Activities for July 2018
updated 31st July 2018
by Cheam May Choo
We are pleased to inform that, thanks to our many volunteers, our activities in July 2018 were successfully carried out. We have many more exciting activities planned for the months ahead and we will keep you updated.
1st July 2018- Volleyball competition in Sg Ubi Orang Asli village-completed
3rd July 2018- Indoor games with Cherish children-completed
7th July 2018- Batu Gangan Reforestation under the Kemaman Bitumen Fund-completed
9th July 2018-1.Playground visit Cherish -completed 2. Meeting at 2 pm with Forestry Department of PeninsularMalaysia at the local forestry office’ completed
10th July 2018-1. Soil preparation for tree saplings from 9am to 12 noon.-completed At 5pm-trip to Biodiversity site for work on bird sanctuary.-Work just commenced
2. Visit to Site of Forest Restoration at Batu Gangan with Forestry Officers at 9 am- completed
11th July 2018- Continuation of work in Biodiverity site in Gunung Brinchang-completed
12th July 2018- Trip to Goat Farm with Cherish at 8.30 am-completed
14th July 2018-Exploration and Orchid walk in Batu Gangan Forest reserve under the Kemaman Bitumen Fund 8am to 3 pm-completed
16th July 2018-Reforestation at Batu Gangan 8.30 am to 1 pm-completed
17th July 2018-Environmental Education Programme on recycling in SMK Kg Raja-completed
20th July 2018-BBQ at Cherish-completed
24th July 2018-Reforestation at Batu Gangan Forest reserve 8.30 am to 1 pm-completed
Activities carried out in June 2018
by Cheam May Choo
In the month of June 2018 , we carried out more activities than usual because of funding from Kemaman Bitumen Sdn Bhd for reforestation. We were also fortunate to have with us , three volunteers from France namely Thibault, Phillippe and Quentin who made it possible They were recommended to come here by Tom, Aurelein and Pablo, who are their seniors in Audencia Business School. (Tom, Aurelein and Pablo did great work for us last year).
Some of these activities were with our sister organisation CHERISH , a home for children with special needs in Tanah Rata. Below are the activities held
4th of June 2018- Spring cleaning at REACH office. Photographs showing the history of Cameron Highlands were tidied up.(This gallery of old photos reminds us that our plan to publish a pictorial book on the history of Cameron Highlands is long overdued. We need a serious injection of funds,energy and enthusiasm here!)
6th of June 2018-Boccee Game with children from Cherish. Every other week, we make it a point to bring our special children out for a bit of sun and fun. Volunteers are very welcome here because they assist the teachers in keeping a close eye on the kids and Thibault, Phillipe and Quentin are great with the kids.
Upcoming Activities for “Summer”
by Cheam May Choo
Although it is raining cats and dogs outside and Malaysia doesn’t have the 4 seasons, I like to think that “summer” is upon us. Come June and July, Cameron Highlands will see more visitors from the temperate countries, enjoying their summer vacation here. Bookings for local tours will rise and eateries dotting Tanah Rata and Brinchang will be busier than usual. In the mornings,4wd vehicles mainly landrovers in the tourism trade, filled with visitors will make a beeline to favourite hotspots in the mountains such as Gunung Brinchang. Jungle trails will also see more trekkers enjoying the forest. Come sundown if one strolls along Tanah Rata main street, languages heard will not only be English,Malay, Chinese and Indian but also French, German, Spanish , Japanese and a few more.
For our environmental society, we will have more requests than usual for volunteer work from visitors from the Western Countries. This year we would like to welcome 3 students from France namely Thibault, Quentin and Philippe who will be spending 2 months here for volunteer work during their summer break.
Below is our upcoming activities for the month of June and July. Visitors are welcome to join but should pay for their own transport and please contact our office at least 2 days prior.
