A Commitment to Safety, Sustainability, and a Greener Future
By Zhang Ning (Year 13), Zen (Year 13) and Ananya (Year 12) - Eco Club Students
Eco Club are currently embarking on a vital project to ensure the safety of our community and the health of our campus trees, all while committing to sustainability and long-term environmental impact. Here’s everything you need to know about this important initiative, why we are cutting down our trees and how we plan to combat this environmental change.
Why is it necessary to cut down these trees?
We love the trees and greenery that bring life to our school, but the eight Khaya Senegalensis trees (commonly known as African Mahogany) near the multi-purpose field have grown to over 30 metres tall, with trunks as wide as 2.5 metres. Unfortunately, their size, close planting, and history of over-pruning have created serious safety concerns.
Some of these trees have bent trunks, partially uprooted roots, and even termite infestations, which have hollowed them out and weakened their structure. This means they pose a risk of falling, especially in strong winds. On top of that, their sprawling roots are damaging the drainage system and putting nearby facilities at risk.
To maintain the safety of our campus, two trees will unfortunately need to be removed this year, but we’re committed to preserving the other six for as long as they are safe. In Eco Club, we have been working together with the leadership team and gardeners, including En. Wan, our plants expert to develop solutions that will help reduce the impact of removing the trees, ensuring our school stays green and safe for everyone while mitigating the negative effects this has on the environment.
The Plan: Safe and Sustainable Management
To address these challenges, we are working with arborists and tree surgeons to implement a safe, phased approach. First, the unstable tree with uprooted roots and a bent trunk will be removed to eliminate the immediate hazard during Easter break. The remaining trees will then be carefully pruned to reduce canopy weight and wind resistance, lowering the risk of breakage. Our amazing gardeners will also have special training from an arborist on how to safely prune trees and treat termite infestations to prevent them from spreading further.
Historically, many trees on our campus have not been native species, which can disrupt local ecosystems and require more maintenance. To address this, and with guidance from our Eco Club teachers and grounds team, we have selected two native species to replace the trees being removed. These species are smaller, non-invasive, and well-suited to our environment. Replanting will begin before removals take place, ensuring the area remains green and giving the new trees time to grow.
Each new tree will also be labelled so the community can track its growth and learn more about the species, helping foster a deeper connection with our environment.
A Commitment to the Future
We’re not stopping at our campus - we’re extending our commitment globally! To offset the environmental impact of this project and go beyond, we’re partnering with the APE (Action for Planet Earth) organisation to plant 10 or more trees in the rainforests of Borneo. This effort ensures our carbon footprint remains net negative, contributing to global reforestation efforts.
By taking these steps, we’re addressing immediate concerns and creating a safer, greener, and more sustainable campus. This long-term project reflects our school’s commitment to balancing safety with environmental responsibility, ensuring that we leave a legacy of stewardship for generations to come.