Concerns over impact of coastal barriers will be looked into

Project off Kranji and Poyan reservoirs was reviewed for environmental concerns: URA
NEO CHAI CHIN Today Online 3 Dec 14;

SINGAPORE — With 40 per cent of Singapore’s 197km coastline to be barricaded in the coming years to beef up security, the authorities have reiterated that further studies will be conducted if there is a need to better understand the barriers’ impact on the surroundings — especially if they are near sensitive areas such as nature reserves or marine and coastal areas.

Questions on the impact of barriers being built off the Kranji and Poyan reservoirs were raised recently on the Wild Shores of Singapore blog, run by nature enthusiast Ria Tan.

The Kranji and Poyan barriers are not part of the additional 80km announced by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean in October. Work on the barriers near the reservoirs started in August and will be completed in January 2016, a police spokesperson said.

The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and four other government agencies had reviewed the proposal for any potential environmental concerns, a URA spokesperson told TODAY. The Singapore Police Force is to do environmental monitoring and put in place mitigating measures such as silt control during construction.

The police were required to conduct an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the Kranji barriers, but not for the Poyan ones.

“As the coastline next to Poyan Reservoir consisted mainly of seawalls, approval was given for the installation of sea-based barriers, on condition that the physical structures would not impede the movement of water-based plants and animals, and that the sediment plumes ... be kept to a minimum during construction,” said Dr Lena Chan, director of the National Parks Board’s National Biodiversity Centre.

The EIA for the Kranji barriers was to ascertain the potential impact on existing biodiversity areas and aquaculture facilities nearby, said the URA.

Mitigation measures for the Kranji stretch included building the fences on land to minimise disturbance to the inter-tidal environments.

The Kranji-Mandai area is home to some rare and endangered mangrove plants. Dr Hsu Chia Chi, who started the Nature Society (Singapore)’s horseshoe crab research and rescue programme, said the mangroves also have one of the highest published densities of Mangrove horseshoe crabs.

Speaking in his personal capacity, Dr Hsu said he found out in September 2012 about the barriers to be built in the Kranji-Mandai area. The society’s Marine Conservation Group asked the Police Coast Guard for more information about the project and offered to provide data about the area’s flora and fauna if needed.

It was most important for the mangroves and mudflats not to be impacted by the siting of the fences. “If the barriers are done properly and access is allowed to people who use (the area) responsibly, the fences may not be a bad thing. Now, when it’s wide open, you do find abandoned nets, which trap horseshoe crabs,” said Dr Hsu.

If the horseshoe crab population is decimated, migratory birds would be deprived of their eggs and young to feed on, he added.

Wild Shores of Singapore’s Ms Tan agreed that it is important for responsible users to continue to have access to the mangroves and mudflats, but felt the fences “probably will not keep out people who abuse (the) shores”.

It would be ideal for the Kranji barriers to have low openings at intervals to allow crawling or slithering creatures to move between both sides of the fence, and for biodiversity studies to be done before and after barriers are built, said Dr Hsu.

Related links
Mandai and Kranji mangroves to be fenced on wild shores of singapore blog

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Calls to save Mandai site that's rich in biodiversity

Researchers highlight its 'full ecosystem' where mangroves, horseshoe crabs thrive
Grace Chua, Straits Times, 7 Oct 13;


Researchers N. Sivasothi (left) and Dan Friess at the Mandai mangrove site, which has been zoned as a reserve site - which means it could be subject to future development. Some feel the area needs formal management to conserve it. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO

THE strip of mangroves and mudflats at the edge of the Sungei Mandai Besar river may not be as well-known here as the ones at Sungei Buloh or Pasir Ris Park. But it is home to the largest horseshoe-crab concentration in the world, and two-thirds of Singapore's mangrove species.

Migratory birds also use it as a feeding ground to supplement the food they find from the shores of Sungei Buloh. As birdwatcher Alan Owyong noted: "Without Mandai, there's no Sungei Buloh."

These were among the findings presented by researchers, students and amateur naturalists at a recent conference, the first to focus on the Mandai mangrove, leading to calls to protect the area.

This habitat contains a full ecosystem in a sliver of land, said National University of Singapore (NUS) biology lecturer N. Sivasothi, one of the conference organisers.

At 15.4ha, it may be larger than mangrove strips in Pasir Ris or Labrador, but much smaller than the 100ha of Sungei Buloh, said Mr Sivasothi, who has been studying the site since 1987 and teaching students there.

The mangroves consist of a strip of coast beyond what used to be the Keretapi Tanah Melayu railway, which was cleared in 2011 after a landmark deal with Malaysia.

The studies presented at the conference in August and held at NUS ranged from how wildlife there live to the way mangroves act as sponges for chemical pollution.

Nature Society outreach officer Kerry Pereira described how mangrove horseshoe crabs breed year-round at the mudflat near Kranji, while a National Parks Board staff member listed the snails, crabs and other creatures found only in Mandai during the five-year, ongoing Comprehensive Marine Biodiversity Survey of marine life here.

Mr Owyong pointed out that whimbrels, plovers and other shorebirds move between Sungei Buloh's mudflats and Mandai's, near Kranji.

The site, however, lacks legal protection. The Government has zoned it as a reserve site, which means it could be subject to future development. But there are those who believe that the area needs formal management to conserve it.

Mandai faces several threats, said NUS geographer Dan Friess, including pollution from upstream and offshore and erosion by currents and ship wakes.

And the damming of Kranji reservoir nearby means less sediment is being deposited at the site.

There are gaps in tree cover there, and spots where mangrove trees have toppled as their roots lack support.

So is it worth protecting?

"In Singapore, we have very few places that are left over from wild forests," Mr Sivasothi said. "In Mandai, we have something unique - this remnant of nature which is a fragment to be enhanced."

caiwj@sph.com.sg



See also: Mandai Mangrove & Mudflat Workshop on Storify


All's not lost, mangroves are getting help
Grace Chua, Straits Times, 7 Oct 13;

SINGAPORE'S mangrove area may have dwindled to less than 1 per cent of its total land area due to development and the damming of natural rivers - a practice which lasted till the early 2000s.

But not all of the mangrove patches here have been lost.

Three decades ago, when Pasir Ris Park was reclaimed from a patch of natural swamp, Sungei Api Api had to be deepened and the mangroves on its banks removed. But the authorities later replanted Avicennia mangroves along Sungei Api Api to stabilise the embankment.

And last year, the National Parks Board (NParks) announced it would carry out a two-year biodiversity study of the 6ha Pasir Ris mangroves.

