UBD strengthens environmental responsibility and conservation
This article was taken from Borneo Bulletin and was written by James Kon. Click here to view the original article.
Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) recently conducted a ‘Go Green’ activity where officers, staff and students planted new flowers at the university’s Business Library Forecourt as part of the campus-wide Weekly Wednesday activities.
The initiative aims to directly nurture the environment, encourage destressing away from the screens and fostering closer ties between academics, administrative staff and students.
By planting trees and cleaning the surroundings, the event not only enhanced the beauty of the campus but also contributed to cleaner air and a healthier ecosystem.
“It’s a collective effort fostering a sense of responsibility towards our environment, creating a greener, more sustainable future for generations to come,” said UBD.
UBD is well-known for its biodiversity research and conservation efforts.
The ‘Go Green’ activity is a way for other non-academic members of the UBD community to make a contribution in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Goal 15 of the SDGs ‘Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss’ is to develop awareness and appreciation of the ecological, genetic, social, economic, scientific, educational, cultural, recreational and aesthetic values of biological diversity as well as its critical role in maintaining ecosystems that provide essential services, which are critical foundations for sustainable development and well-being.
Meanwhile, the Institute for Biodiversity and Environmental Research at UBD, in collaboration with the Forestry Department under the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT), introduced a pilot programme called ‘Biodiversity Watch’, at the Tropical Biodiversity Centre (TBC) in Sungai Liang, Belait District.
The initiative brought together participants from UBD, the Forestry Department and MPRT officers.
Biodiversity Watch follows the ‘Citizen Science’ approach, where community members collaborate voluntarily with scientists to preserve the nature and conduct scientific research, emphasising curiosity and motivation over professional scientific backgrounds.
The programme’s mission and objectives include connecting and engaging diverse segments of the public to raise awareness about Brunei Darussalam’s biodiversity, instil values of biodiversity conservation, and align with the SDGs.
Activities included a presentation on the nation’s forest resources and governance, a biodiversity survey focused on fern diversity in TBC’s forest trails, and a lecture on ferns.
Biodiversity Watch aims to strengthen connections, collaboration, and commitment to biodiversity conservation, contributing to a more sustainable and biodiverse future for the Sultanate.
