Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Make iconic Tanjung Aru Beach a rejuvenated proud green lung for Kota Kinabalu City

Make iconic Tanjung Aru Beach a rejuvenated proud green lung for Kota Kinabalu City

Sabah lost it very huge tract of pristine forests especially to the Japanese in the commercial wood trade and only to be replaced by a lower specie of trees in oil palms in a few millions of acres of once abandoned forest land.

With the forests gone, we did not realise that we lost the eco therapy of forests until the Japanese started forest bathing in 1982 and appeared too late to stop the ravage of our pristine forest to make money to oil some industries elsewhere.

The tonic of the wilderness was Henry David Thoreau’s classic prescription for civilization and its discontents, offered in the 1854 essay Walden: Or, Life in the Woods. Now there’s scientific evidence supporting eco-therapy. The Japanese practice of forest bathing is proven to lower heart rate and blood pressure, reduce stress hormone production, boost the immune system, and improve overall feelings of wellbeing.

Forest bathing—basically just being in the presence of trees—became part of a national public health program in Japan in 1982 when the forestry ministry coined the phrase shinrin-yoku and promoted topiary as therapy.

Personally, in early 1980s I had a two hours brisk walk in the jungle of Moyog and I could stay much awake until 3am which was unusual as the impact of the forests.

Soon Sabah especially Kota Kinabalu would likely lose the top rated Tanjung Aru Beach (TAB) if TAED as it is, is implemented again to make money for some people.

With the loss of the TAB we also lose everything eco.

Apart from the nutritional properties, the ocean provides a variety of other health-giving elements you can benefit from.

The range of benefits to be exposed to the sea and the fresh air or just be by the beach as sea water and the beach have benefits for well-being of the people.

Research shows that the sound of waves alters wave patterns in the brain lulling you into a deeply relaxed state. Relaxing in this way can help rejuvenate the mind and body.

If you've ever wondered why we always sleep more soundly after spending the day on the beach, it's because of the sea air. Sea air is charged with healthy negative ions that accelerate our ability to absorb oxygen. Negative ions also balance levels of seratonin, a body chemical linked with mood and stress. Which is why after a holiday you feel more alert, relaxed and energised.

So are we really going to lose TAB as it is just because some people are adamant to make tons of money.

So to enable the virtual benefits from a natural beach is to leave untouched except do the minimal recovery against little erosion, much pollution, and re-forestation and nothing to do with massive reclamation.

So I suggest that TAED changes it direction to make TAB another massive green lung within the KK city with the existing Prince Philip Park as rehabilated together with a large area for botanical garden minus the golf course and less concrete jungle with enough fruit trees and endemic flora to be attractive for the local and tourists.

Botanical garden can earn good money for the entrance fees and rejuvenated the TAB with very good world class image as many expect this after decades of neglect by the authorities.
Joshua Y C Kong 11/4/2017

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