BINTULU: Within two hours, 80 students of Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Campus (UPMKB) successfully planted 400 ornamental plants in polybags through the university's Green Sustainability Programme initiative on Monday.

The success was the result of hard work and extraordinary cooperation as well as the commitment of the students to ensure the effectiveness of the programme.

The main driver of the initiative is Lecturer of Landscape Architecture/Urban Greening and Landscape Ecology Owen Yeo Thian Seng.

Owen said he was proud of the achievements of the students as their mission is not only to educate, but also to encourage the successor generation to be active in preserving sustainability.

"These students prove they have applied the knowledge learned," he said.

The university's Senior Assistant Agriculture Officer Anila Brahim said initiatives such as this are vital in addressing global sustainability issues. 

She said, sustainability is not an abstract concept, but a global need. 

"By engaging students in practical projects like this will prepare them to be positive agents of change in related fields," she explained.

According to her, the green sustainability program at UPMKB is a sign of inspiration and optimism for a more sustainable future. 

"The commitment of participants and their coordinating guidance reflect the potential for positive change in agriculture and environmental stewardship," she added.

The aim of the programme is also to achieve the Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goals of Education for students who are pursuing the CHS2501- Ornamental Plants and Landscape Horticulture Courses.

The programme was under the direction of Owen, staff of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and Forestry also from the Department of Plant Sciences UPMKB Manggi Rabong with the support of Anila, Operational Assistant of Agricultural Centre, Putra Nicholas Along, General Assistant , Alexson Tommy as well as the students.

The cultivation of this ornamental plant focuses on breeding a wide variety of species including (its scientific name) 'Sansevieria trifasciata', 'Antigonon leptopus,' 'Wodyetia bifurcate,' 'Ixora coccinea,' 'Helicona rostrata,' 'Zephyranthes rosea' and 'Chlorophytum comosum.''

These plants are carefully selected for their role in enhancing the beauty of the environment and contributing to a greener and healthier environment thus inculcating awareness among students on the responsibility of preserving the environment and the importance of sustainable development. 

By actively participating in the reproduction of vegetatives and seeds of these ornamental plants, students not only learn horticultural diversity but also their important role in achieving sustainability goals more broadly.

Date of Input: 11/09/2023 | Updated: 13/09/2023 | lanz