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RGE recently held a screening of the Frontier Sumatra documentary for more than 200 students at the prestigious Raffles Institution, one of Singapore’s leading pre-tertiary educational institutions, which was followed by a lively Q&A. The students, aged 15-18, enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about the Restorasi Ekosistem Riau (RER) project and its significance for global conservation and sustainability efforts. Frontier Sumatra highlights the work of the RER programme to protect and restore over 150,000 hectares of peatland rainforest in Sumatra, Indonesia.
RGE held a screening of Frontier Sumatra for more than 200 students in Raffles Institution
Vice-Chairman of RGE and Raffles Institution Board of Governors Chairman, Mr Bey Soo Khiang, provided opening remarks and set the stage for the screening, while Ms Tiurma Rosinta Siagian, a molecular biologist working in RER, joined Mr Bey during the Q&A session to provide an informed perspective on the day-to-day operations of the RER project. Topics covered during the Q&A included RGE’s initiatives to support sustainability beyond the RER, and the impact that the success of the RER is having on global sustainability practices, reflecting the breadth and depth of the students’ interest in Frontier Sumatra and the issues covered in the documentary.
The screening of Frontier Sumatra was followed by a spirited Q&A session
Set up in 2013 by APRIL Group, and run in partnership with local and international NGOs, the RER project is spread across two forest landscapes on the Kampar Peninsula and Padang Island, in the Riau province, Sumatra. Frontier Sumatra tells the story of the work of rangers and scientists to protect what is one of the largest peatland forest landscapes in Southeast Asia, covering an area about twice the size of Singapore. The RER forest areas provide sanctuary to more than 840 plant and wildlife species and support more than 40,000 people living in the surrounding communities. They also contribute to APRIL’s 1-for-1 commitment to conserve and restore one hectare of forest for every hectare of forest plantation.
Snapshot of student receiving his prize after winning a quiz on Frontier Sumatra, after the screening
Speaking on the rising need for the wider adoption of sustainable practices across the industry, Mr Bey noted: “As a business, we have to take responsibility for doing good for the climate, the community and our customers.” Ms Siagian added: “Many people still do not understand the importance of protecting the forests, or of conservation”.
