Dubai: In just six months, the 120 damas trees that 60 youth from all over UAE planted at the Jebel Ali Hazardous Waste Treatment Facility on Saturday will help bring more fresh air and green protection in the area.
Synergy, a youth organisation in the UAE, led the tree planting activity with the support of Engineer Abdul Majeed Saifaie, director of Waste Management Department (WMD) of Dubai Municipality, in celebration of Earth Week 2013. The event was organised as part of Plant-for-the-Planet, a global children’s initiative to plant one million trees in each country.
“The reason why we selected this landfill as the venue for the activity is that we need more greenery and more fresh air here because we treat hazardous waste — both industrial and medical waste,” Hussain Gulam, head of Administration and Support, WMD, at Dubai Municipality, told Gulf News.
“The trees will also serve as a barrier during sandstorms. This will somehow block the strong wind that carries dust towards the buildings, blocking the air-conditioning units,” Gulam added.
The damas trees, provided by Super Galvanising Dubai, are good absorbers of carbon dioxide and are a good source of oxygen. They thrive in desert conditions and grow relatively fast. Water pipelines were installed through the help of Green Creations to ensure the survival of the newly-planted trees.
Simran Vedvyas, Synergy chairman who led the initiative, said it is imperative for the youth to pitch in for the planet now.
“I feel each one of us has a responsibility for our planet. We are more aware of what goes on around us. We must apply that knowledge in terms of keeping our world in a better state, towards working for a sustainable future,” Vedvyas, 14, told Gulf News.
Other youth contributed in their own little way, including 10-year-old Athina Bohner, who designed a shirt for the event.
