Abu Dhabi: Eight-year-old Kheyal Al Za'abi looked on with wonder and interest as a team of gardeners planted a date palm in the capital's Corniche area yesterday morning.
"We should plant more trees and take care of them. They make the place look so beautiful," Kheyal said, as she and her 67 classmates from Al Wardiya Private School watched the trees being planted.
The pupils were attending yesterday's opening of the 31st Plantation Week, which is being organised by the Municipality of Abu Dhabi City till Monday.
Khalifa Al Mazroui, general manager at the municipality, said the initiative aimed to create awareness among the public, and specifically the youth, about the importance of conserving and enhancing greenery.
"Currently, the capital city has about 18 square metres of greenery per person.
"With initiatives that highlight the importance of conservation, we intend to increase this amount as much as possible," Al Mazroui said.
"Creating a balance between greenery and urbanisation is a key priority as the emirate develops, especially as a clean environment plays an important role in ensuring the safety and security of residents," he added.
The five-day event features various activities for children of all ages, including drawing competitions and seminars, and also includes a gallery of how greenery was developed in the desert climate of the emirate.
In addition to overseeing and enhancing the greenery in the capital, which spans 14 per cent of the city's land area at present, the municipality is currently setting up 120 small playgrounds across the city too.
