DSA staff conducts nature journaling workshop

On 28 and 29 August 2024, Gamuda staff participated in the Gamuda Parks Urban Ecology & Biodiversity (G.U.E.B) Nature Journaling Workshop at the Wetland Arboretum Centre (WAC) in Gamuda Cove, Dengkil. Mr Chow Keng Fatt from the Department of Student Affairs of UTAR Sungai Long Campus, led the workshop organised by the Gamuda Parks. Mr Chow guided participants through the principles of nature journaling. Thirty Gamuda staff members participated, with 15 attendees each day. The event aimed to foster a deeper connection between participants and their natural surroundings while promoting environmental awareness and sustainability practices.

The workshop saw the participation of thirty Gamuda staff members

The Wetland Arboretum Centre, established in 2021, serves as a hub for environmental education and the conservation of local plant species. Located near the Paya Indah Discovery Wetlands in Selangor, the 90-acre centre supports the preservation of the region’s wetlands, helping to maintain biodiversity by propagating native and protected plants.

The Nature Journaling Workshop allowed participants to take a break from their urban routines and reflect on the importance of nature in their lives. As Richard Louv famously noted, ‘the more high-tech we become, the more nature we need.’ This sentiment was echoed by the participants, many of whom found themselves recalling memories of biology classes and kampung (village) life as they observed and recorded the natural environment.

The workshop began with a guided walk led by Mr Chow, who encouraged participants to engage all their senses while exploring the surroundings. Through questions such as “What do you notice, hear, smell, and feel?”, he urged them to pay close attention to details often overlooked in daily life. Participants were delighted to discover small wonders such as dragon-scale ferns, cogon grass, and lichens. The experience inspired many to sketch their observations, with Mr Chow emphasising that nature journaling is not about creating perfect artwork but capturing personal experiences.

Mr Chow guiding participants through the principles of nature journaling

As the weather warmed later in the morning, the group moved indoors to continue their journaling. Mr Chow shared his own journal entries, which inspired participants to experiment with sketching simple landscapes and to reflect on their surroundings. Many were reminded of life lessons and their childhoods spent in rural areas, highlighting the deeper connection between nature and personal growth. One participant observed raptors soaring high above—a common yet often unnoticed sight in urban settings.

The success of the workshop left participants eager for more. One participant suggested hosting a similar event in Twentyfive7, a new township in Kota Kemuning, Selangor. Three attendees from that area were especially enthusiastic about bringing nature journaling to their local community.

Overall, the workshop was a resounding success, with participants expressing a renewed appreciation for the environment and a desire to preserve it for future generations. Thanks to the efforts of Cik Fatin Zafira and the Gamuda Parks team, the workshop provided an opportunity for participants to reconnect with nature and gain valuable insights into their surroundings and themselves.