
Heritage of Food and Community
An expression of culture
Food, dance, and art are more than just expressions of culture—they are living traditions that connect us to history, community, and the wisdom of generations before us. Javanese cuisine, with its rich flavors and deep-rooted rituals, tells stories of the land and its people. From the slow-cooked sweetness of gudeg to the crispy tempeh, every bite carries the essence of tradition. The cultural movement extends beyond just cuisine. The mesmerizing movements of the dance captures the spirit of Javanese storytelling, while intricate batik patterns weave symbols of nature and philosophy into fabric. These art forms, like traditional food, are treasures that preserve identity and history. By immersing ourselves in a place through taste, movement, and artistry, we partake in the conservation of cultural wisdom—keeping these traditions alive and thriving.

Action is the key to all success
Green lungs of Java
Trekking through the green lungs of Central Java, we witnessed the beauty of a landscape filled with coffee plants dotted with a variety of tall trees providing shade for the coffee, shelter for the birds, corridors for the langurs and habitats for the bees. We were led by community guides from the village, showing us, their exceptional skills moving through the trails with ease and showing us their favourite lookout points. Our hearts were filled with warmth, as we saw how the community works for the greater good of the landscape. Protecting core habitats, enabling and assisting research to take place so that wildlife can thrive. We are happy to report that through our partnership with the Javan Wildlife Institute, our program, Wild Java, supports the community guide project, and the eco-tourism model that provides an alternative source of income for the villagers in Kemuning. As our programme develops, we are looking to implement more initiatives to support the biodiverse region through bird nesting boxes to reforestation of native plant species. If you are looking to contribute to positive conservation programs, and in the words of Pablo Picasso, “Action is the key to all success” – then now is the time to act.

Our year in gratitude
A year of milestones and impact🌍✨
As we look back on 2024, we’re filled with gratitude and pride for the strides we’ve made in driving conservation and community connection: 💚 $2,500 donated to our incredible conservation partners, supporting their vital work to protect our planet. 🎥 Launched 47 programs including 11 wild conversations, 10 satellite screenings, and the inaugural Earth in Focus Singapore Nature Film Festival – using storytelling and shared experiences to inspire action for nature. 🌏 Reached over 5,000 people globally – from children to adults, across diverse communities, including impactful collaborations with indigenous groups. Every moment this year has reinforced the importance of coming together to protect what we love. From sparking conversations to taking tangible action, none of this would be possible without your support. Here’s to 2025 and continuing the journey toward a thriving planet for all.

Hope & Harmony
Photo by Ian Mun, The Roving Studio
Conversation between Dr Jane Goodall and Dr Sylvia Earle
It was an enlightening weekend joining the heroes of women in conservation, Dr Jane Goodall and Dr Sylvia Earle. They have been championing the causes of our planet from land to sea for their entire professional lives, and it is incredible to witness the steely mettle of these nonagenarians. Indeed we have been pillaging our planet unsustainably such that our demands far exceed our earth's capacity to supply us with what we need. We often forget how our economies, livelihoods and well-being depend on nature, our most precious asset. These ladies however did not leave us in despair but left us with a glimmer of hope and harmony. While the problem lies with us, so does the solution. We need to start changing the way we think, act and measure economic success in this world - and that our economies are an intrinsic part of nature and not separate from it. We owe it to the current and future generations to do justice by them!

COP16 CBD COP29 UNFCC
Two Sides of the Same Coin
Climate and biodiversity are inherently linked. While climate’s influence on the distribution of biodiversity and on species adaptation is more apparent, biodiversity plays important roles in making healthy ecosystems that sequester carbon and cycle nutrients. Combating climate change and biodiversity loss at the same time, in the same urgency, is therefore crucial for both Conferences of Parties. Actions for climate should have positive outcomes for biodiversity. And protecting biodiversity should lead to ecosystem integrity, which sets the context for sustaining the functions and processes that mitigate climate. While finance is a hot topic at COP29, the financing for both climate and biodiversity still falls short to meet global climate and biodiversity goals, especially in developing countries. For example, the Loss and Damage Fund that was established during COP28 has a limited pool of pledges to compensate for irreparable losses and damages in low and middle-income nations. With transboundary climate risks and the disproportionate impacts experienced by developing countries, financing commitments are now likened more as pending payments for unequal resource use and climate impacts. Financing and resource mobilization is not only urgent but a responsibility. As the parties enter into a bleak second week of COP29 in Azerbaijan, quoting UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, Simon Stiell, "We can't lose sight of the forest because we are tussling over individual trees." Overall, what is needed to ensure genuine progress in our climate and biodiversity goals are: transparency, transparency, and accountability. There will be many proposals for action and the global community must ensure that these will truly have real environmental benefits in the long-run.