SERIAN: A group of 13 Japanese high school and university students, dispatched by the Nippon Foundation Volunteer Centre in collaboration with the Japan Malaysia Association, recently planted 2,500 trees in the Gunung Apeng National Park from Feb 6 to 17.
This project, according to a press release on yesterday (Feb 27), is known as the “Orangutan Forest Restoration Project”, and aims to protect the diminishing tropical rainforests, primarily affected by the expansion of oil palm plantations.
The students’ involvement is not only about planting trees but also gaining firsthand experience with issues surrounding tropical rainforests, including the preservation and enrichment of biodiversity.
Takimoto Chitan, one of the students, expressed his thoughts on the experience: “At first, I was only thinking about achieving my goal of planting 2,500 trees, but through this project, I realised that there are various processes involved in tree planting activities, and that many people are involved in each sapling.
“After learning about this, I became conscious of not just planting trees, but carefully planting trees while thinking of the people involved and wishing for the growth of the seedlings.”
Chitan also emphasised the importance of building relationships of trust with the Bidayuh people during the tree planting process, hoping to use this experience in the future and return to see the forest they have planted.
Aside from tree planting, the students immersed themselves in the local culture and history of Borneo.
They visited the Semenggoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, Tong Nibong village, and took a Kuching city tour.
This initiative is part of a larger vision, with the Nippon Foundation Volunteer Centre planning to send a second group of 13 students from March 5 to 16.
Their goal is to continue sending volunteers over the next decade, with an ultimate aim of planting a total of 100,000 trees.
