KUCHING – The Swinburne Sarawak Green Club celebrated World Environment Day on 5 June with informative online presentations delivered by three local conservationists.
Connie Geri, Head of the Habitat Research and Conservation Section under the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC), spoke of her section’s work on rewilding the state. The rewilding programme is based on SFC’s Framework for Rewilding & Restoration, with the aim of participating actively in the healing of degraded areas in Sarawak’s Totally Protected Areas (TPAs). SFC’s target is to restore 8,000 hectares of degraded areas within a 10-year period from 2021 to 2030. This means that an astounding 3.2 million trees will be planted in 12 TPAs and a few wildlife corridors will be established to connect these areas.
Connie Geri (top right) presents on the Sarawak Forestry Corporation’s rewilding programme.
Tan Pei Chin, local conservationist and co-founder of the Kuching social enterprise WormingUp, spoke on the importance of sustainably managing food waste. WormingUp uses innovative fly technology that grows the larvae of black soldier flies which consume food waste. In addition to collecting food waste from hotels and expired food from supermarkets, among others, WormingUp has branched into sustainable farming and agriculture. Tan encouraged the audience to compost their own food waste and to support local farmers by buying local produce.
Tan Pei Chin (top right) presents on WormingUp’s food waste management programme.
Lastly, Ian Chin, an environmental activist from the Kuching Beach Cleaners, spoke on the TANAMI Project, a community farming project taking place at the grounds of the Dyslexia Association. An alumnus of the YSEALI Professional Fellows programme, Chin has studied urban farming and permaculture in different states in the US. The TANAMI Project provides city folk the space, materials and knowledge to learn to plant sustainably, passing on the dying skill of planting our own food.
Ian Chin (top right) presents on the community farming project, TANAMI.
The three speakers then participated in a lively Q&A session with students posing a variety of questions including whether individuals could breed black soldier flies at home to consume their food waste and what types of plants a home gardener should start off with. Regarding the rewilding programme, the Swinburne Sarawak Green Club and the Swinburne Sarawak Library are co-organising a tree-planting activity with SFC on 23 July.