The EEC is aimed at providing information and specific EE programmes for the young among its walk-in visitors.
Established in conjunction with the Institute’s 25th Anniversary celebration this year, the centre was officially opened by Director General, Dato’ Dr Abd Latif Mohmod, on 3 June 2010.
The centre offers several EE programmes for children with the objectives of enhancing their knowledge and inculcating a sense of appreciation of the importance of environment conservation efforts. The target groups are school children on guided tour around FRIM, and those who visit the picnic area.
“FRIM is home to a wide variety of unique plants and animals and our forest, trees and environment is an important aspect of our lives. It not only provides for the sustenance of humanity but also plays a pivotal role in balancing our ecology.
“Therefore, it is imperative for us to impart a spirit of environmental consciousness in our young today so that they too will appreciate and understand the importance of protecting and preserving our environment,” said FRIM’s Ecotourism and Urban Forestry Programme Head, Dr Noor Azlin Yahya.
The centre was set up by FRIM with the support of Tetra Pak (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. as an extension of their collaboration in the “Nurture for Nature” programme which kicked off last year.
“We are grateful to Tetra Pak for their on-going support and for assisting us in making the EEC a reality, thus making our 25th Anniversary celebration more memorable. It is our hope that young children who visit FRIM will not only appreciate what Mother Nature has blessed us with, but also understand how they too can play a part in the conservation of the environment, despite their tender age,” said Dato’ Dr Abdul Latif at the launching ceremony.
Among others, Tetra Pak staff celebrated the World Environment Day by planting trees and beautifying the area around the EEC, followed by a nature walk through the FRIM forest. A total of 24 children from the Tabika KEMAS, Kepong (Kindergarten) also joined in the group activities, learning about seed identification, the importance of recycling of beverage cartons, and making cards out of recycled papers.
The centre opens every Saturday from 9.00am to 12.00noon, and it will also be operational during weekdays based on prior requests from visitors. Those who are interested in the EE programmes may contact the FRIM One Stop Centre at 03-62797677 / 7575.
