BAT: Marist College Canberra and LaValla Students Join Together to Plant Native Cambodian Trees

Almost one year after its launch, the Buy A Tree (BAT) initiative continues to grow from strength to strength. In its first year, the initiative has raised almost AUD $5,000 to support the planting of native trees across the Province. These funds are being used to grow and plant native species in Marist communities, supporting environmental sustainability and conservation efforts.

Today, trees are being planted across the Province, with recent plantings taking place in the Solomon Islands and Cambodia.

At LaValla School in Cambodia, students from Marist College Canberra joined with LaValla students to plant eleven Beng trees, a native Cambodian species that grows in the country’s mountainous regions.

The trees were sourced from a local nursery in Takhmao City, near LaValla School. The planting of Beng trees is a significant conservation effort, as the species has become increasingly limited in Cambodia due to unsustainable harvesting for furniture production.

Through the BAT initiative, the students were able to learn about the importance of protecting native species and the role forests play in supporting biodiversity, providing habitats for animals, offering shade for communities and helping address the impacts of climate change.

The joint planting activity brought together students from both schools and provided an opportunity to deepen their understanding of caring for the environment and recognising forests as an important national resource.

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