Realizing citizen science action in tree planting with Malaysian school children virtually

Abstract

The pandemic has sped up the adaptation of digitalisation in various sectors, including education via home-based teaching and learning (PdPR), webinars and virtual schools’ competition. There is a lack of digitalization framework in citizen science implementation, particularly in tree planting and monitoring in Malaysia. Therefore, this paper introduces the innovation in promoting citizen science action in tree planting campaigns by using digital platforms among school children in Malaysia at the national level. The provision of training using GeoTrees mobile Geographic Information System (GIS) and forming a support group to assist in technology transfer has demonstrated the possibility of running a large-scale Citizen Science program virtually in Malaysia. GeoTrees monitoring app of planting activity platform encourages Citizen Science program among school children nationwide to participate in tree planting and monitoring activities at their backyard with the supervision by teachers and parents as attending physical tree-planting campaigns were not permissible due to pandemic Covid-19 tight standard operating procedure (SOP). This Citizen Science project aligns with the Malaysia Greening Campaign 2021-2025 to instill awareness across all segments of society on the economic values of trees from a sustainability perspective.