Present to receive the materials was Deputy Minister of Industries and Primary Resources Dato Paduka Awg Hj Hamdillah Hj Abd Wahab and witnessed by senior representatives from the Ministry of Education, who have given their approval on the content. They will also be assisting with the distribution of the packs to secondary schools nationwide.

Commissioned and paid for by the British High Commission in Bandar Seri Begawan, the booklets were produced by CfBT Education Services with support from the International School Brunei.

The booklet, written and designed by CfBT teacher Peter Boyce, aims to inform secondary level students about the Heart of Borneo initiative to protect the central highlands of Borneo that span Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia, as well as about the island's astonishing biodiversity.

It also includes a crossword puzzle for students and has been written to include an English-language learning dimension with vocabulary development.

Each booklet comes with a pack containing series of maps and pamphlets produced by WWF that details the precious flora and fauna of Borneo and the importance of conservation for future generations.

Mr Saville said that he is delighted to have been able to help provide the materials and hope that they will inform and enthuse the next generation about Brunei's marvellous green heritage.

"As the minister had highlighted at the Brunei Forum last week, Heart of Borneo is a key part of the country's future development plans and environmental education is therefore a growing priority."

Among others present at the ceremony were Chairman of CfBT Education Trust John Harwood and CfBT's International Operations Director Jonathan Greenwood who are visiting from the UK as well as local stakeholders who have been involved with the Heart of Borneo initiative.

MoE has approved the distribution of 200 sets of the education packs to all secondary schools in the Sultanate as well as 8,000 copies of the booklets: `Heart of Borneo: My Home, My Island and My Future'.

These booklets were originally commissioned in conjunction with last year's Borneo Global Issues Conference conducted by ISB that enjoyed support from the High Commission and also included sponsorship for visits by world-famous environmentalists Wangaari Maathai and David Bellamy to Brunei.

Additionally, the UK government last year granted a sum of 25,000 pounds sterling to the WWF to support preparations for the implementation of the Heart of Borneo initiative. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin