ON A rainy Saturday morning, the urban forest at KL East Park came alive with a chorus of “oohs” and “aahs” as eager nature explorers ventured along its trails on a guided nature walk on Oct 24.
The morning showers added an authentic rainforest feel to the experience, as nature guides from Georimba Solutions led the
participants through the greenery.
This marked the start of Sime Darby Property’s urban biodiversity campaign under it’s “Know Your Naturehood” initiative, inviting participants to see, hear, feel and even taste the diversity of life within the forest.
The nature guides brought the forest to life, turning the trek into an opportunity to discover the intricate relationships between its plants and wildlife.
Georimba Solutions director Sadali Sahdi said the walk aimed to highlight the importance of forests for urban residents, such as their role in producing oxygen and absorbing carbon emissions.
The activity also sought to help participants develop a deeper connection with nature through first-hand experiences, by giving them a unique way of appreciating the environment.
“People could look at pictures or watch videos online, but being in the forest allows them to experience things for themselves,” he said.
By discovering the dense tree cover overhead, termites deconstructing fallen trees and liana vines climbing tree trunks, participants learnt how each plays a role in maintaining the forest ecosystem.
The message hit home for many, including college student Ahmad Hakimi, who gained a deeper appreciation for the importance of preserving natural ecosystems.
“If one negative thing happens in the forest, it can affect the entire ecosystem. So, it is very important that we preserve the environment,” he said.
The guides also introduced participants to the park’s diverse plant species.
For instance, they showed various edible and poisonous fruits, highlighting the importance of knowing which plants are safe to consume in the wild.
Among them was the Senduduk Bulu, a small, berry-like fruit that participants had the opportunity to taste during the walk.
They also learnt about the Pokok Ara Kelepong (Ficus variegata) or red-stem fig, whose fruits grow directly from its trunk and branches.
“Our guide gave a different point of view to the way we see the flora.
“We learnt to appreciate its uses to us, like how the stems of the trees can be used as roofs and shelter or plants that can be used for food and for medicinal purposes,” Ahmad said.
While parents and older children explored the forest, younger participants took part in the WanderLab Explorer activity organised by Knowledge: New Old Twists (KNOTS).
Through storytelling, nature-themed puzzles and origami, the children learnt to recognise the different shapes, colours and
textures found in nature, discovering how patterns serve a purpose within an ecosystem.
Muhammad Ridhwan Mazlan enrolled his children in the programme because he believes nature education is important in nurturing the next generation of biodiversity stewards.
“I want them to get closer to nature and learn that there is more to discover beyond what they study in school,” he said.
Sime Darby Property’s urban biodiversity adventure continues with a night walk on Oct 31 at
KL East Park, followed by a birdwatching activity in City of Elmina, Shah Alam on Nov 1.
Click here to learn about urban biodiversity.
