Rainforest restoration project

Think global. Plant local.

Home to thousands of species, rainforests are Earth’s oldest living ecosystems, with some surviving in their present form for at least 70 million years. They are the ‘lungs’ of our planet, storing carbon and releasing oxygen, but they are under threat and shrinking. To help protect this vital biosphere, critical to human survival, since 2004, UWCSEA’s Rainforest Restoration Project (RRP) has raised hundreds of rainforest tree seedlings, many critically endangered. And for many years the College has worked closely with Singapore’s NParks; learning from each other, conducting seminars and more recently, working on Singapore’s Million Trees Initiative. Due to COVID restrictions, students couldn’t get out into nature and plant in Singapore. Still, they were delighted to support Singapore’s Million Trees initiative. They donated 20 saplings of the Hopea ferrea, Hopea helferi, and Parkia specios that had hardened off and were ready for planting. This was an inspiring opportunity for the students to have their saplings planted into tropical rainforests, where they will thrive for years to come. In addition, with the support of NParks, students were assigned a section of Singapore’s new Green Rail Corridor to manage. This green trail is home to many species, including hornbills, the endangered rafflebanded langur and the Sunda pangolin. Students were tasked with weeding and removing invasive species that can inhibit sapling growth. As part of their work, students also conducted surveys collecting data on biodiversity and the health of the existing trees.

1,050

seedlings and saplings in the RRP nurseries

12 new species introduced into

the RRP nurseries in 2020/2021, including

4 that are locally threatened or endangered

The RRP students welcomed more classes than ever before to their programmes in 2020/2021. At Dover Campus, Grade 7s, as part of their Sustainable Development and Systems Thinking Humanities Unit of Study, were given a tour of the rainforest nursery and compost area. At East Campus, Grade 10 Foundation IB students participated in a unique conservation experience with eight critically endangered tree species and wrote poems focusing on environmental activism.

Mark Porter, Middle School teacher says, “The Rainforest Restoration Project is a great example of how UWCSEA takes student enthusiasm for change, enhanced by academic learning, and applies that to enacting real change in Singapore. This fits with our goal of educating individuals to embrace challenges and take responsibility for shaping a better world.”

“I joined the Rainforest Restoration Project in Grade 9, and over the last four years, I’ve seen our environmental advocacy make a big impact and developed a real passion for preserving Singapore’s precious rainforests.”

NANDINI, RRP Student Chair, Dover Campus

“I’m so pleased that our gift has enabled and will continue to provide students with the skills, dedication, and passion for Singapore’s vital ecosystems; they are truly thinking globally and acting locally.”

KIRTIDA MEKANI, whose donation through the Kirtida and Bharat Mekani Sustainable Development Fund helped to fund the Rainforest Restoration Project

READ MORE ABOUT OTHER SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES FUNDED IN 2020/2021, INCLUDING A VIRTUAL TOUR OF A UWCSEA RAINFOREST RESTORATION PROJECT NURSERY:

• Adopt a tree (Dual Campus) • Biomimicry and Biodiversity programmes (Dual Campus) • Campus Greening (Dual Campus) • Composting (Dover Campus) • Edible Gardens (Dover Campus) • Green Heart (Dover Campus) • Outdoor classrooms (East Campus) • Recycling centre (East Campus) • Solar (East Campus) • Sustainability alumni internship (Dover Campus)

GIVING AT A GLANCE