Amal Al-Sibai

Saudi Gazette

 

JEDDAH — Green spaces and colorful flowers are pleasing to the eye, contribute to a feeling of contentment, and have a long list of other social, health, and environmental benefits.



Studies show that growing gardens in communities decreases the incidence of vandalism, violence, and aggression.



Gazing at greenery is a great stress buster for children and adults alike. A study published in Environment and Behavior reported improved mental function, attentiveness, and increased ability in coping with life’s daily stresses in children who had regular access to a green outlet.



A University of Illinois study found that girls exposed to green settings are better able to handle peer pressure and deal with challenging situations and they perform better in school and have higher self-esteem than girls living in barren environments. 



The researcher, who led this study, said: “Green spaces are gathering places that create close-knit communities and improve well-being and in so doing, they increase safety.”



Working in the garden, digging, planting, and weeding give added health benefits as a bonus because it is a form of exercise.



You will be surprised after just half an hour into gardening and you will find yourself breaking out a sweat and panting.



Grass, flowers, and trees are not only beautiful to look at but they can help in reducing heat buildup in your neighborhood.



Planting a grass lawn around your home or building rather than surrounding it with blocks of concrete will significantly drop temperatures — even summer days will be cooler.



Trees, shrubs, and smaller plants improve the quality of the air we breathe because the green leaves remove pollutants from the air including smoke, dust, and carbon dioxide.



One tree can remove 12 kg of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year. Just imagine the impact that planting trees can have in helping to reverse global warming, which is directly related to increased carbon dioxide emissions in the air.  



The Saudi Environmental Society (SENS) is dedicated to increasing society’s awareness and enhancing public participation and voluntary work in efforts to protect our environment and make our city a better, cleaner, healthier, and more beautiful place to live.



The mission of SENS is to provide advisory, research, and educational services and to foster partnerships between government and private sectors to achieve the goal of creating environmental sustainability in the Kingdom.



The deputy executive manager and co-founder of SENS, Majda Abu Ras, has a doctorate degree in environmental studies and biotechnology. Abu Ras is actively involved in preparing environmental awareness educational tools for school students.



She helps in raising the level of public awareness by designing educational programs targeted towards school and university students and also organizes community environmental awareness campaigns.



Her main emphasis is on the younger generation, because that is where lasting change will take place.



An environmental awareness campaign of a different kind was recently organized by SENS and a local youth group in Jeddah called "Athar Alshabab."



To spark a fresh interest in the environment, this time the volunteer work was not the usual cleaning up and anti-littering awareness.



The volunteer work connected the youngsters directly with nature as they literally sunk their hands in the Earth and planted shrubs, flowers, and trees in a local park.



The activity was fun and after two hours of hard work, they had a beautiful garden to admire which they helped to plant.



A connection with the Earth and environmental awareness has roots way back in the Islamic tradition.



Hani Koubeisi, a 15-year-old volunteer, said: “As I was planting the flowers, I remembered the Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) 'If the Hour (the day of Resurrection) is about to be established and one of you was holding a palm shoot, let him plant it.'"



Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “If a Muslim plants a tree or sows seeds, and then a bird, or a person or an animal eats from it, it is regarded as charity (sadaqah) for him.”