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Recently I was at an an event organized by the ministry of Natural resources and Environment with cooperation from NGOs like REACH, Malayan Nature Society and PEKA …This was under the greening of Cameron Highlands programme..The site was formerly illegally cleared land but retaken by the National Security Council..An estimated area of 3.8 hectares was allocated and approximately 3000 saplings were planted ..The species chosen were not endemic to Camerons, but can be seen growing in this area …The organizations will also be undertaking maintenance work at the replanted site to make sure that the forest regenerates…

As we trekked to the area marked for reforestation, the devastation was obvious everywhere..I was really sad to see how the hills had been mercilessly flattened to make way for farms..What we confront in Camerons is not only the reckless land clearing but also the irresponsible manner in which the slopes and hills are cut….in that desolate backdrop of destruction, it was very encouraging to note that approximately 400 plus people had turned up to participate in this event..I had never seen such an overwhelming response from the public at any environmental program in Camerons before..

AT the beginning, the event was an occasion to provide a photo opportunity to our ministers and other VIPs who were there in full attendance..As the media and the VIPs scrambled to take pictures it was good to see the participants, school and university students and others representing various organizations who had come all the way from Perak, Kuala Lumpur and other parts of Malaysia…IT was refreshing to see their enthusiasm  as they were busy digging and planting saplings  ………. After speaking to some of them I realized  how deeply disturbed they were to witness first hand the extent of damage done to our environment in Camerons….WHILE SOME of my friends were a bit cynical about the scope of the tree planting project..I FELT EXTREMELY POSITIVE BECAUSE…AT THE RECEIVING END OF THE CHAIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL DEVASTATION ARE THE PEOPLE AND THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN BIG NUMBERS, IN TAKING OWNERSHIP OF THEIR LAND AND THEIR FORESTS …..AS THEY PLANTED THE SAPLINGS ON THE NOW BARREN LAND, IT made me feel very hopeful ABOUT THE FUTURE..A GREENER FUTURE FOR CAMERONS..!!!!!!!ON THAT POSITIVE NOTE TILL WE MEET AGAIN…………