2009 Seed Grants Recipient: Noah Jackson

Project: Finding the Seeds

A previous recipient of 2008 Seed Grants, Noah continues his work with the forest communities in Baram and Limbang, Sarawak documenting local ecological knowledge. A photographer and writer, Noah creates a landscape of images through his lens, unearthing stories hidden from the urban world.

Forest Voices encompasses not only capturing knowledge through photography but also through holding workshops, such as seed and tree sharing workshops in order to utilize forest knowledge into wider practices. These workshops intend to create a platform where forest experts can share and exchange ideas on collection, planting and managing wild trees in their lands, farm plots or in hunting and gathering forests.

The project also involves the completion of a long-term book project on forest knowledge and management as well as two children’s books on forest culture.

Visit Hope in Light for more information.

2009 Seed Grants Recipient: Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) Bird Group (Selangor Branch)

Project: My Garden Birds Census

Working in the Selangor state of Malaysia, the MNS Bird Group (Selangor Branch) will be conducting a long-term project involving enthusiastic birdwatchers and their families to conduct biannual census of the bird life in urban residential areas. The project will take off in Klang Valley where the birdwatchers primarily reside and eventually will be expanded to include other states through MNS’s branch networks in the country.

The objective of conducting this census is to provide an idea of the population health of various kinds of birds, both migrant and resident, that can be found in urban gardens and to gauge the bird species distribution in various residential areas across the Selangor state.

The first census of its kind in Malaysia, this project compliments the vision of Wild Asia to involve more urban folks in safeguarding their natural surroundings and wildlife. As this project involves birdwatchers and their families, it is also encouraging when conservational values are shared with families and passed down to our young ones as well as creating greater awareness among the urban communities.

For more information on MNS Bird Group (Selangor Branch), visit piedfantail.com

Health in Harmony

Working in one of Indonesia's national parks, Gunong Palung, Health in Harmony has been supporting medical centers and providing health care to communities that have taken to protecting their own local environments.

Kinari Webb (picture shown here), the founder, says "In parts of West Kalimantan 25% of children die before age five, mothers often die in childbirth, and even "simple" injuries like a cut on the hand can lead to death without access to tetanus shots or antibiotics." Their organisation today works to combine "health, nature, and balance" and their "activities lie at the interface between healthcare and environmental conservation."

Health in Harmony works to support their Indonesian project Alam Sehat Lestari (ASRI) which translates as: "healthy nature everlasting". Reza, who was in Bogor (Indonesia) recently, and had a chance to catch up with ASRI's Conservation Director, Antonia Gorog, to share a little about what the organisation does, its beginning and how this is making an impact.

Listen to the conversation:


Click here for more info on their work. Download the podcast.