Are Our Heritage Trees Actually Non-Native? with Dr. Shawn Lum

Scattered across Singapore are 255 registered Heritage Trees—remarkable for their majesty, cultural value, and the histories these green landmarks are rooted in. While some are native, many aren’t. So how did our heritage trees end up here, and what makes them worth conserving? In this episode, tropical forest ecologist Dr. Shawn Lum walks us through the hidden world of our heritage trees, the work that goes into conserving them, and why they matter more than we might think.Episode Highlights• The meaning behind Heritage Tree status - how trees earn this prestigious designation through their botanical value and cultural significance• The extensive work that goes into conserving our natural heritage, from expert arborist inspections to lightning protection installation• The journey of Singapore's most common Heritage Tree species, the Rain Tree, from South America to Southeast Asia • Discovering century-old majestic trees in the Changi area that still stand as living witnesses to Singapore's changing landscape• How everyday citizens can contribute to forest conservation, from nominating potential Heritage Trees to participating in the One Million Trees movementTimestamps 00:00 Intro00:59 Definition and Criteria for Heritage Trees02:29 Nomination Process for Heritage Trees04:27 Non-Native Species and Globalisation07:34 Maintenance of Heritage Trees10:44 Dr. Lum’s Favourite Heritage Trees13:44 What You Can Do to Help Our Forests15:14 OutroGuest Bio: Dr. Shawn Lum joined the NTU Asian School of the Environment in January 2016 after spending more than twenty years as a Lecturer at the National Institute of Education. He joined NIE upon completion of his PhD at the University of California, Berkeley. Shawn is a product of islands - he was born in Tokyo, raised in Honolulu, and has spent his working career in Singapore. Shawn's teaching has centered upon plant diversity, forest ecology, and conservation. In addition to his teaching and academic work, he works closely with local environment and nature-related agencies and is also active in nature conservation NGOs and civil society. [From NTU]Read the full transcript and show notes at https://voiddeck.science.edu.sg/s2e4-ecology