|
Bandar
Seri Begawan - Brunei yesterday
celebrated the World Forestry Day
with a flurry of green activities at
Bukit Shahbandar Recreational Park.
The guest of honour for the
celebration was Pehin Orang Kaya
Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awg Haji
Yahya bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka
Haji Bakar, the Minister of Industry
and Primary Resources.
In
his opening speech, he said, "Brunei
Darussalam is one of the countries
that don't contribute to the
greenhouse gases because the
sultanate's pristine forests act as
an effective carbon sink. Brunei's
peat swamp forests have been cited
by numerous scientists as capable of
storing carbon in its ecosystem, "In
the report by the International
Panel on climate change assessment,
new evidence has shown that climate
changes has started to affect many
part of Asia. A study on Southeast
Asia and the South Pacific for year
2001 has detected changes in
regional temperature and rainfall
trends.
"The result shows significant
decrease in cool days and cold
nights. In rainfall patterns, the
number of rains days has decreased
significantly in Southeast Asia.
However proportion of annual
rainfall has increased on most
stations which mean lesser rainfall
events but greater amount of
downpour.
"The heavy downpour coupled with
rising sea level is an indication of
how climate change will affect
Brunei Darussalam. Our country will
definitely be affected considering
temperature and rainfalls are
important variables in our economic
activities.
"The government of His Majesty the
Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei
Darussalam has never stopped to
fulfill its responsibility to
mitigate global warming.
"Brunei Darussalam has actively
participated in the UN Framework on
Convention of Climate change (UNFCCC)
which signify the country's interest
to stabilise concentration of
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
"Brunei Darussalam is also a member
of the convention of Biological
Diversity (CBD). Members commit
themselves to achieve a significant
reduction of biodiversity loss by
2010."
At
the national level, the minister
revealed that, "Numerous agencies
and organisations in Brunei
Darussalam have undertake green
projects such as reforestation,
energy conservation, energy
efficiency promotion and public
awareness programmes. The national
forestry policy of Brunei Darussalam
recognised the basic need to
harmonise the relationship of the
environment and the human
population".
During the ceremony, the minister
also presented Dayang Rafidah Hj
Omar of Science College, the winning
prize for the World Forestry Day
Logo 2009 competition. The prize
however was received by her
representative.
|
