JEDDAH: Forty schools are participating in the Jeddah Tree Planting Week 32, scheduled to be opened by Jeddah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Majed at the Lacosta beach on the Corniche today.
The week, which carries the motto “Logging a Threat to Trees,” is organized by the Department of Gardens, Tree Planting and Municipal Facilities at the municipality.
“The organizing committee has planned various awareness campaigns stressing on the significance of having trees and plants around humans,” Bahjat Hamu, director general of the department, said in a statement yesterday. The week’s activities include setting up a village that would enlighten the public on latest techniques of smart irrigation, making gardening more attractive and programs highlighting the significance of trees in human life, Hamu said.
“The programs in the week also include essay writing and photography competitions,” said Asma Abu Ghalib, supervisor of the organizing committee. “The week will focus on the damage done by felling trees for fuel and other purposes. Trees and plants make polluted air clean and that is why modern cities are being planned with more and more greeneries,” said the official.
All government departments and university, college and school students will participate in the week’s activities. Hamu estimated the city’s current need for green surface proportionate to its population at 15,735,000 sq. m. while the city has only 7,400,000 sq. m. of greenery presently.
