KidZania Plants 100 Trees in Malaysia Using GPS Technology

How could GPS technology help people plant trees? Well, the GPS isn’t actually used while planting the trees, but rather, the team has linked the trees with GPS, so they can be monitored as they mature. 2013 is the second year KidZania hosted the 100-tree-planting project, but it’s the first year GPS monitoring is being used.

KidZania is an indoor educational and entertainment theme park in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Last year, KidZania planted 100 trees in a community park in Taman Tun Dr Ismail. This year, the 100 trees were planted in Taman Rimba Kiara, Taman Tun Dr Ismail. Photographs will be captured of the tree shortly after they are planted and uploaded to Google Earth, along with information about each tree’s species and specific height. Google Earth will be updated periodically with photographs showing the trees’ growth after five years, up until maturation at around 30 years.

The team chose a rare species of tree to plant. The saplings include Shorea sumatrana, Shorea roxburghii, Pteleocarpa lampoya, Garcinia cows, Garcinia hombroniana and Flacoutia inermis. The first tree was planted by a special guest, Kuala Lumpur’s City Hall director-general Datuk Salleh Yusup and the remaining trees were planted by staff and industry partners at KidZania Kuala Lumpur, as well as staff from Themed Attractions and Resorts.

One major benefit of planting trees anywhere is that they absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen for the immediate environment. Malaysia is working on beautifying the park with tree planting, as well as reducing the region’s carbon footprint. KidZania is known for their environmental efforts. In fact, winners of one of KidZania Kuala Lumpur’s inter-school art competition, called Kids for a Greener World 2013, attended the tree-planting ceremony. Winners received a trip to KidZania Kuala Lumpur and KidZania merchandise.

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KidZania Plants 100 Trees in Malaysia Using GPS Technology