Get involved- Have a say in town planning
by Dr.Cheam May Choo
12th October 2013- Some years back, when I had just joined Reach and environmental work was new to me, we were asked to go through this thick book which was 16 inches by 11.5 inches This book had lots of maps, statistics and graphs and was one and a half inch thick. We were ‘bullied’ into staying at the Reach office till almost midnight for a few days to review it. At that time, tired from work in the evenings, I thought it was a sheer waste of time. But looking back, this book became a very useful source of information for me when it came to ‘ community service’.
9/9/2013 – Additional funding from the Embassy of Finland for Cloud Forest Conservation Activities
9th September 2013-Once in a while our environmental efforts get a much needed shot in the arm. Last week REACH signed an agreement with the Embassy of Finland for additional funding for cloud forest conservation activities. This would be the 3rd consecutive year that we are receiving funds from the Finnish embassy. On behalf of REACH we would like to extend our sincere thanks to them for their support in our environmental activities. With the biodiversity centre including the pond and nursery completed, emphasis would be on creating greater awareness on cloud forest conservation amongst the locals. This would include trips to the mossy forests in Gunung Brinchang and activities at the biodiversity centre such as reforestation, nurturing the planted trees, nature talks, bird watching and documentation of flora and fauna in that area.Local residents who are interested may contact Miss Saras at 05 4914798 ( 9am t0 12noon) or email her at nitiya31880@yahoo.com.sg The minimum number of persons for each trip would be 8. (number that can be accommodated in a 4 WD vehicle).At least 2 week’s notice is required. Participants are encouraged to be REACH members. Sponsorship of these trips will continue till late next year. We hope more residents will join these activities and learn to appreciate the beauty of these montane forests. Many have travelled from afar to enjoy our forests as these highland tropical forests are rare. But we who have been blessed with them have taken them for granted and continue to cut them down mercilessly. Step into an untouched mossy forest and you will understand why we need to protect them.
2/9/13 – Biodiversity Centre Update
With the store completed at the biodiversity site, we went up to the site one Sunday afternoon to do some clean-up. Some groups were coming up in September and a clean-up was long overdue. We went up at 2pm and started with the store. The world challenge group had painted the exterior walls earlier and they did a good job. Roy looked at me and asked, ” Doc,who chose the colour?” ” Well, you are looking at the person” I said sheepishly. I must admit the green colour was nice on its own but with the brick red roof tiles , the store looked sea sick!
All the excess construction materials, the donated steel cabinets, tools and poly tanks were moved into the store. Then the 2nd Nissen Hut was cleaned, remaining curtains hung up and furniture rearranged so that it can double up as a briefing room or a dormitory. The kitchenette was also spruced up and we then adjourned for a short tea break which consisted of broken up mint chocolate and fried rice.
The 3 toilets were then washed and just as the sun was setting Roy inquired ” Shall we clean the 1st Nissen Hut too?” ” Why not?”
Thinesh and Roy proceeded to do a thorough clean-up and the furniture was arranged as in the 2nd Hut. I was amazed at how they don’t seem to get tired.
It was almost 9 pm by the time we returned to town. There were still more work to be done but we will leave it for another day.
Supermoon at the biodiversity centre in Gunung Brinchang.
Sometimes nature sends us strange but beautiful messages. On the 22nd of June 2013 we went up to the biodiversity centre to supervise the fixing of the solar street lights. At first we hesitated to go as the traffic was heavy as it usually is on a weekend. But then we did not want to procrastinate any further so off we went. The electrician and his assistant were quite efficient and the 3 solar street lights were fixed within a few hours, ready just as the sun was setting. The lights are automatically triggered and we were delighted when they lit up as darkness fell.
We adjourned to the Nissen Hut to have a home cooked dinner of rice, lettuce, sausages and black pepper chicken. When we came out we were treated to a beautiful sight. The full moon was up and it was unusually bright and large with a very strange quality to it. It looked hauntingly lovely and seemed to be in harmony with the 3 street lamps which were lit up for the first time. If I were to indulge a little, perhaps as if to tell us “ Hey, folks, what you are doing for the environment is right, do continue” We did not know it then but that was the supermoon which is actually the largest full moon of the year and the closest that the moon will be to Earth for the whole of 2013. What a delightful coincidence!
Cloud Harvesting
Ever since the cloud or fog harvesting idea was first mooted by the president, we were quite skeptical about its efficacy. Today we were proven wrong. It was a fairly sunny day and it had not rained for the past 24 hours. Yet the polyethylene mesh hoisted between 2 metal poles to trap the mist was quite damp.
Rama had seen the cloud harvesting technique first hand in Nepal when he was over there doing his extreme weather training and was quite confident it would work. Cloud harvesting is basically another human attempt at mimicking nature. The upper highland forest has been stripping moisture from the clouds for eons and doing so well in it. We are only just making baby steps.