Report: Field trip to Rimba Ilmu - Carbon Guzzlers (CAKE12)

By HY Leong

This year, the MNS Selangor Branch's (MNSSB) Climate Action Kids Engagement (CAKE) initiative expanded its outreach to include non-member children from underprivileged backgrounds, offering them an opportunity to learn about the impacts of climate change on rainforests. 

Rimba Ilmu, one of CAKE's habitat collaborators, partnered with us on this initiative. Since this was the first time we were facilitating a larger group of school children, rather than our core MNS member participants, the support from an educational institution with well-equipped facilities in a controlled environment—such as Universiti Malaya's Rimba Ilmu—helped boost our confidence in organising CAKE12.

Next, we identified a school near the habitat with students studying academic subjects such as Science and Mathematics, and approached the school administrators for their interest in participating.

Then, we applied for a small environmental grant. The Lions Club of Subang Jaya (LCSJ) generously funded the field trip  and made it possible for 19 primary and 14 secondary students from Buku Jalanan Chow Kit (BJCK) and three school volunteers (a total of 36 people) to participate in the field trip, themed "Carbon Guzzlers: The Mighty Rainforest vs. the Tiny Algae." Prior to CAKE12, LCSJ visited BJCK to get to know the school better.

Field Trip 

On Sunday, 13th October 2024, the hired bus started picking up participants from 9am, once the KL Car Free Morning event opened up the roads into Chow Kit.

Upon the participants’ arrival at Rimba Ilmu, CAKE mentors promptly checked them in. Each student received MNS Selangor's My Nature Journal for recording observations, a stationery set (pencil, pencil sharpener and an eraser), and informational pamphlets about Rimba Ilmu. 

After a warm welcome, Dr Yong Kien Thai, a staff member of Rimba Ilmu and lecturer at Universiti Malaya's Institute of Biological Sciences, introduced students to Rimba Ilmu, a botanic garden that recently celebrated its 50th anniversary in August.

Students and school volunteers of Buku Jalanan Chow Kit with Lions Club of Subang Jaya members and CAKE mentors including Rimba Ilmu staff. Photo: HY Leong

The students were accompanied by four Lions (members of the Lions Club) from LCSJ: Lee Pei Wen, Fung Zhi Deng, Oscar Chow, and Vice President and Organising Chairman Lee Hwan King.

Dr KT Yong introduces Rimba Ilmu to the students and the Lions. Photo: HY Leong

Guided Walk

First, let's get the students to know about the rainforest through a walk guided by a team of experienced mentors. Students were divided into two age groups—8–12 years and 13–16 years. For the former group, Dr Yong was supported by Yao Tze Leong (Flora Group Coordinator), Justin Loh (MNSSB volunteer), and BJCK volunteers Farah and Ayuni. 

For the older group, Rimba Ilmu volunteer guides Surin Suksuwan and Lim Koon Hup (former Flora Group Coordinator) led the walk, with assistance from Nuralisya Hakim Boey (Flora Group) and Athifah (BJCK).  

 (From left to right, in the background) Guided by Surin Suksuwan and Lim Koon Hup, the students taste the fruit of the Mata Pelanduk (Ardisia elliptica), which resembles berries. Photo: HY Leong

(From left to right, photos by Yao Tze Leong) Beyond the entrance gate lies the 50-year-old Rimba Ilmu, a tropical botanic garden established for research, education and conservation. Dr KT Yong distributed the young leaves of Asam Gelugor (Garcinia atroviridis), which are commonly eaten fresh as ulam. As they explored, the students diligently took notes on the trees they encountered. (Photo by Justin Loh)

(From left to right, photos by Yong Chun Ann Riccardia) Lions join the guided walk as Dr KT Yong explains how trees adapt to prevent insects and fungi from lodging onto a tree like the Gelam tikus (Syzygium antisepticum) with its constantly flaking and bright red bark. Its young leaves are used as ulam in Thailand, and the fruits are edible.

After exploring the botanic garden, the younger students cooled down in the air-conditioned Rainforest Exhibition first while the older students continued to the Rare Plants and Orchid Conservatory. 

Rainforest Exhibition. Photo: HY Leong

Afterward, everyone regrouped for a snack of flavoured bread and milk before participating in a water-sampling activity at the pond.  

What's in the pond water?

Rimba Ilmu's Glass Lobby was turned into a makeshift "Tiny Algae Lab," which offered the students an opportunity to use microscopes to see living organisms in the pond water including algae. Outside the lobby, the students prepared their wet specimens with the help of the mentors. 

Inset: Students learning how to put a droplet of algae water onto the glass slides. Photos: HY Leong

Now the fun part - seeing for the first time what's in the water. Photo: HY Leong

Dr KT Yong adjusts the microscope's focus for the students. Photo: HY Leong

Algae specimen on slide. Photo: HY Leong

Excited to see and learn. Photo: HY Leong

Lunch was provided by PichaEats, featuring meals prepared by refugee chefs Sana and Razia. This, too, was supported by the grant. 

Lunch cooked by refugee chefs Sana and Razia. Photo: HY Leong

After lunch, Dr Yong wrapped up the experiment by explaining that, on a global scale, algae absorbs more carbon dioxide than rainforests because 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by water. However, in tropical regions, rainforests actually play a bigger role in trapping carbon than algae. 

Dr KT Yong wraps up his sharing session. Photo: HY Leong

Climate Action

A feedback session, led by Yao, revealed that students particularly enjoyed the garden walk, while one boy expressed keen interest in the microscope activity. 

 

Yao also shared tips on growing and caring for the edible plants provided by Free Tree Society Kuala Lumpur. The NGO donated 35 mulberry and Brazilian spinach plants in response to the school’s request for edible plants. This contribution allowed the students to participate in the "climate action" initiative.

Standing, from left to right, Yao Tze Leong with Nuralisya Hakim Boey share how to take care of the edible plants. Photo: HY Leong

Left to right, mulberries (Morus sp.) and Brazilian spinach (Alternanthera sessilis).
Photo: HY Leong

CAKE mentor Nuralisya Hakim Boey randomly giving away a Mulberry (Morus sp.).
Photo: Lee Hwan King

As a gesture of gratitude, CAKE made a donation to Free Tree Society for five poly bags of Brazilian spinach. These were presented as tokens of appreciation to the four attending Lions and the LCSJ President (represented by Lee). 

At the end of the trip, as students departed from the Rimba Ilmu building complex to board their bus back to the city, mentors distributed the edible plants. Students were encouraged to report on their plants’ growth in a month. The students shouted heartfelt thank-yous and goodbyes, deeply appreciating an opportunity for a break from city life.

Lee expressed the Lions’ satisfaction with CAKE’s initiatives and their inspiration from its impact. 

View Lions Club of Subang Jaya's report here.

MNS Selangor Branch's CAKE12 is a collaboration with MNS Selangor Branch Flora Special Interest Group and Rimba Ilmu Botanic Garden. It was funded by a small environmental grant by Lions Club of Subang Jaya for the students of Buku Jalanan Chow Kit. The edible plants were sponsored by Free Tree Society Kuala Lumpur.