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Dr. Gretchen Coffman

National University of Singapore
Department of Geography
1 Arts Link, #03-01 Block AS2, Singapore 117570

email: geogcc@nus.edu.sg

Twitter: @GenRestoreSG

View our adventures on Instagram

generationrestorationsg

Restoration and Conservation

🌾 Farms, Flows & Fertilisers 🌿 One of many i

🌾 Farms, Flows & Fertilisers 🌿
One of many incredible student-led research projects during our NUS Geography field course in Northern Thailand!

This group of 10 chose to investigate how irrigation and fertiliser practices shape water quality along the Mae Tang Min River—collecting data across rice paddies, cornfields, longan orchards, and even a forest stream. 💧🌽🍈🌳

Armed with pH meters, drones, GPS, and 360° cameras, they built a compelling case for how agriculture alters soil and water chemistry—while learning to communicate science through maps, infographics, and film. 🎥🛰️

They were just one of several student teams! Other groups explored ethnic cultures, religion, and agricultural shifts to tea and coffee in the Golden Triangle, among many other themes. 🛕☕🌱

Northern Thailand became our classroom. Curiosity was our guide.
#NUSGeography #FieldStudies #MaeTangMinRiver #GenerationRestoration #GeographyFieldwork #StudentResearch #DroneDeploy #360filmmaking #ScienceCommunication #ThailandFieldCourse #SustainableFarming #GoldenTriangle #GeoSkills #RiceToRivers #ConservationTech

🌿🪸 From Roots to Reefs 🌊🐠 Columbia Uni

🌿🪸 From Roots to Reefs 🌊🐠
Columbia University graduate students in the Sustainability Science MS Program are diving deep into tropical coastal ecosystems in the Caribbean's Little Cayman Island, exploring coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and mangrove forests 🌴🐟🌾 Join us on our adventure exploring these coastal ecosystems and learning about their restoration and resilience over the next week. We will:

🔹 Fly over reef-fringed shores and vibrant lagoons
🔹 Snorkel among coral reefs, seagrass meadows, and mangrove forests
🔹 Discover coastal wildlife - sharks, sea turtles, star fish, lobsters, colorful reef fish, our favorite beach hermit crabs and critically endangered Rock Iguanas
🔹 Explore amazing wildlife underwater and in our terrestrial ecosystems
🔹 Analyze ecosystem services, resilience, and connectivity across habitats

Through fieldwork, restoration science, and policy discussions at the Central Caribbean Marine Institute, graduate students are learning to assess ecological linkages, apply field methods, and appreciate the value of conservation through Marine Protected Areas 🧪🌍

From mangrove roots to reef crests, these ecosystems protect coastlines, support biodiversity, and offer nature-based solutions to the climate crisis. 🌎💙

#RootsToReefs #CaymanIslands #ColumbiaUniversity #columbia_susci #columbiasuma #TropicalEcology #CoralReefs #Seagrass #Mangroves #ClimateResilience #EcosystemServices #FieldCourse #MarineProtectedAreas #GenerationRestoration #OceanConservation

🌊 Happy World Oceans Day! 💙 From mangroves

🌊 Happy World Oceans Day! 💙

From mangroves in Thailand 🇹🇭 working with Ranong UNESCO research team and in Lombok 🇮🇩 with @sorce_org,
to seagrass meadows in Singapore with NParks and SLA 🇸🇬,
to coral reefs and turtles in Sabah Borneo with @tracc & coral Restoration in Bali with @livingseas.asia! 🐢🐠🌱

Every coral 🪸 and tree 🌱 planted and protected in these conservation areas counts!

Let’s protect the blue heart of our planet 🌍💧

#WorldOceansDay #Malaysia #Indonesia #thailand #generationrestoration #conservation #insidenatgeo

🌊 Restoring Reefs, One Coral at a Time! 🪸 T

🌊 Restoring Reefs, One Coral at a Time! 🪸

The TreLab teamed up with Livingseas Foundation to working on Coral Reef Restoration Research!

📍 Mapping coral reef restoration using Drone Deploy.
🌟 Planting coral on stars and nurseries to build the artificial reef restoration!
📽️ Filming the incredible work of the Livingseas Team!
🤿 Diving and snorkeling with our conservation friends.

#CoralReefRestoration #LivingseasFoundation #OceanConservation #conservation #generationrestorationsg #insidenatgeo

What does sustainable dining really look like in S

What does sustainable dining really look like in Singapore? 🌱🍽️ Here's a glimpse — from farm, to table, to the classroom.

At Green Loop Farms 🪴, founder Jason Tan introduced their innovative urban farming space and shared future plans for sustainability education 📚💡.

The TRE Lab team gathered at FURA 🏙️ to celebrate the end of the semester 🎉. Chef Christina crafted a unique dining experience, featuring microgreens 🌿 from Green Loop Farms, edible insects 🐜, mushrooms 🍄, underutilized vegetables 🥬, and even invasive species 🪼. Tasting the invasive jellyfish ceviche was a highlight — a bold step toward sustainable pescatarianism in Singapore 🐟♻️.

In the classroom 🏫, Yuki Ong and Jason Tan gave an insightful presentation of Green Loop Farms’ sustainability journey with our Geographical Journeys class — a compelling example of innovation in urban food systems 🌆🌍.

#GreenLoopFarms #microgreens #FURA #UrbanSustainability #GeographicalJourneys #nus #nusbes #nusgeography #singapore #generationrestoration

Exploring sustainability in action! 🌍💧 Our G

Exploring sustainability in action! 🌍💧 Our Geographical Journeys class toured Marina Barrage & the Sustainable Singapore Gallery with PUB, diving into the #SingaporeWaterStory and the nation's green initiatives. From climate resilience to a City in Nature, we even took a virtual bike ride into a car-light future! 🚲✨

#conservation #sustainability #generationrestorationsg #ClimateAction #GeographicalJourneys #singapore #nus

🌱🌊 From Roots to Reefs—Connecting Green to

🌱🌊 From Roots to Reefs—Connecting Green to Blue! 🌿🐠

This #WorldWildlifeDay, the Tropical Restoration Ecology Lab is celebrating the incredible biodiversity that thrives in the interconnected ecosystems of rivers, mangroves, seagrass meadows, and coral reefs. From playful otters in Singapore’s waterways to sea turtles gliding through seagrass meadows, from hidden mangrove snakes to tiny frogs spotted on our night hikes in Sabah, Borneo, every species plays a crucial role in maintaining the delicate balance of our planet. 🌎✨

The 2025 theme, “Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet,” highlights the urgent need to support conservation efforts that protect wildlife while empowering local communities. Blue Carbon finance is a key part of this solution—by investing in the protection and restoration of mangroves, seagrass meadows, and coastal ecosystems, we can enhance carbon sequestration, safeguard biodiversity, and build climate resilience for both people and nature. 🌍💙

By restoring ecosystems and strengthening the connections between land and sea, we invest in a future where nature and people thrive together. 🌏💚

Note: All photos and video taken by TRE Lab team

🔗 Learn more about our work: www.thetrelab.org
🔗 World Wildlife Day 2025: www.wildlifeday.org

#RootsToReefs #ConnectingGreenToBlue #TropicalRestorationEcologyLab #GenerationRestoration #WWD2025 #Otters #SeaTurtles #FrogsOfBorneo #Mangroves #Seagrass #CoralReefs #Biodiversity #BlueCarbon #ConservationFinance #NatureBasedSolutions #InsideNatGeo

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