipality greenhouses to educate the young ones on how to plant and maintain greenery in their environment.
Meanwhile, a public service program that involves students from 60 schools around Jeddah is bound to start next Saturday, according to Sami Nawar, head of the Tourism and Culture Department at the municipality.
