Proposals for a beautiful garden nation by 2020

GEORGE TOWN: The Forest Research Institute of Malaysia today called for conservation and sustainable management of existing urban green space in Malaysia for it to be a beautiful garden nation by the year 2020.
FRIM's forestry and environment division director Dr Ismail Harun said measures have to be taken to enhance the existing urban green space for the protection and well being of the environment, and population.
Such space was useful for reducing noise and air pollution, providing benefits for wildlife, and for the population, in terms of sociological, physiological and spiritual needs, he added.
Addressing the issue of urban green space was important as the urbanisation process was going on rapidly in Malaysia and elsewhere, he said at the Malaysia Urban Green Space and International Federation of Parks and Recreation Administration (Ifpra) conference here.
"Whenever possible, we should enhance or add more urban green space to our cities as a well-managed park and green space will also serve as attractions to foreign tourists," he added.
He said FRIM had experts in the development of recreation, nature appreciation and environment education programmes for parks and urban green spaces.
The three-day conference, held in Malaysia for the first time, is discussing challenges and sharing best practices and methods to balance a healthy development for human needs and conservations of natural resources in urban areas.
Among the participating countries are Switzerland, South Africa, Britain, Japan, New Zealand, Australia and Denmark. – Bernama