Earlier this year, the Housing Board announced that the Punggol Waterway, where a pilot 160 sq m patch of freshwater-tolerant mangroves was tested, will get 0.6ha more of such plantings.

The HDB's Building Research Institute and Ngee Ann Polytechnic are studying how effective the mangroves and floating wetlands there are at cleaning the water and attracting more wildlife to the waterway.

Even the mangroves along a 3km stretch of coast in Pulau Tekong, which were at risk from erosion, got help. In 2010, NParks embarked on a project to stabilise the coastline by shoring it up with rocks and mud-filled sacks, and putting in mangrove seedlings and bakau wood poles to soften the impact of waves.

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Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve to undergo expansion

Valarie Tan, Channel NewsAsia 6 Dec 08;

SINGAPORE: One of Singapore's largest wetland reserves is set to undergo a revamp in the next five years.

A draft masterplan was launched on Saturday to expand the 130-hectare Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. There will also be rooms for nature experts to conduct research.

Shutterbugs and nature lovers often hang out at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve in northern Singapore.

So do 220 species of birds, including rare ones like the Nordmann's Greenshank, which breeds in Siberia, and migratory shorebirds which use the reserve as a stopover.

The Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve celebrated its 15th anniversary on Saturday by launching the grand expansion plan.

"We should not let the crisis take the wind out of our celebration.....This draft masterplan will ensure that the core of the nature reserve is conserved for its biodiversity values, while the fringes are enhanced for nature learning and recreation," said Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.

The plan is to link the current reserve to at least three other mangroves, reservoirs and marshes in the nearby Lim Chu Kang and Kranji areas.

It will also be broken up into different zones to cater to different visitors, such as a wetland playground for children and restricted areas for researchers only.

NParks says the cost of the project will depend on the finalised masterplan, which is expected to be ready by the end of 2009.

Construction will start a year later and is expected to be completed by early 2013.

Sungei Buloh Nature Reserve is Singapore's first ASEAN Heritage Park.

Since 1998, the nature reserve has welcomed some 100,000 local and overseas visitors each year.

- CNA/ir

Sungei Buloh to create more buzz
SM unveils masterplan for reserve that brings back fond memories
Gracia Chiang, Straits Times 7 Dec 08;

As a boy, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong would wade in the muddy ponds of Sungei Buloh, trying to catch prawns with his bare hands or with a scoop.

His relative operated one of the prawn farms in the area which have since made way for the 130ha Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. 'It was all very exciting, especially eating steamed prawns and prawn fritters for dinner,' he recalled.

He was speaking yesterday at the reserve's 15th-anniversary celebrations, where he also unveiled new proposals for the area, which is home to mangroves, migratory shorebirds and wildlife such as mudskippers.

The draft masterplan will see the reserve being divided into four zones. In those designated as medium to high activity, facilities such as floating boardwalks, outdoor classrooms and a children's play area will be built.

Access to the other two zones will be kept minimal, possibly requiring the accompaniment of certified nature guides or limited only to researchers.

There are plans, too, to 'integrate the surrounding areas so that visitors will be able to enjoy the facilities right from the Kranji area to Sungei Buloh', said Mr Wong Tuan Wah, director of conservation at the National Parks Board, which runs the reserve.

A footpath access from Kranji Dam will be enhanced with amenities such as shelters, allowing visitors to use an alternative entry point instead of the main one at Neo Tiew Crescent.

To strengthen the park's educational efforts, the visitor centre will be upgraded to include a new lookout tower for birdwatchers, meeting rooms and dormitory-style accommodation for research groups.

Mr Wong said some research requires overnight work, while other researchers could stay the night to prepare for early activities the following day.

A working group, with members from the Nature Society, Singapore Environment Council and national water agency PUB among others, is finalising the concept plan, which should be ready in a year's time.

Construction work is expected to start in 2010 and end by 2013.

There are no cost estimates yet and the park hopes to double the number of visitors to 200,000 a year with the new masterplan.

The park is open from 7.30am to 7pm on weekdays and 7am to 7pm on Sundays and public holidays. Admission is free except on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays and school holidays when adults pay $1, and kids, students and seniors 50 cents.

Visitors from Kranji MRT Station can take SMRT bus service 925 and alight at Kranji Reservoir carpark to take a 15-minute walk to the reserve. The bus stops at the reserve's entrance on Sundays and public holidays.

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve celebrates 15 years of wetland conservation - New proposals under Draft Sungei Buloh Master Plan unveiled
NPark sMedia Release 6 Nov 08;

Singapore, 6 December 2008 - Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve celebrated its 15th anniversary today, with new proposals under the Draft Sungei Buloh Master Plan to transform it into a distinctive centre for wetland conservation and education.

Senior Minister Mr Goh Chok Tong, who officially opened the wetland reserve 15 years ago, was the Guest of Honour and delivered a speech at the reserve's 15th anniversary celebration today. Mr Mah Bow Tan, Minister for National Development was also at the event to celebrate the occasion with volunteers, corporate sponsors and other partners of the wetland reserve.

As a site along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway for migratory shorebirds and an ASEAN Heritage Park, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is a unique asset for conservation, education and recreation in a land-scarce city state like Singapore. The National Parks Board (NParks), together with key stakeholders and partners, has conceptualised the Draft Sungei Buloh Master Plan to strengthen the conservation of its biodiversity, while allowing more visitors to experience the wonders of a wetland habitat.

The Draft Master Plan is designed for sustainability - the core of the nature reserve will be managed for its conservation values while the fringes will be enhanced for recreational use. A working group, comprising representatives from Nature Society Singapore, the Singapore Environment Council, National University of Singapore, National Institute of Education, PUB, Ministry of Education and Sungei Buloh volunteers, has been set up to work on the detailed plan for Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, from concept to design, and to its implementation.

Elaborating on the community's involvement in the growth of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve for the past 15 years, Mr Ng Lang, Chief Executive Officer, NParks, said: "It is the strong community ownership that has made Sungei Buloh what it is today. From its humble beginnings as an area of abandoned prawn ponds, it is now a thriving wetland, home to a rich variety of biodiversity and over 220 species of birds. Sungei Buloh was born out of collaboration with the community. We will continue to engage the community in the development of the Master Plan." Key Thrusts of Draft Sungei Buloh Master Plan

One of the key thrusts of the Draft Sungei Buloh Master Plan is to link up pockets of nature around Sungei Buloh, such as Lim Chu Kang mangroves, Kranji Reservoir Park and Kranji Marshes. Habitats for the various species of native wildlife along this belt will be enhanced, in collaboration with other government agencies. By forming a corridor of complementary habitats and biodiversity, this provides the opportunity to plan for mangrove and wildlife conservation more strategically.

