environmental sustainability initiatives by faculty of...
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Environmental Sustainability Initiatives by
Faculty of Science, University of MalayaPresented for UNESCO workshop 4th November 2016,
The Frangipani Langkawi Resort and Spa Langkawi, Malaysia
RESEARCH CLUSTERS IN UM
Sustainability Science (SuSci)
Innovative Technology
Wellness
Frontier Science
Humanities
Equitable Society
Six
RC
To be an internationally recognized cluster
in trans-disciplinary research for
sustainability
To develop quality research to meet the
challenges of sustainable development for
the society
SUSTAINABILITY SCIENCE RESEARCH CLUSTER
Sustainable for Life
UM ECO-CAMPUS BLUEPRINT (UMECB)
Living Lab in UM
ACTION-ORIENTED & TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCHto provide sustainable solutions to the campus
From laboratory research To real life solutions
The RIMBA Project
Zero Waste Campaign
Water Warriors
In line with UI
GreenMetric &
Sustainable
Development
Goals (SDGs)
Categorisation of 23 projects according to8 Core Pillars of UM Eco-Campus Blueprint
Landscape
management and
biodiversity
Waste
management
Water
governance
Energy
management
Transportation
system
management
Green
procurement
Educational management
– Environment & climate
change
Change Management,
participation, &
communication
OBJECTIVE: To protect and conserve water bodies at
the University of Malaya (2013 – present) http://umwaterwarriors.wixsite.com
2013 Now
Visit
http://umwaterwarriors.wixsite.com/tasek for
more of our story
Club Kids and Water Warriors Facilitators Club Kids presenting their findings to the community
Thatching traditional roofs
Rubbish Survey by the young scientists
Our Club HousePusat Sains Rakyat Sungai
Selangor
To know more about US, please
see our video:
Google “Kelab Alami Kawa
youtube”!
the rimba project
Integrating urban biodiversity conservation, education and outreach into the campus sustainability movement
A Brief History of The Rimba Project
2011 UM Biodiversity Map(Limited-release UMCARES publication)
Late 2013 The call from UMCaresNo systematic approach to documenting and promoting campus biodiversity.
Mission of new project was to address:Campus greening and biodiversity documentation
Capacity building of students and staff
Apr 2014 On Earth Day, RIMBA officially starts as a UMCares flagship projectDec 2014 The Section 12 Project—convincing the higher powers
Feb 2014 Living Lab Research Grant—The RIMBA Project with 3 staffmembers under new “twin-DVC” funding/management system
Apr 2016 The Rimba Project enters its third year with 1 full-time staff.
Key Initiatives
1. Campus Greening & Biodiversity Conservation
To design and implement conservation landscaping strategies, increase tree cover and improve green spaces on campus.
2. Conservation Nursery
To develop an in-house nursery for long-term greening and reforestation, to enhance Rimba Ilmu’s inventory, and for community engagement initiatives.
3. Capacity Building & Nature Education
To expand the knowledge base of UM’s and urban biodiversity for public education and access, and produce supporting digital and print material/publications.
A Living Lab focusing on biodiversityconservation and environmental education
urban biodiversity
urban biodiversity
Bukit Arang (circled in yellow), within UM, is one of two remaining sizable green lungs directly accessible to Petaling Jaya in the west, and Kuala
Lumpur in the east.The erosion of forest for development in the Bukit Gasing-Bukit Kerinchi forest
complex, south of UM, can be seen in this satellite image.
frontiers
Our biodiversity surveys aim to help open the eyes of urban communities to the beauty of nature around them. “Urban biodiversity” is an emerging field with implications on urban sustainability/livabilityand bioculturalheritage.
The UM campus: an urban oasis?
Our dream is to make the University of
Malaya a walk-in educational garden, an
urban nature park and biodiversity hub,
where plants and animals coexist
harmoniously with humans.
Inspire, ImpactPublishing books, posters, and brochure-guides on urban biodiversity
The Rimba Project also collaborates with
the Rimba Ilmu Botanic Garden
acres: size of UM’s 60-year-old Bukit Arang forest, which The
Rimba Project is lobbying DVC(D) to protect
conserve educateProtect Life. Promote Life.
Involve CommunityConservation Nursery for raising of native plant species; Trailblazers and Big Year, two spin-off projects conducted by student volunteers; junior nature guide training; greening policy and guidelines with JPPHB
new trails (above) created and tagged in Rimba Ilmu by the Trailblazers, a volunteer-led initiative managed by The Rimba Project
Encounter NatureField surveys and tree tagging;
environmental education/outreach programmes; raising of
awareness through website and social media
ContactW: www.umrimba.com
E: [email protected]: facebook.com/umrimba
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registered student volunteers and mentees from 11 of UM’s 16 faculties, academies and centres
80
150
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Bio-engineering
technique
Using vegetation for preventing and
controlling erosion to stabilize slopes
NKEA : GREATER KUALA LUMPUR / KLANG VALLEY
Improving connectivity and beautifying physical
environments, and greening the environment
NKEA : BUSINESS SERVICES
Green Technology
NATIONAL SLOPE MASTER PLAN (NSMP) (2009-
2023)
Hazard Mapping and Assessment
Research & Development
ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION PLAN & NATIONAL SLOPE MASTER PLAN (NSMP)
Aim for Malaysia to become a greater high-income nation by 2020 and to formulate a detailed, comprehensive and effective framework
of strategies and action plans to reduce risks from landslides on slopes nationwide
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PHILOSOPHY OF RESEARCH
Promoting sustainable eco-engineering practice
Long term stabilisation & conservation
Establishing vegetation cover
via
accelerating the process of natural succession.
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Criteria of the potential slope plantswould be as follows: Fast growingNitrogen fixerPromising plant-water relationsAcidic & drought tolerantExtensive root systemFlowering plant (to stimulateflora-fauna interaction)Promote succession – enhancebiodiversity
Flowering shrub-one ofthe criteria to screen slopeplant
Extensive root profile – an essential criteria
Potential slope plants
M. malabathricum - survive on acidic slope (~pH 3)
After 6 months After 24 months
Right choice of pioneersaccelerate the process ofnatural succession andenhance the biodiversity ofslope within a short period oftime… and produce morestable slope
Planting slope pioneers using a suitableplanting technique, Faculty of Languagesand Linguistics
Embankment, Faculty Science
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Characteristics of a stable and failed slope
Parameter Stable Failed
RLDSWC
Saturation levelShear strength
55.7 Km m-3
15.9 – 20.7 %57.4 – 58.6 %46.1 + 3.4 kPa
11.0 Km m-3
45.4 – 48.3 %97.8 – 103.2 %25.7 + 3.8 kPa
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BARE 1
EXIT PAYA JARAS
BARE 2
EXIT PAYA JARAS
% Plant coverage
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DENSE (FERNS) 1 & 2
EXIT PAYA JARAS
DENSE (FERNS) 3 & 4
EXIT PAYA JARAS
Researchers in action …..
Research activities
THANK YOU