Cicada Tree Eco-Place
In 2007, three people decided to create a non-profit organization, the Cicada Tree Eco-Place. The three founders, Vilma D’Rozario, Celine Low, and Teresa Teo-Guttensohn, met while they were in the Nature Society of Singapore. The NSS is also a non-profit group which began in 1940. This group was conducting classes and seminars, and taking people on nature walks, with the goal of expanding peoples’ awareness of the natural heritage of Singapore. Most of what this group did was to provide educational backdrops, with scientists and researchers lecturing and teaching. Which is what Cicada Tree does, however with children. The belief of the founders is that one must overcome their fears, in order to be kind, specifically in the this case, the fear most people have of reptiles, snakes and insects. The first thing a child may be pre -disposed to do when seeing a spider is to… smash it. The group travels around to the schools, and leads the children on nature walks, teaching them about the various species in the animal and insect world as well as discussions on the native plants. In this way, the children lose their fear and gain knowledge. And with knowledge of subjects, most often time comes respect of those subjects.
In the last two years, the three have conducted these outdoor classes on everything from butterflies to carnivorous plants to toads. Joining with the Bukit Timah society, the activities remain educational. Scientists visiting conduct the nature walks. The name is founded through the tree and its roots. Freshwater swamps, at one time, were home to the trees, however, many swamps have been cleared for construction. With a habitat so threatened, this area not only supports classes for children but requires them for adults as well. It has been said that although children watch the ‘nature’ channels that focus on the territory they live, the children know more about the environment in Singapore. Through the classes for children, and the others around the city, this Island with a rain forest running through downtown now stands a chance at rebuilding, not only the luxury Singapore business hotels, but the cafes, the wharfs and the life of the city state and island that is known as the jewel of the Orient.
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