At the same time, areas such as the Kranji Nature Trail have been identified where recreational activities can be carried out with new and improved facilities, without impacting on the core conservation areas in Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.

Currently, visitors to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve are able to access most parts of the wetland. To balance visitorship and human impact on the rich biodiversity of the reserve, the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve will be zoned into four activity areas, with programmes to cater to different groups of visitors, from beginners all the way to the expert level. This facilitates experiential and lifelong learning and to encourage repeat visits to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.

The four activity zones are:

Zone 1 (High Activity Zone) - This area at Kranji Nature Trail and the Visitor Centre provides visitors with an interactive first-hand encounter with mangrove and coastal habitats. It is meant to target visitors in groups. Proposed new facilities for this zone include a wetland-themed play area for children, a floating boardwalk to provide a closer experience with mangroves, shelters and platforms with exhibits to promote a deeper appreciation for nature.

Zone 2 (Medium Activity Zone) - Located at the coastal front of the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, visitors to this zone will have a more exploratory and sensory experience. New proposed facilities include revamped outdoor classrooms and hides for a more indepth study about mangroves and the various species of flora and fauna.

Zone 3 (Low Activity Zone) - This is a low intensity zone, with minimal interventions to conserve its natural environment and serenity. Future access to this area could require the accompaniment of certified nature guides.

Zone 4 (Very Low Activity Zone) - It is a restricted zone, retaining the core of the wetland reserve for conservation and research purposes.

Proposed New Facilities for the Local and International Community

The working group will also look into the following new facilities to make the wetland experience a more memorable one for both the local and international community:

In line with the Draft Master Plan's objectives to support educational outreach, the exhibition area at the Visitor Centre will showcase broader nature conservation and environmental messages. It will also incorporate a new lookout tower to provide bird-watchers a panoramic view of the surroundings and to better observe birds in flight.

Facilities for meetings are in the pipeline to cater to local and regional workshops on biodiversity conservation, as well as corporate events and retreats.

The educational value of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve to the international community will be enhanced, with new facilities for nature experts and researchers such as workrooms and guest accommodation, to facilitate scientific studies to be carried out in the reserve.

The working group will be finalising the concept plan for Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. Construction works are expected to start in late 2010 and complete by early 2013.

Sungei Buloh's 15th Anniversary Celebrations - 6 and 7 December 2008

As part of the 15th anniversary celebrations, NParks has organised a series of fun and educational activities with our corporate partners - HSBC, Nature Society Singapore, Toshiba Group, Underworld Singapore, Yahoo and Sungei Buloh volunteers.

An Amazing Mangrove Adventure was specially organised together with HSBC, a long-standing partner of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. Designed for family participation, participants will be going around the wetland reserve in teams of four, to complete assigned tasks, learning about the vibrant biodiversity found in mangroves in the process. On hand at the wetland reserve to provide guidance to these participants were a group of specially trained Green Volunteers from HSBC and Sungei Buloh volunteers.

Commenting on the significance of the 15th anniversary celebrations, Mr Guy Harvey-Samuel, CEO of HSBC Singapore said: "HSBC's support and involvement in the conservation of the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve goes back to Sungei Buloh's earliest days. Today's event marks a memorable milestone in our efforts to promote environmental conservation and education in Singapore and our long-standing partnership with NParks to achieve this goal. We are delighted to have played our part in the conservation of the reserve over the last 15 years and we look forward to continuing our contribution towards conserving Sungei Buloh as a living classroom for the community."

As part of the celebration, Toshiba Group will be contributing trees to be planted for 10 lucky visitors over 6 and 7 December 2008. During that weekend, there will be nature and photography talks, face-painting activities for children, art and photography exhibitions on the wetland reserve.

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NParks to conduct coastal protection and restoration works at Pulau Tekong

Channel NewsAsia 11 May 10;

SINGAPORE: It is the largest of Singapore's outlying islands and is used exclusively for army training.

Now, more than 1,000 mangrove trees on the north-eastern coastline of Pulau Tekong are at risk of falling due to coastal erosion.

To protect the coast and mangroves in the area, the National Parks Board (NParks) will be conducting, for the first time, coastal protection and restoration works at the north-eastern coastline of Pulau Tekong.

Deputy director of NParks' National Biodiversity Centre, Dr Lena Chan, said that the erosion - with mud being scraped out - is due to movements of ships and strong waves in the area.

The erosion has affected 3km of north-eastern shore, posing a threat to the 92 hectares of mangroves in Pulau Tekong which is one of the largest remaining mangrove areas in Singapore with a mature and undisturbed habitat.

From a study it commissioned in 2006, NParks found that 1.65km of the north-eastern shore is most severely affected.

At some points, the extent of the erosion was as deep as 1.2 metres below the level of the mangrove berm.

NParks' works will concentrate on restoring this 1.65km stretch.

"The coastline is very precious to us. It is important that we make sure it is not seriously eroded and we have good mangroves right next to the coastline," said Dr Chan.

The first stage in the restoration process will be to fill the eroded parts below the mangrove berm with mud-filled biodegradable sacks.

Next, loosely-placed stones will be placed in front of the berm as a shoreline stablisation measure.

Around 8,000 mangrove saplings will be planted in front of the stones to help deflect the waves.

The saplings will also serve to increase the biodiversity of the mangroves population on Pulau Tekong.

As a further anti-erosion measure, two rows of bakau (a type of mangrove tree) poles will be set up in front of the saplings to be the "front battle line" to further reduce the effect of the waves, said Dr Chan.

A tender will be called in June for the work and NParks expects the project to be completed by June next year.

MediaCorp understands that the works on the north-eastern shore will not affect army training on Pulau Tekong as training is not conducted there.

- CNA/jy

Saving Tekong's coastal greenery
NParks' pilot project to stem erosion of mangroves by waves from passing vessels
Grace Chua Straits Times 12 May 10;

THE north-east coast of Pulau Tekong is being swept away by the sea, and taking a stretch of pristine mangroves with it.

To stem the erosion, the National Parks Board (NParks) is planting more mangroves in a pilot project on the military island off Singapore's east coast. And if it succeeds, the same methods could be used in other threatened coastal areas here.

Click on image for larger view.

The 92ha, 3km-long stretch of mangrove swamp is home to rare birds and mangrove trees. But strong waves from passing vessels have scooped out chunks of the coast to form horizontal berms (see graphic) held in place only by the mangrove roots. In 2006, NParks found that a number of trees had fallen along a 1.65km stretch of coastline. Another 1,300 were in danger of toppling.

