SINGAPORE - On 11 November 2024, Mapletree Investments (“Mapletree” or “the Group”) solidified its pledge to sustainability by planting 300 trees at Kent Ridge Secondary School (“KRSS”), transforming the school into a ‘mini forest’ for the students. 

Of the 300 trees planted, there were close to 50 species, with four of them identified as endangered. This includes the Changi tree, which is native to Singapore. The Changi tree is essential to the ecosystem and provides shelter and food for various animals. Despite its significance, the Changi tree faces threats primarily due to urban development and habitat destruction. The reintroduction of the Changi tree at KRSS seeks to contribute to the continued existence of these endangered species and re-establish vital habitats for local wildlife, further enhanced by the school’s location as a midpoint between two parks – Clementi Woods Park and West Coast Park.

The initiative saw 81 Mapletree employees and 90 KRSS students and teachers plant trees at the back of the school to form a ‘mini forest’, providing a meaningful opportunity for the students to engage in environmental science and sustainability. Through this project, the students are expected to learn about carbon sequestration, oxygen production, wildlife habitat creation and soil enrichment.

Mapletree views the school’s ‘mini forest’ as part of a long-term strategy for sustainability. Over the next 100 years, the forest at KRSS is expected to absorb 4,400 metric tonnes of CO₂ and produce 23,600 metric tonnes of oxygen.

Mr Edmund Cheng, Chairman, Mapletree, said: “We are honoured to reinforce our commitment to sustainability through our work with KRSS. Tree planting is a crucial step towards sustainability, and we are focused on strengthening this aspect through collaborations and initiatives. We thank KRSS for their enthusiasm in supporting our tree planting project and generosity in providing space to create a ‘mini forest’.”

Madam Valerie Goh, Principal, KRSS: “This collaboration with Mapletree provides students with an authentic learning experience in sustainability education. The tree-planting initiative brought ecological benefits to the neighbourhood and enhanced the green spaces, effectively creating a school immersed in nature. Through this project, students learnt how to contribute to the Singapore Green Plan 2030 and live harmoniously with the environment.”

The tree planting initiative is part of Mapletree’s ongoing sustainability efforts to attain net zero by 2050 through carbon emissions reduction measures. In May 2024, Mapletree planted 250 trees together with the staff and students of Singapore University of Technology and Design, while in November 2023, Mapletree collaborated with Temasek Polytechnic and Nanyang Polytechnic to plant a total of 100 trees across both campuses. 

This year, Mapletree has planted more than 500 trees in Singapore, bringing the Group’s total number of trees planted to over 22,000. Mapletree is committed to planting another 10,000 by the end of Financial Year 2024/2025 to reach one-third of its 100,000 trees target by 2030.

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(From left) Mr Edward Kent, founder of Target15.sg; Mr Poh Leong Berg, Vice-Principal, KRSS; Dr Pang Chin Hong, Head of Group Sustainability, Mapletree; Mr Tham Kuo Wei, Regional Chief Executive Officer, Data Centre, Mapletree; Mr Andrew Chong, Lead Independent Director for Mapletree Industrial Trust Management Ltd and Independent Chairman of Mapletree’s MERIT and MUSIC Investor Committees; Mdm Valerie Goh, Principal, KRSS; Ms Melissa Tan, Director, Corporate Communications, Mapletree; Mr Xu Kaibin, Level Head, Science, KRSS; Mr Wan Kwong Weng, Group Chief Corporate Officer, Mapletree.

Students from KRSS planting a tree together with Mdm Valerie Goh, Principal, KRSS; Mr Wan Kwong Weng, Group Chief Corporate Officer, Mapletree and Mr Andrew Chong, Lead Independent Director for Mapletree Industrial Trust Management Ltd and Independent Chairman of Mapletree’s MERIT and MUSIC Investor Committees.

 
Students from KRSS planting a tree together with Mr Wan Kwong Weng, Group Chief Corporate Officer, Mapletree and Dr Pang Chin Hong, Head of Group Sustainability, Mapletree.

 
The tree planting initiative is part of Mapletree’s ongoing sustainability efforts to attain net zero by 2050 through carbon emissions reduction measures.

A total of 81 Mapletree employees and 90 KRSS students and teachers plant trees at the back of the school to form a ‘mini forest’.