4th June 2018-Trip to Biodiversity Centre. Facilitators: Siva and Saras
5th June 2018-Air Pollution studies at Biodiversity Centre. Facilitator: Rama
6th June 2018- Boccee Practice with Children with special needs at Cherish (sister organisation) 9 to 11.30am Facilitator: Datin Asseema
7th June 2018-Boccee Practice with Children with special needs at Cherish 9 to 11.30am Facilitator: Datin Asseema
9th June 2018-Trip to K Terla Batu Gangan Site Facilitators: Saras/Satya subject to confirmation
10th June 2018-Volleyball practice with Orang Asli Children. Facilitator: Datin Asseema
11th June 2018-Volleyball practice with Orang Asli Children. Facilitator: Datin Asseema
12th June 2018-Trip to K Terla Batu Gangan Site Facilitators: Saras/Satya . Activity: Tree planting, Putting fertilizer. Time:8am to 2 pm
19th June 2018-Trip to K Terla Batu Gangan Site Facilitators: Saras/Satya . Activity: Tree planting, Putting fertilizer, Tree labelling. Time: 8am to 2 pm
20th June 2018-Volleyball practice with Orang Asli Children. Facilitator: Datin Asseema
21st June 2018-Volleyball practice with Orang Asli Children. Facilitator: Datin Asseema
22nd June 2018- Nature walk with Orang Asli children in Sg Ubi. Facilitator: Datin Aseema
26th June 2018-Trip to K Terla Batu Gangan Site Facilitators: Saras/Satya . Activity: Tree planting, Tree labelling. Time: 8am to 2 pm
27th June 2018-Recycling talk in Sekolah Menegah Kebangsaan Kg Raja Facilitators: Datin Asseema, Puan Mazlira
……………..
1st July 2018- Volleyball Competition Final for Girls. Facilitator: Datin Asseema
2nd July 2018-Trip to Biodiversity Centre. Facilitators: Siva and Saras
3rd July 2018-Air Pollution studies at Biodiversity Centre. Facilitators: Rama
7th July 2018-Trip to K Terla Batu Gangan Site Facilitators: Amran/Encil Embi Activity: Orchid Walk. Time: 8am to 2 pm- Subject to confirmation
8th July 2018-Volleyball Competition Final for Boys. Facilitator: Datin Asseema
10th July 2018-Trip to K Terla Batu Gangan Site Facilitator: Saras/Satya . Activity: Tree planting, Putting fertilizer, Tree labelling. Time: 8am to 2 pm
13th July 2018-Nature walk with children with special needs from Cherish.Facilitator: Saras
17th July 2018-Trip to K Terla Batu Gangan Site Facilitators: Saras/Satya . Activity: Tree planting, Nature walk Time: 8am to 2 pm
24th July 2018-Trip to K Terla Batu Gangan Site Facilitators: Saras/Satya . Activity: Tree planting, Nature walk, Time: 8am to 2 pm
Please note that some activities maybe changed without notice due to unforseen circumstances. Some activities maybe added on.
Saving the Mossy Forests in Cameron Highlands 2018-Grant from Kemaman Bitumen Company Sdn Bhd
by Cheam May Choo
We are pleased to announce that we have recently received a grant from Kemaman Bitumen Company Sdn Bhd for a forest restoration project. ( Our deepest appreciation to them ) This project is actually a continuation of what we have done all along, albeit in a different area. It is about the conservation of the highland forests in Cameron Highlands focusing on the mossy forests on the upper reaches of the Sungai Terla water catchment area (largest water catchment area in Cameron Highlands). This area includes the forest reserves of Sg Terla,Batu Gangan and Ulu Ichat. The total land area of these 3 forest reserves is 3133 hectares and they form the eastern slope of Gunung Irau in the Titiwangsa range( the main range of Peninsular Malaysia). As this area is more than 1400 metres above sea level, the highland forests here are predominantly cloud forests or mossy forests. It houses a large biodiversity of flora and fauna many of which have yet to be identified and remains a crucial water catchment area. Site (101’21 degrees to 101’24 degrees East) and ( 4’32 degrees to 4’35 degrees North). 
The programme would include:
- Awareness creation activities such as mossy forest reforestation ,interpretive walks, bird watching, insect talks, photography sessions .
- Research and documentation-Providing a base for students of institutions of higher learning to do their research on our Cloud Forests and publication of these findings online and in print.
corybas carinatus
anoectochilus albolineatus
Benificaries would be:
- Students from local primary and secondary schools
- Students and researchers from institutions of higher learning
- Community groups
- Participants from government agencies
- Other interested groups and individuals
For those who are interested in joining these activties please contact us. Sponsorship will be given to local students.