It began collecting data on the site, and in February last year started work on modelling the area's wave movements and investigating the soil.

With development consultants Surbana, NParks designed a set-up of mud-filled bags, rocks, mangrove seedlings and poles to not only replace lost mangroves but also stop repeat erosion. NParks also plans to plant certain hardier species of mangroves farther out to sea to stymie the waves.

In their assessment, environmental consultants DHI assured that the project would not cause the coastline to creep outwards towards international boundaries, and there would be no cross-border physical or ecological impact. The site is just 760m from the Singapore-Malaysia boundary.

Construction is expected to begin in the middle of this year and take about 12 months. The same methods may one day be applied to other eroded areas like Sungei Buloh near Kranji.

'We hope this will be a good test-bedding site, though conditions might be different at different areas. But this is a good model for areas that have mangroves and are eroded,' said NParks' National Biodiversity Centre deputy director Lena Chan.

Even though the Tekong mangrove area is off-limits to the public, it remains an important part of Singapore's natural heritage and a source of genetic diversity, reminded Dr Chan.

National Institute of Education plant biochemist and mangrove expert Jean Yong said it was important to plant multiple tree species on such engineered structures to boost biodiversity.

The public can view the project's environmental impact assessment report till next month - by appointment with NParks - when a tender for the project will be put up.

Taking on the Pulau Tekong threat
Project to contain erosion to be completed in a year
Ong Dai Lin, Today Online 12 May 10;

IT IS the largest of Singapore's outlying islands and is used exclusively for military training. Now, coastal erosion is threatening more than 1,000 mangrove trees on the north-eastern coastline of Pulau Tekong. To protect this natural habitat, the National Parks Board (NParks) will for the first time be conducting coastal protection and restoration work in the area.

Deputy director of NParks' National Biodiversity Centre, Dr Lena Chan, said that the erosion - with mud being scraped out - is due to the movement of ships and strong waves in the area.

The erosion has affected 3km of the north-eastern shore, posing a threat to the 92 hectares of mangroves in Pulau Tekong which is one of the largest remaining mangrove areas in Singapore with a mature and undisturbed habitat.

From a study it commissioned in 2006, NParks found that 1.65km of the north-eastern shore is most severely affected. At some points, the extent of the erosion was as deep as 1.2 metres below the level of the mangrove berm.

NParks' work will concentrate on restoring this 1.65km stretch.

"The coastline is very precious to us. It is important that we make sure it is not seriously eroded and we have good mangroves right next to the coastline," said Dr Chan.

The first stage in the restoration process will be to fill the eroded parts below the mangrove berm with mud-filled biodegradable sacks. Next, loosely-placed stones will be set in front of the berm to stabilise the shoreline.

Around 8,000 mangrove saplings will be planted in front of the stones to help deflect the waves. The saplings will also serve to increase the biodiversity of the mangrove population.

As a further anti-erosion measure, two rows of bakau (a type of mangrove tree) poles will be set up in front of the saplings to be the "front battle line" to further reduce the effect of the waves, said Dr Chan.

NParks expects the project to be completed by June next year.

MediaCorp understands that the work on the north-eastern shore will not affect army training on Pulau Tekong as training is not conducted there.

NParks is also studying the extent of coastal erosion at East Coast Park and the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.

Read more!

Nature takes root where man has built

Life on artificial shores and structures can help maintain good water quality in S'pore
Ria Tan Straits Times 25 Sep 15; and AsiaOne
The writer, Ms Ria Tan, is the founder of www.wildsingapore.com. During her rounds of coastal areas in Singapore, she has seen mangrove trees, seagrasses and marine life sprout up on their own on man-made structures.

Natural regeneration on Singapore's artificial shores and structures is happening now - unintentionally, with zero replanting.

A coral reef has settled naturally on the seawalls at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, mangroves have taken root on the artificial seawalls at Pulau Hantu - the trees are from diverse species and are tall and healthy. Seagrass meadows thrive inside the Tanah Merah artificial lagoon. And I was astonished to see a lot of corals, as well as seagrasses and other marine life at East Coast Park, on artificial reclaimed land.

I first noticed mangrove trees on Pulau Hantu's artificial seawalls in April 2009. They were already well established and had probably been growing there for some time.

The different mangrove trees seen included common ones like api-api bulu, perepat, nyireh bunga, bakau putih, tumu and bakau kurap. There are also those listed as vulnerable on our Red List, such as tengah putih and bakau pasir.

The structure of the wall may have had a part to play in this. While the top part of the wall is sealed and smooth (the gaps between the rocks filled up with cement), the lower part is made up of unsealed rocks.

Perhaps if we build our seawalls with mangrove colonisation in mind we can have lovely green seawalls in Singapore!

Besides the big trees on the seawall itself, there are also lots of little mangrove trees settling in the lagoon. Hopefully, they will get the chance to grow up.

With a mangrove forest, the island would be one of the few places in Singapore where a nice range of shore ecosystems exist in a continuum, as nature meant it - mangroves, seagrass meadows and coral reefs.

I have even seen mangrove trees settling on artificial seawalls on our northern coast, including at Kranji near the Kranji Dam.

And at Tanah Merah, there are two large patches of critically endangered smooth ribbon seagrasses, which were previously found only at Pulau Ubin's Chek Jawa and Cyrene Reef near Jurong Island. The structure of the lagoon - a shallow sheltered sandy spot protected by seawalls with natural vegetation on the shore - may have helped to allow the seagrasses to settle naturally.

They are dotted with many living haddon's carpet anemones and home to a variety of small creatures such as hermit crabs, snails and fishes, and sea cucumbers too. Three other species of seagrasses have settled on this artificial shore: spoon seagrass, tape seagrass and the critically endangered sickle seagrass.

Among the amazing creatures I encountered here were a spotted eagle ray.

Lush seagrasses are also thriving at East Coast Park. The spoon seagrass and needle seagrass is home to many sea stars, colourful sea cucumbers and rarely seen fig snails.

We have even seen lush growths of needle seagrass in the lagoon used for wakeboarding.

Although we have yet to see signs of dugong feeding-trails on the seagrasses growing on these artificial shores, we have regularly seen dugong feeding-trails on seagrass meadows elsewhere in Singapore.

A reef has settled naturally on the artificial seawalls at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal. A wide variety of corals and marine life can be found there.

Amazingly, these corals survived the massive oil spill of May 2010 and global coral-bleaching in the same year that hit this stretch of shore.

