CREATE (Corridor REstoration for Animals Threatened and Endangered)
APE Malaysia and Kansas City Zoo have been working together on the CREATE project since 2017. As the main funder, Kansas City Zoo enables the project to grow every year.
We started by hiring 2 locals from the community to be a part of the tree-planting squad. We then managed to add another member, expanding the project scope. The CREATE team is responsible to carry out tree planting work, conduct proper maintenance to increase the saplings survivability, monitor the progress of the tree growth and conduct survey on the wildlife present on the reforestation sites. As of February 2021, 13,020 saplings have been planted, covering about 30 acres of riparian area.
The project also receives support from a few other zoos under The Association of Zoos & Aquarium (AZA), USA which includes Henry Vilas Zoo, Audubon Zoo and Como Park Zoo & Conservatory. This project hopes to increase the involvement of the local community in restoring the fragmented forest in this area.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES:
Transforming plots from these:
into a closed canopy.