The president of Free Tree Society certainly lives by her green philosophy
"I was born in Sabah so my love for nature is in the blood," says Baida Hercus, who set up the Free Tree Society nine years ago to build a healthier and greener Malaysia. In her role as president of the non-profit organisation, she has received an award from Dr Jane Goodall and worked with Greenpeace and Arbor Day Foundation as well as industry-leading brands such as The Body Shop.
"As a child, it was a goal to work with these iconic institutions but it's really the little experiences that keep me going day-to-day—from seeing my team get excited about our progress in reforestation to receiving thanks from people we have worked with and those we are guiding towards a more sustainable journey," she adds. Currently, she is focused on changing community values through education and empowering them to take collective action against climate change, rampant pollution and biodiversity loss.
With the country still under lockdown, her efforts under Free Tree Society have been moved online, delivering virtual talks and workshops. "Did you know that globally, the loss of primary rainforests* has gone up 12 per cent despite the pandemic, and Malaysia has one of highest rates of deforestation in the world. This is bad news for us, which is why we need to make a change!"
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*Data from University of Maryland, published by the World Resource Institute (WRI)
Free Tree Society educates the public on environmental stewardship and environmental awareness, waste management, gardening and biodiversity. How do you implement any of these activities in your personal life?
I fulfilled a lifelong dream when I bought a hobby farm, called Plateau Farm, and created an off-the-grid, zero-waste, sustainable utopia for my family to live as close to nature as possible with free-range animals and organic produce.
Some days, I have neurotic goats or chickens demanding cuddles and treats inside my house and on others, I have a bounty of homegrown coffee beans roasting in a pan.
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What else do you do in your personal life that helps the environment?
Free counselling for friends and family! Everyone is into gardening today and people have questions about how to compost, where to buy the best soil, and so on. My phone is constantly buzzing from such queries. I’m also into re-wilding—planting native species to actively help our Malaysian animals. I’ve been rewarded with many different types of butterflies and birds visiting during lockdown. They are a joy to observe.
Related: Baida Hercus Shares 7 Handy Tips To Grow Your Green Thumb