Among the hard corals are large colonies of delicate branching and plate-forming corals, as well as less common species such as lettuce coral, Horn coral and even rarer species such as cabbage coral .

The structure of the wall may have helped to allow the corals to settle here naturally. There is a wide platform of open rocks which seems to be at the perfect level for them to grow.

Artificial shores such as East Coast Park are locations of some of the most spectacular marine sightings. For instance, a huge mother hawksbill sea turtle came ashore there to lay eggs in 2013, and baby sea turtles were seen hatching at East Coast Park in 2006.

Otters have also been spotted at East Coast Park, as well as Tanah Merah's artificial shores.

Why should we care about mangroves growing on our seawalls, or seagrass and corals surviving on our artificial shores?

Mangroves and other natural ecosystems such as seagrasses and coral reefs can help maintain good water quality.

They can be living barriers that may help mitigate the impact of rising seas and climate change, such as flooding, saltwater intrusion into freshwater supplies and the impact of more severe weather.

Natural and wild ecosystems that are self-generating and self-sustaining are relatively inexpensive to maintain and provide a wider spectrum of experiences compared with manicured gardens.

They can be beautiful and provide recreational enjoyment.

Easy access will allow schools bountiful opportunities for nature-related learning.

If massive reclamation plans are to go ahead at East Coast Park and other spots, this could be done to allow and encourage natural regeneration.

We could build structures which allow reefs to settle on the outside of seawalls, and encourage mangroves and seagrasses to grow on the inside of seawalls and shallow lagoons.

By naturalising canals leading to the sea, we would enjoy a continuum of freshwater wetlands to mangroves.

Imagine what's possible - kilometres of reefs and natural marine ecosystems at our doorstep - Singapore's "Great Barrier Reef" on the mainland, for all in the city to enjoy.

Wild about Singapore's nature
Nature activist and environmentalist Ria Tan is passionate about Singapore's marine life, to say the least.

The 54-year-old runs popular wildlife website WildSingapore, a one-stop platform for those who want to learn about Singapore's natural heritage and how to do more for nature conservation.

For the last 15 years, Ms Tan has been monitoring about 40 Singapore shores regularly, making about 100 surveys a year with a small team of hardcore volunteers.

Her blog, Wild Shores of Singapore, can be found on the website, which includes an online guide to Singapore's common marine life.

Ms Tan also provides free use of more than 40,000 photos of Singapore's reefs, seagrass meadows, mangroves and more.

The retired civil servant trains nature guides and helped set up guided walks at Chek Jawa, Pulau Semakau and the Sisters' Islands Marine Park.

She started TeamSeaGrass, which has about 200 volunteers regularly monitoring the seagrass on Singapore's shores.

Ms Tan also volunteers with the Mega Marine Survey of Singapore, an initiative that takes stock of Singapore's marine biodiversity, in a collaboration with the National Parks Board.

As part of the Friends of Ubin Network, she organised Ubin Day the past two years.

An associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, Ms Tan also volunteers as a guide with the nature group Naked Hermit Crabs.

She has co-authored the Chek Jawa Guidebook, the Wild Singapore coffee-table book and Southern Shores guidesheet.

She is currently working on new marine nature guidebooks for Singapore.


Related links
Sharing an imagined Singapore 'Great Barrier Reef'
City in a Reef: my feedback on the Draft Master Plan 2013

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Easier access to Kranji wetlands

Grace Chua Straits Times 16 Sep 11;

KRANJI Marshes, the wetland home of uncommon bird species, is set to become more accessible to visitors, as plans have been made for a new park connector to, and trails through it.

But before such facilities are even built in the 40ha area, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) wants to study plant and animal life there, and the quality of the water and how it flows.

This is so that it can minimise the environmental impact of building a park connector, trail and rest point in the project undertaken jointly with the National Parks Board and in consultation with the Nature Society (Singapore).

The area is home to grey herons and dozens of other bird species, as well as ferns, grasses and aquatic life.

The URA's tender for this 'biodiversity impact assessment' on Kranji Marshes said: 'The intention is not to over-develop the place, but to retain the existing ecological balance and biodiversity existing on site today.'

The impact study is expected to be done by the middle of next year, a URA spokesman said.

She added: 'With sensitively designed trails, the marshes can be enhanced as a laid-back, charming, 'countryside' destination with high educational value.'

The tender says that when developed, visitorship will be capped at about 100,000 a year - about the same as for Sungei Buloh Nature Reserve.

Dr Ho Hua Chew of the conservation committee of the Nature Society is concerned that this number is too high for a marshland habitat.

'Visitors will stand out in this kind of landscape, which will be disturbing to the wildlife,' he said.

He added that although the 100,000 cap is about the same as for Sungei Buloh, the latter is more than twice as big, and has dense mangroves along the visitor paths to act as screens.

He noted, for example, that a marsh pond at the end of Neo Tiew Lane 2 is now a breeding site for the rare purple swamp hen and common moorhen, and visitors could easily scare them off.

The Nature Society, members of which frequent Kranji Marshes, adopted a portion of the marsh in 2008 under national water agency PUB's 'Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters' programme.

Plans are also in the works to enhance and extend the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, which may be linked with other mangroves, reservoirs and marshes in Lim Chu Kang and Kranji.

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NParks launches mangrove conservation area at Sungei Buloh

The National Parks Board (NParks) launched a new mangrove arboretum at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Coastal Trail on Monday (Oct 5).
Olivia Siong, Channel NewsAsia 5 Oct 15;

SINGAPORE: The National Parks Board (NParks) launched a new mangrove arboretum at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Coastal Trail on Monday (Oct 5), as part of its efforts to conserve native mangrove species.

The arboretum - a place where plants are cultivated for scientific and educational purposes - spans five hectares and is expected to have about 35 native "true" mangrove species. This means that they are plants that only grow in the mangrove environment.

Said Mr Wong Tuan Wah, director of conservation at NParks: “We want to increase the number of species in Sungei Buloh itself so that there is one focal point for people who want to study mangroves. For example, when researchers, scientists, students and visitors come and visit Sungei Buloh, they will be able to see all these types of mangroves in one location. So, it is a good opportunity for conservation, outdoor education and outreach as well."

The initiative boosts the conservation of rare mangrove species, such as the Eye of the Crocodile, which is listed as globally endangered, with only about 200 mature trees in the world.

Mr Wong added: "By bringing back this rare endangered species, we are actually increasing the biodiversity of the mangrove habitat as well. With all these mangrove species, we are bringing a lot of diversity, not only in plant diversity, but also animal diversity.

