Nicodemus Wilderness Project -- Global Registry of Apprentice Ecologists

I am so glad to share with all of you about my environmental based project entitled Malaysian Youth Heroes-Brownfield Phytoremediation Project.

I led a team of young and passionate eco-loving youths by supporting a land rehabilitation initiative in which of planting Vetiver seedlings and preparing Vetiver pontoons at the affected site of Taman Beringin Closed Landfill, Jinjang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 5th April 2014.

Brief information about soil pollution in Malaysia:
As many may not realize that nearly all of the Brownfield sites are highly contaminated by trace metals derived from past and present day of transport systems, industries and domestic use. Most people assumed that all types of soils are fertile and safe to be used for planting and cultivation, but conversely without realizing the actual fact hat some parts of the soil contents may be contaminated with various types of pollutants.

The project involves both interactive and hands-on environmental learning experiences which aimed to train young Malaysian youths to understand the basic scientific strategy to clean up (rehabilitate) contaminated Brownfield sites with the aid of sophisticated green technology of phytoremediation by planting Vetiver grass. The training involves introductory to the contaminated soil environment and to engage Malaysian youths to apply potential hyperaccumulator plant (Vetiver grass) onto these affected areas.

The project aims to:
1) To promote the involvement of Malaysian youths in an environmental conservation project of remediation Brownfield (contaminated area) sites throughout the Peninsular of Malaysia and
2) To provide an actual situation and hands-on experience to Malaysian youths by providing a biological friendly solution (phytoremediation) in the contaminated soil area in Malaysia.

Quick facts about Vetiver:
Vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides), is central to a wide range of applications and has scientifically proven to have many side advantages besides able to remediate contaminated land. The Vetiver grass is holistically a beneficial type of plant species which provides significant economic, environmental and social values. Among many of the advantages in applying Vetiver grass includes the prevention and treatment of contaminated water and land soil erosion control agriculture improvement landscaping and much more.