I am Vincen, a forest ecologist / dendrologist and Life Scientist by training. These are my visions (and also my ikigai) on how we may utilize our understanding of Nature 道法自然 for faster forest and health restoration, and ultimately for the betterment of the planet and its people.
FastRForest: Accelerate forest restoration through innovative integrative practices.
Having seen millions of trees & mapped thousands of plant species around the Sundaland, I’m keen to apply my ecological knowledge on the planting of trees, and ultimately contributing to a faster regeneration of forests in the region (especially the unique Dipterocarp forests). Backed by experience learnt from & inspired by various forest restoration/ agroecology people/ programs like Mark Ashton, Robin Chazdon, Akira Miyawaki, Bill Mollison, David Holmgren, Geoff Lawton, Ernst Götsch, ELTI, FORRU, RECOFTC, TRCRC, and also many failed examples (especially when the KPI is only the number of trees planted), I hope to help device the best & optimal strategy to restore forest faster.
In a world grappling with climate change and biodiversity loss, my mission is to empower individuals and communities to restore forest ecosystems through a holistic approach mimicking natural processes, which I call “FastRForest” (reads FasterForest or FastReforest, whichever rhymes better with you). This program combines the principles of agroecology (e.g. regenerative agriculture, agroforestry, syntropic farming, permaculture), Miyawaki method, and more in restoring synergy in forest community. Together, these practices not only try to regrow canopy cover but also enhance/ restore soil health, increase biodiversity, and create sustainable livelihoods.
Microbes Maketh Mist: did you know that the most direct impact of forest on local climate, is that leaf-dwelling microorganisms like bacteria and fungi help form cloud and seed rain? On the other hand, carbon flux (emissions & sequestration) in forests is highly variable and its impact on climate regulation is still inconclusive and require more studies.Microbes Maketh Man: did you know that the word “humanus”, a combination of “homo” (man) and “humus” (soil/ earth), is thought to be the origin of the word “human”? No surprise that without healthy soil (made only possible by subterranean & root-dwelling microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, yeasts, algae, etc.), there may be no healthy vegetation, and ultimately humanity. Also, carbon storage underground (in the soil of healthy forests) may be much higher than live trees aboveground, and might play a bigger role in climate regulation. Yes we still have hope on planet Earth, and no I’m not signing up for Mars (even though my botanical knowledge might help me survive better there, like Mark in The Martian).Plant a FOREST, not a TREE: too many restoration projects focus on only tree-planting and incorporate industrial agricultural methods in doing so. More often than not, we see high mortality rate, low biodiversity, and slow recovery of ecosystem services. It is important to first focus on soil health as the FOUNDATION of healthy FOREST.
Food Forest for Restoration: not only we may plant food-plants for wildlife & soil, we may also plant food-plants for ourselves while restoring forest. Many principles from Syntropic AgroForestry (SAF) mimic natural processes in the forests and are extremely useful for this purpose.
Syntropic for Synergy: On the left you see a syntropic food forest with not only human foods (banana, papaya, durian, and Mombasa grass to feed both soil & animals) but also help conserves some primary forest emergent like the rare/ threatened/ endangered (RTE) Dipterocarps. On the right you see the synergy of Merbau (Malaysia’s National Tree, a primary forest emergent), Moringa (a “superfood”), and Mexican sunflowers (non-native & unthinkable in conventional reforestation). This symbiosis not only stimulate plant growth, but also feed the soil with diverse organic matters (just like eating diverse prebiotics helps us cultivate a diverse gut microbiome).Biodiversity FTW: access to thousands of species from commercial nurseries and community-raised micro-nurseries around Malaysia + ecological knowledge of what tree species should grow where & with what = winning formula for FastRForest.Strength in special species: chat with me on what tree species I have in my personal micro-nurseries in Johor and Sabah. Not only I have some RTE species, but also some culturally-significant ones, good enough to help set up an educational arboretum/ botanical garden. Other than my communities, I’ve also been helping to recruit suitable saplings for Arubay Eco-Resort, Rewild Desaru, Free Tree Society KL, etc.Fire gives life: in this case, utilizing charwoodHügelkultur to super-charge organic matters to poor clay soil. In fact, Terra preta in Amazon is a classic example of how (once thought destructive) human activities (like slash-and-burn agriculture) create and maintain fertile soil for millennia.Create an Instant Forest (can also be Insta-worthy) if you have the budget: using some technology to help enhance soil (with agricultural waste/ biomass), and planting a dense Miyawaki forest using big saplings or even mature trees from forest nurseries (like this James Kingham’s legacy, which is slated for development, soon).Fast & Furious, or Slow & Steady, I’m determined to apply proper monitoring of flora & fauna (not only tree growth) in all my reforestation programs. Protocols like those outlined in The Global Biodiversity Standard and The HCV Network will be adopted to ensure proper restoration of biodiversity and ecosystem services.Big budget or not, reforestation (or simply restoring soil) can be a fun & educational CSR program, and brings meaningful & impactful ESG values to your organisations. Write in & discuss how we may work together in creating a food forest, botanical garden, arboretum, tree sanctuary, or nature park as a mean of reforestation.
FastInForest: holistic health through better understanding of (and working with) Nature
Last but not least, having fixed myself of various chronic health issues (like IBS, allergies, depression, etc.), recovering from various musculoskeletal injuries (occupational hazard of forest work), and living with tumors, I’m also keen to help people with lifestyle change to achieve holistic health improvement/ management. Using experience and knowledge learnt in various online courses (gut health, fasting, fermentation, anti-inflammatory lifestyle, yoga, meditation, shinrin-yoku, etc.), and of course, backed by basic Life Sciences from my first degree.
Fasting, (the right) Fat, (whole) Food, Fermentation, Fungi, Forest (Shinrin), Fisical movement (exercise), Sunlight, Sleep: let me share with you why these favourite F&S words are essential (and almost FREE) for our health, and how we may utilize them in contemporary context to optimize our health.
Ready to embark on your restorative journey? Chat with me today to learn more about my ikigai, and let’s work together to revive ecosystems and build a sustainable future for the planet & its people!
(All text by Vincen, and photos by Vincen & friends, unless otherwise stated. All rights reserved.)