“A lot of these intertidal animals, marine animals, depend on these mangrove species for survival. So by bringing back all these mangrove species, we hope that in time to come, there will be an increase in this intertidal fauna diversity as well."

The arboretum was opened by new Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan, who also planted a locally endangered mangrove tree.

In his speech, Mr Khaw said that he hopes the arboretum can be "a focal point" for Singaporeans who "may not fully relate or appreciate" the importance of mangrove swamps and how they "impact our quality of life". He added that mangroves bring many benefits, including preventing coastal erosion.

Mr Khaw also said more than 200 years ago, mangroves occupied about 13 per cent of the island. However, the number has shrunk to about 0.5 per cent.

Said Mr Khaw: “At the end of the day, physical infrastructure is not easy, but is the easier part because with an enlightened Government and some money, top-down we can do a lot of things with this hardware.

“But it is the social infrastructure which has to be ground-up, where Singaporeans, the people themselves, who believe in it, believe in the cause and be part of that and they on their own will be (asking) the Government, why don't you do this, why don't you do that faster."

Starting Monday, about 2,000 mangrove trees will be planted along a 500-metre stretch at Sungei Buloh over two years. Students, volunteers and community partners will be invited to plant and monitor the seedlings, collected from various mangrove forests in Singapore.

As this NParks initiative is also about raising the awareness of the public with regard to mangroves and conservation, it has plans to install educational signs, as well as roll out outreach programmes in the near future. A three-hour hands-on education programme - for children aged between four and six - is expected to take place by the middle of next year.

Kikkoman Singapore, the local manufacturing facility of Japan-based soy sauce manufacturer Kikkoman Corporation, also announced a S$500,000 sponsorship for the new mangrove arboretum.

- CNA/wl/xk


Sungei Buloh gets new mangrove conservation area
AsiaOne 5 Oct 15;

SINGAPORE - Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Coastal Trail's new arboretum is expected to plant 2,000 native mangrove trees along a 500-metre stretch over the next two years, the National Parks Board (NParks) said in a press release on Monday (Oct 5).

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An arboretum is a place where plants are cultivated for scientific and educational purposes. The designated area is expected to house about 35 native "true" mangrove species. This means that they are plants that only grow in the mangrove environment.

One such species NParks highlighted is the Eye of the Crocodile, a globally and critically endangered species with only around 200 mature trees in the world.

Manufacturing company Kikkoman Singapore has announced a $500,000 sponsorship for the new conservation area.

New Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan who launched the arboretum on Monday, said: "Mangrove conservation is key to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and in this regard, we place great importance on the establishment of the mangrove arboretum. Sungei Buloh is also home to the largest tract of mangrove forest on mainland Singapore.

"The arboretum will serve as a focal venue for conservation, education and outreach activities. It is an important project that will contribute to the conservation of mangrove plant species through propagating and planting of native mangrove species," he added.

In line with its aim of reaching out to the community, students, volunteers and other community partners will be invited to participate in the nurturing, planting and monitoring of these seedlings collected from various mangrove forests in Singapore.

NParks will also introduce a series of new interpretive signs and outreach programmes at the aboretum.


Mangrove field opens at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
LAURA ELIZABETH PHILOMIN Today Online 5 Oct 15;

SINGAPORE – A new mangrove arboretum that will be home to half the world’s 70 “true” mangrove species — those that grow only in the mangrove environment — has been launched at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve by the National Parks Board (NParks), with a donation of S$500,000 from Kikkoman Singapore to mark its 30th anniversary.

The arboretum — or collection of trees — will have 2,000 mangrove trees from 35 native species planted progressively along a 500m stretch at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Coastal Trail, which is currently open to the public as part of the reserve’s latest extension along Kranji Way. NParks will install signs with information on various mangrove species at the arboretum. Among the species to be featured include the globally critically-endangered Eye of the Crocodile trees, which got its name from breathing pores on its trunk that resemble crocodile eyes.

Mangroves provide habitats for animals and prevent coastal erosion. NParks’ director of conservation Wong Tuan Wah said at the launch today (Oct 5) the initiative came about after a study found that Sungei Buloh housed 30 out of 35 native mangrove species in Singapore. “So with this new initiative now, we want to increase the number of species in Sungei Buloh itself so that there’s one focal point for people who want to study mangroves,” he said, adding that the initiative would also replenish and increase the biodiversity of the mangrove habitat.

Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan helped to plant one of the first 200 trees, together with Mr Yuzaburo Mogi, honorary chief executive officer and chairman of the board of directors for Kikkoman Corporation. Kikkoman staff, student volunteers and other community partners will continue the planting process over the next two years, starting this month. Kikkoman Singapore will also sponsor a three-hour education programme for children between four and six years old starting in June next year.

Schools are one of the community partners regularly called on, among them River Valley High School student Micaiah Chua, 16. He and his schoolmates will be transplanting 30 mangrove saplings of six different species, which they collected from Changi Beach in April and were growing in school for the past few months as part of a conservation project.

“I (was not) very familiar with mangroves, (but) from my project and from coming here today, I’ve actually learnt much more; for example, identifying the species of mangroves (and) why conservation is so important,” said Micaiah.


'Living gallery' to help conserve mangroves here
Carolyn Khew, Straits Times AsiaOne 6 Oct 15;

An area will be set aside at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve for a living gallery of mangrove trees, comprising about half of the true species in the world, in a move to conserve these plants.

The 5ha area at the reserve's coastal trail will include a nursery and have, in two years' time, 2,000 native trees across 35 true species - those that grow only in mangroves or intertidal conditions.

The collection of trees, or arboretum, is an initiative to conserve Singapore's dwindling mangrove species. They now cover about 0.5 per cent of Singapore's land area, compared with 13 per cent in 1950.

Mr Wong Tuan Wah, director of conservation at the National Parks Board (NParks), said that just like any other plant, young mangrove saplings are susceptible to being eaten up by animals in the intertidal area or swept away due to water currents.

"What we want to do is to nurse them in the arboretum, in the nursery... until they are of suitable size (and) they are big enough to withstand all these physical conditions," said Mr Wong. "Once they are about 1m, or big enough, we will plant them into the intertidal area or into the mudflat in such a way they can withstand the conditions, or elements of the sea."

The mangrove species which will be planted include the globally critically endangered Eye of the Crocodile, or Bruguiera hainesii. Singapore has 11 of these in places such as Pulau Ubin, and none in the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve; there are only about 200 trees of this species globally.

According to the United States' National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's website, mangroves can store three to five times as much carbon dioxide as tropical trees, easing the effects of climate change. NParks also noted that their roots offer hiding places for young fishes and shrimps, and their branches offer shelter and nestling areas for birds such as herons.

