Splendour of natural forests in the city

THE articles “Great natural treasure” and “Green and gold” (Star 2, The Star, Oct 6) remind us of the splendour of the natural forests in this country. Some of us who live in Kuala Lumpur may not have the opportunity of visiting any of these places and thus welcome initiatives to establish areas of green lungs close to the city.

The public park project known as Taman Tugu sponsored by Khazanah Nasional is an example of one such initiative, in particular the Taman Tugu trails component of the park, the first phase of which was recently opened to the public. Those who have walked along the route would have enjoyed a sam- pling of the richness of the ecosystem of our natural forests, plus the bonus of having the trees tagged with their botanical and local names.

Apparently, there are other components to the park project that will involve man-made structures and buildings. Hopefully, these can be reduced to the very minimum. Quite apart from the costs, such structures would mar the attraction of a serene urban forest environment that the well-maintained Taman Tugu trails can provide.

The second example worth highlighting is the long-awaited fulfilling of a government promise some years back to gazette Taman Rimba Kiara as a public park. Those who regularly enjoy walking the various paths that weave around Bukit Kiara will confirm that the trails provide reasonably strenuous exercise in pleasant green surroundings.

These are examples of initiatives that deserve strong public support and, in the case of Taman Rimba Kiara, government approval to be gazetted as a public park.

Green lungs like these and others will further enhance Kuala Lumpur’s status as a pleasant and liveable city. LEO MOGGIE Kuala Lumpur