HSBC and UBD hosts Youth Go Green Initiative Award Winners on educational trip to Kuala Belalong Field Studies Centre

27th June 2011

Twelve students and two teachers from Sekolah Menengah Sayydina Ali and Sekolah Menengah Jamalul Alam with six staff from HSBC went for an overnight educational field trip last Saturday to the Kuala Belalong Field Studies Centre to learn about the rich biodiversity of Temburong.

The trip was led by Lim Boon Teck, Corporate Sustainability Manager of HSBC accompanied by Dr Ulmar Grafe and Ms Siti Rafhiah Hj Abdul Kahar of UBD. “The purpose of the trip is to get the students to appreciate Temburong as an exceptional rainforest and increase their awareness on the importance of conservation,” says Lim Boon Teck.

The participants had the opportunity to witness some field work demonstration at the Earthwatch plot, an ongoing research project being undertaken by Mr Khoo Min Sheng, the Project Manager and Resident Researcher of the 25-hectare field study plot sponsored by HSBC. The students were provided opportunities to collect data, measure and tag the trees as part of the research. Once done, the vast research plot will provide scientific information on the impact of climate change on forest growth, its ability to store carbon, and collect information for better management of Brunei forests.

As part of the trip, the students hiked to the National Park and scaled the Canopy Walk. Dr Ulmar Grafe also gave a short lecture on animal diversity of Temburong and Brunei, followed by a night safari around the Centre where the group encountered a gecko eating grasshopper and three species of frogs. The trip ended the following morning with students beaming and in sunny moods during the temuai ride along the river to the bus.

The sixth form students from the Environmental Club of Sekolah Menegah Sayydina Ali commented that the trip was an inspirational eye-opener. Some of them expressed interest to be research assistants at the plot after their A-level examinations. Cikgu Sarinah from SMJA who joined the trip said “The Enviro Club of SMJA would like to thank HSBC for this truly unforgettable trip. The students had a wonderful experience through the one night stay being close to nature which really gave them an appreciation for the environment.”

The trip is part of the prize for the winners of the Youth Go Green Initiative Awards that was organized in conjunction with the National Environment Conference 2011.