Rewild Malaysia
Promoting the planting of Malaysian indigenous plants for the conservation and appreciation of our natural heritage.
As the world’s biodiversity plummets rapidly, Malaysia has a shocking 1,059 species of flora and a further 683 species of fauna that are threatened with extinction. Opportunities to foster nature within urban limitations to create native ecological corridors are critical for conservation and for the health of people and the planet.
Rewild Malaysia addresses urban biodiversity from the grassroots upwards, connecting fragmented open spaces and home gardens to larger established green lungs using native plants and urban forest techniques, amplifying the impact of collective green cover.
What We Do
Under the Rewild Malaysia programme, Free Tree Society is giving away plants indigenous to Malaysia for free and holding talks and workshops on unique aspects of our biodiversity.
Refer to the calendar below for the giveaway dates and follow our social media pages for the latest announcements.
To Rewild Malaysia:
- Attend a native #freetree giveaway.
- Watch talks or attend workshops on aspects of urban biodiversity organised by us.
Rewild Malaysia Talks
Talks are broadcast over Facebook Live through our Facebook Page. Here’s a list of talks conducted so far:
- Urban Rewilding 101 with Carolyn Lau of Free Tree Society
- Urban Gardens with Goh Shang Ming of Urban Biodiversity Initiative
- Caterpillars: Dispelling Myths and Understanding Their Role in Urban Gardens with Ng Siu Wee of Caterpillar Xchange [Malaysia]
- Rediscover Our Urban River with Affan Nasaruddin of Water Warriors and Inspirasi Kawa.
- Wild, Weird and Wonderful with Dr. Zi-Yang Chan, Phytochemist, nature lover and plant collector.
- Bizzare Botany with Dr. Zi-Yang Chan, Phytochemist, nature lover and plant collector.
- Creepy Crawlies Part 1 and Creepy Crawlies Part 2 with Dr. Zi-Yang Chan, Phytochemist, nature lover and plant collector.
- The Dark Side of Plants : From Poison to Medicine Part 1 and Part 2 with Dr. Zi-Yang Chan, Phytochemist, nature lover and plant collector.
If you would like to watch any of these talks, please conduct a search on our Facebook page at any time.
We also host community talks about why planting native species is important and how you can get started! To request a Rewild Malaysia talk please email us at baida@freetreesociety.org.
Calendar of Events
Getting Started with Rewilding
You don’t need to have a jungle to support wildlife! Plant functional, aesthetically beautiful gardens that support biodiversity, encourage sustainable lifestyles and foster healthy individuals anywhere!
Tips on creating biodiverse green spaces:
- Local plants with nectar, fruits or seeds are best, for e.g. senduduk (Melastoma malabathricum L), rhododendrons, native palms, and simpoh air (Dillenia suffruticosa). These plants support urban wildlife population by providing much-needed food sources.
- Consider not just flowers for nectivorous insects but also host plants that provide food for their larvae, e.g. milkweed and citrus plants.
- Install a still pond or birdbath. Plants can be added to a pond to attract dragonflies and other beneficial wildlife. The addition of fishes that eat larvae can control mosquitoes and their waste is a natural fertiliser for the water plants. Please take note that some aquatic plants can be highly invasive, so ensure that they do not escape into local waterways and drains.
- Add shelter or create rock piles, wood piles or hang up animal boxes for smaller wildlife such as insects and amphibians.
- Don’t use pesticides in your garden that are toxic to large swathes of wildlife. Try using less destructive pest control methods such as diluted wood vinegar as an insect repellent.
- Leave a bit of your garden wild!