TreeCare
Past Event
2021-04-22
CarbonCare InnoLab TreeCare Programme x SALEM-Immanuel Lutheran College
Earth Day is an annual event held on 22 April. The theme this year is ‘Restore Our Earth’. In the last year, our environments and societies have suffered from different difficulties and damage, including the Amazon Rainforest wildfires, the Arctic sea ice cover shrinking to the second-lowest extent, coronavirus pandemic, etc. We hope that we can turn over a new leaf in 2021. Apart from the relief works, we should also protect our environment, save energy and reduce carbon emissions.
On that day, CarbonCare InnoLab held a virtual TreeCare Workshop for the students from SALEM-Immanuel Lutheran College in order to inspire them to protect the environment. The activity is divided into two parts. We first introduce the current condition of renewable energy in Hong Kong, taking the Crossroads Foundation’s solar installation as an example. In Hong Kong, renewable energy accounts for only 1% of the total electricity supply. However, there are many potential resources for local renewable energy development. Given that many rooftop and outdoor areas are not fully utilized, together with sufficient sunlight, CarbonCare InnoLab would like to promote the universalization of relatively clean solar energy. Crossroads Foundation is equipped with more than 400 solar panels. It is estimated that their solar system can generate approximately 200,000 units of renewable energy a year, which is equal to the annual energy consumption of 43 households.
The Crossroads Foundation has planted different species of trees. We have selected Fan Palm, Chinese Banyan and Sweet Gum for everyone to know about. Needless to say, the short-nosed fruit bat, one of the mammals, lives in the palm leaves. We can see them in the urban area! The color of the leaves of Sweet Gum will change with the seasons. It will turn orange-red in the fall. Its fruit can be used for medicinal purposes after being dried, which is commonly known as "Lu Lu Tong", which has the effects of dispelling wind, dredging collaterals, and dehumidifying
In the second half of the event, we invited the arborist, Ms. Mak, to share with the participants. They actively raised different questions, such as ‘where would the carbon dioxide be released during deforestation, given that trees are important carbon storages?’ Other students are interested in tree pathology issues. Recalling that they had seen the yellow patches and white pore surface of tree trunks when they went hiking before, they wondered whether arborists would clear these decayed trees. Ms. Mak patiently answered their questions one by one. After the activity, students remarked that being an arborist is interesting and meaningful. Moreover, some students were pleased to meet CarbonCare InnoLab and hoped to further understand our works regarding combating climate change. Apart from recapitulating the working principle of solar power, they learned different features of trees and got an insight into the duties of arborists. A student stated that he would pay more attention to trees on streets, observe their special features and treasure these natural resources.