Summary of Activities at Biodiversity centre, Gunung Brinchang 2017
by Cheam May Choo
1.Research with Universiti Malaysia Kelantan
A letter of intent was signed with the Universiti Malaysia Kelantan UMK on the 31st of March 2017 at the biodiversity site in Gunung Brinchang.
In the Letter of Intent, it is stated that both parties shall cooperate in the field of research and conservation as well as field data sharing related to but not limited to research and development and other forms of academic/social collaboration and sharing of resources, facilities, knowledge and skills at the respective institutions for the purpose of research and conservation.After the signing, UMK presented Reach with 2 large posters and 3 research reports.The first poster is on butterflies, moths and beetles. and is prepared by students Nur Amira Zamari Aris, Nursyahirah Zakaria and Nurul Ain Sha’ari and lecturer Cik Nivaarani Arumugam.The second poster is on lichens.The lichens were photographed and documented by Dr Suganthi Appalasamy and Dr Boon Jia Geng
3 research reports were prepared by UMK students ie Diversity of Butterfly at Reach biodiversity centre by Nur Amira bt Zamari Aris, Diversity of Moth at Reach biodiversity centre by Nursyahirah bt Zakaria and Diversity of Beetles at Reach Biodiverisity centre by Nurul Ain Bt Sha’ari. All 3 studies were done at the Reach Biodiversity Centre from July 2016 to August 2016.
In July 2017, 3 groups of students and lecturers conducted research at the Biodiversity Centre. The groups are as follows:
GROUP 1
5 students and a lecturer conducted research on small mammals and bats from 6th to 20th of July 2017. The group was headed by Dr. Jayaraj Vijaya Kumaran
GROUP 2
This group of 5 students and 2 lecturers did research on flora from the 6 to 7th of July 2017 and were led by Dr. Suganthi Appalasamy.
GROUP 3
This group of 10 students, 2 lecturers and a lab assistant conducted research on flora from the 10th to 15th of July 2017 and were led by Dr. Nazahatul Anis Amaludin and Dr. Radhiah Zakaria.
2.Collaboration with Meteorological Department on Climate Monitoring
In October 2016 a memorandum of understanding was signed with the Meteorological Department of Malaysia to cooperate in the development and support of research in Climate Monitoring and Atmospheric composition at the Biodiversity Centre in Gunung Brinchang. It would be for a period of 5 years. The findings would be shared by both parties.
In 2017, monitoring of 4 atmospheric parameters began. They include NO nitrogen oxide, NO2 nitrogen dioxide, SO2 sulphur dioxide, and NH# amnonia. Readings are taken monthly and shared with the Meteorological Department. A report on the findings will be out soon.
Reach would like to pay tribute to the memory of the late Mr Ong Lian Poh, former head of Cameron Highlands Weather Station who worked hard to make this possible.
3.Research on preparation of soil improvement material for organic farming
Mr Ng Tien Khuan is currently conducting research on the preparation of soil improvement material using the biodynamic process. In 2017, good quality biodynamic preparation was successfully produced.
Summary of CSI Activities for 2017
by Cheam May Choo
Our CSI or community stream investigation programme in 2017 continues to be one of the more popular activity amongst students and adults alike.(CSI programme was initially sponsored by CIMB in 2009 and the excess funds were carried over to the next few years. In 2015 Prince Tunku Imran and Mr Paul Chuah gave us more funds ).In March 2017 we received a grant of RM 5000 from the National River Care Fund under GEC (Global Environment Centre) to continue this and CSI has now become an annual affair for our local schools.
Our CSI programme uses simple biological,chemical and physical parameters to gauge the quality of the river water. Students are briefed on the techniques in the field and then made to apply them. Results from a clean river and a dirty river are then compared and discussed. This programme comes at a low cost and is very “hands on”. Students see for themselves the impact of contamination of river water in the real world.The kids love it especially when it comes to analysing clean streams as they get a chance to frolic in them and catch bugs.
For the year 2017,there were 8 such programmes which took place between July to October 2017 .They involved both primary and secondary schools. Our volunteers included Dr Liau Tai Leong, Geogina, Adam, Shuib, Tom, Pablo, Aurelein, Kah Wai,Joshua and Siva. Many thanks to them.