Mangrove planting at the new arboretum is well under way, as 80 students planted some 200 mangrove saplings yesterday.

Institute of Technical Education College East student Tan Yong Qing, 22, together with his schoolmates, planted about 30 saplings. "This is the first time we are doing this... It makes you feel good because you're helping nature," he said.

During the launch of the arboretum yesterday at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan planted a locally endangered mangrove tree called the Dugun with Mr Haruhisa Takeuchi, Ambassador of Japan, and Mr Yuzaburo Mogi, honorary chief executive officer and chairman of the board of directors of Japan soya sauce maker Kikkoman. Kikkoman Singapore created a $500,000 sponsorship for the mangrove arboretum to mark its 30th anniversary.

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Protect mudflats, mangroves for migratory birds, say experts

NEO CHAI CHIN Today Online 13 Jun 14;

SINGAPORE — Parts of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, an important stopover for migratory birds, are sinking and this could be due to the Causeway and the Kranji reservoir limiting the amount of sediments deposited at the reserve. However, some of the nature reserve’s mudflats have increased in size, preliminary findings collected since 2011 by a National University of Singapore geography don showed.

While more data is needed over a longer period of time, changes in surface elevation at Sungei Buloh could bring about a change in the mangrove composition and perhaps a loss in mangroves, said Assistant Professor Dan Friess at the Symposium on Intertidal Conservation in Southeast Asia yesterday.

The National Parks Board, which oversees the reserve, declined to provide specific measurements found so far. However, the reserve’s deputy director, Ms Sharon Chan, said it already takes into consideration the rise in sea levels — parts of the reserve consist of ponds where water levels can be managed — to expose mud areas for the birds to feed.

Singapore is one of 22 countries including Russia, China and Australia that lie along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, an annual migration path for 50 million birds from more than 200 species that spans 10,000km.

Experts at the symposium noted numerous threats such as land reclamation to flyway habitats, and the collapse in populations of some migrant shorebirds. The red knot’s numbers in Moreton Bay in Australia, for instance, have declined by 9 per cent annually for 20 years — a “collapse of colossal proportions”, said Dr Richard Fuller of the University of Queensland.

However, the efforts of one country to conserve birds are not sufficient. “You have to make sure the birds are conserved all the way throughout the flyway and at the critical bottlenecks,” said Mr Spike Millington, chief executive of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership.

Dr Fuller’s research found that migratory bird species more reliant on the Yellow Sea region in East Asia, which has undergone extensive coastal development, were the ones declining more quickly. To conserve shorebird species, authorities and scientists could identify and protect the most important sites, and identify which areas would cause the least loss in biodiversity if developed, he said.

Associate Professor Lye Lin Heng of the Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law at the National University of Singapore said the Republic lacks laws to protect its shores and marine ecosystems. Effective management of wetlands requires the countries collaborate as migratory species do not respect geographic or political boundaries, she added.

Some have called for the preservation of intertidal areas to protect against storm surges and the impact of climate change, but Assistant Professor Adam Switzer of Nanyang Technological University’s Division of Earth Sciences cautioned against the idea that mangroves protect coastal communities from big storm surges, as they provide little or no defence against storm surges and tsunamis more than 3m high.

Ups and downs at Sungei Buloh
Feng Zengkun The Straits Times AsiaOne 16 Jun 14;

Parts of the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve could be sinking or rising, according to the preliminary findings of a study started in 2011.

Eight monitoring stations had been set up on the reserve's mangroves and mudflats, and land at all eight points had both sunk and risen over the last 21/2 years, said Dr Dan Friess from the National University of Singapore (NUS) Department of Geography.

He noted that the situation is dynamic, and more data is needed over a longer period of time to discern trends, but land sinking could affect the composition of mangroves in South-east Asia and possibly lead to their loss in the long run.

Dr Friess explained that land elevation changes are due to a complex array of factors, including tides and depositing and eroding sediment.

"We don't know enough now to be able to say anything conclusively, but Sungei Buloh is leading the region in even having such a study in the first place to figure out how to manage such changes," he said.

Dr Friess, who studies mangroves and coastal management, was speaking at the Symposium on Intertidal Conservation in South-east Asia on Thursday.

The two-day event held at the reserve in north-east Singapore ended yesterday.

One key issue was the loss of tidal wetlands and how that has harmed migratory birds which rely on them as stopovers.

The National Parks Board (NParks), which oversees the reserve, declined to give specific measurements of the study so far, but the reserve's deputy director Sharon Chan said it maintains mud ponds where birds can feed.

Singapore is among the 22 countries along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, which some 50 million birds use each year.

The 10,000km flyway extends from Arctic Russia and North America to the southern limits of Australia and New Zealand. It encompasses all of South-east Asia and Sungei Buloh is an important stopover.

Dr Richard Fuller from the University of Queensland, Australia, was among several experts who said protecting the birds would require international cooperation. "We need to identify and protect the really important sites, work out where best to allow coastal development, manage catchments and create new tidal flats," he said.

The symposium was organised by NParks, NUS, the Nature Society, Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law and conservation group BirdLife International.

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Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve's extension opens to the public

AsiaOne 6 Dec 14;

SINGAPORE - Minister of State for National Development Desmond Lee officiated the opening of the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve's (SBWR) extension this morning, marking the completion of phase two of the reserve's masterplan.

The reserve is the largest mangrove forest in Singapore, and is home to almost half of true mangrove plant species in the world. It became Singapore's first ASEAN Heritage Park in 2003, and is recognised as a site of international importance for migratory birds.

The 31-hectare extension, with its rich mangrove and coastal forests which are home to diverse species of fauna such as crabs and mudskippers, will be able to provide new outdoor recreational and educational activities.

Six new guided walks will be conducted on Saturdays by volunteers, the National Parks Board (NParks) announced today.

At the opening, Mr Lee announced that work on phase three of the masterplan has begun and will be completed by end-2017.

The third phase includes the sensitive enhancement of two conservation areas: the western end of the reserve, where Cashin House is situated, and the Kranji Marshes.

With the intention to keep the activity in the area low, nature appreciation of coastal habitats, education and outreach will take centre stage at the 6.16ha western end of SBWR.

The freshwater Kranji marshes will be enhanced to attract more marsh birds and include shelters and trails for better visitor access.

Speaking at the opening, MOS Lee said: "In 2008, NParks launched the Sungei Buloh Masterplan to ensure that Sungei Buloh continues to be a living wetland and a tranquil sanctuary for wildlife. The Masterplan included a new extension to be built at the fringe of the existing reserve, which will help reduce the pressure on the existing reserve as more Singaporeans and tourists visit the reserve."

NParks added that there has been a 50 per cent increase in active volunteers from last year, the highest rise in its volunteerism rate since its volunteer programmes began in the 1990s.

NParks said it welcomes more people who are passionate about nature to join its volunteer programme at www.nparks.gov.sg/volunteer.

Work begins on phase three of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Masterplan
Sara Grosse Channel NewsAsia 6 Dec 14;

SINGAPORE: Work on phase three of the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Masterplan has begun and will be completed by end 2017.

Minister of State for National Development Desmond Lee announced this at the opening of the reserve's extension on Saturday morning (Dec 6), marking the completion of phase two.

The third phase of the Masterplan includes the sensitive enhancement of two conservation areas: the western end of the Reserve, where Cashin House is situated, and the Kranji Marshes.

The Kranji Marshes will be enhanced to attract more marsh birds and to include shelters and trails for better visitor access. The Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve extension opens on Saturday (Dec 6) to members of the public.

- CNA/by

Kranji Marshes to be more accessible by 2016
Feng Zengkun The Straits Times AsiaOne 7 Dec 14;
Singaporeans will have better access to the Kranji Marshes when the area reopens in 2016 with shelters and trails.

The National Parks Board (NParks) has started works to improve the 56ha freshwater marshland, including clearing the ponds of weeds and replanting vegetation to attract more birds.

The wetland on the outskirts of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is well loved by nature lovers, and especially rich in marsh birds. The plans are part of Phase 3 of NParks' Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve masterplan, which also includes improving the western end of the reserve by 2017.

Within the next few years, NParks will spruce up the currently disused Cashin House - a former residence extending out to sea in Lim Chu Kang. Nature trails will also link the reserve to the house, which is historically significant as it may have been the first landing point of the Japanese in Singapore during World War II.

Yesterday, the agency spelled out its plans as it celebrated the completion of the masterplan's second phase, which involved a 31ha extension to the 130ha reserve.

The extension includes a new visitor centre, a mid-canopy walk through a secondary forest, a coastal boardwalk and other attractions like the Mud Experience, where visitors can step onto mudflats during low tide to get up close to creatures living in the mud, such as mudskippers.

Mr Desmond Lee, Minister of State for National Development, opened the extension yesterday. "Sungei Buloh is a unique place not just for birds, but also for us city dwellers who need a respite from the hustle and bustle of city life," he said.

Fourteen NParks volunteers were also given long-service awards yesterday. NParks said its volunteer ranks have grown by 50 per cent in the past year and number some 1,500 people today.

The agency also paid tribute to a group of about 50 former and current volunteers who have helped contribute to Sungei Buloh's growth since the 1990s.

One of them, nature guide Kwan Sau Kuen, 60, said she was motivated to volunteer because she noticed visitors leaving the reserve disappointed that they could not spot any birds.

"What they didn't know was that the patches of brown they thought were soil were actually birds. That was when I knew I had to do my part."

She added: "Sungei Buloh is one of the few places in Singapore that has been kept rustic and natural. It is important to conserve the wonders of the mangroves for the next generation to enjoy."

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Used syringes: Over 30 found in swamp

Students at Kranji cleanup find syringes with needles attached in single largest haul
Kimberly Spykerman & Jalelah Abu Baker Straits Times 3 Jun 11;

STUDENT volunteers on a coastal cleanup of a Kranji mangrove swamp on May 24 found litter more sinister than the usual plastic bottles and food packaging - more than 30 used syringes, with needles still attached.

The National Parks Board (NParks) could not confirm whether the syringes were found clustered together or scattered across the area, but said this was the biggest number of syringes found in a single cleanup session.

NParks director of conservation Wong Tuan Wah said it is usual to find a syringe or two in each cleanup, but small items such as food and drink packaging or large items like refrigerators are more typically part of the haul.

When contacted, the Singapore American School (SAS), whose students made the find, declined comment. It would say only that its students are briefed on the precautions to take on such cleanups and are under constant adult supervision.

It is understood the students did not touch the syringes, but had alerted an NParks duty officer.

Mr N. Sivasothi, coordinator of International Coastal Cleanup Singapore (ICCS), which has worked with SAS on such trips to the mangroves for the past 20 years, suggested that the syringes could have been washed up, rather than the result of a gathering of drug abusers in the swamp.

'The probability of recreational drug users going to the mangroves is very low. At night, it's very dark, and that part of the Singapore shoreline is not very hospitable,' said Mr Sivasothi, a researcher at the National University of Singapore whose area of interest is mangroves.

The ICCS, which organises coastal cleanups, finds between 30 and 150 syringes a year, most of them on the shores of what are known as 'recreational' beaches, such as East Coast Park and Changi, he added.

NParks said its officer-on-site during cleanups requires all volunteers to put on the rubber boots and gloves provided before each exercise.

Doctors The Straits Times spoke to said the possibility of infection is high if one is pierced with an infected needle.

Khoo Teck Puat Hospital senior consultant Christopher Willis said: 'The most practical way to deal with this is to look around for an empty plastic bottle with a cap, then carefully deposit the needles into the bottle and close the cap.

'If you happen to be near a hospital or clinic, you can deliver the bottle to health-care staff, who will dispose of it.'

It is also safe to deposit the bottle in a rubbish bin, he added.

The Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) advises members of the public not to handle syringes or needles that they suspect to have been used for drug abuse. The police should be alerted, it said.

Drug abusers here do not commonly 'shoot up' their fixes, but anyone caught with syringes intended for abusing drugs faces up to three years' jail or a $10,000 fine, or both.

The CNB said: 'We would like to warn the public that intravenous abuse of drugs can lead to potential medical complications such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C, HIV infection and limb gangrene.'

More about International Coastal Cleanup Singapore

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Singapore, Johor study cross-border eco-tourist attraction on Sungei Buloh and three Johor sites

Joanne Chan Channel NewsAsia 19 Jun 10;

SINGAPORE: Singapore is conducting a joint study with Johor to develop a cross-border tourist attraction.

It involves linking up Singapore's Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and three sites in Johor to promote eco-tourism.

The joint study aims to provide a seamless travel experience for eco-tourists.

This means nature lovers can hop from Sungei Buloh to the nature parks and mangrove forests of Sungai Pulai, Pulau Kukup and Tanjong Piai in Iskandar Malaysia.

Senior Minister of State for National Development Grace Fu said visitors can enjoy the unique characteristics of each site.

"If we have tourists coming to Singapore, and you come to Sungei Buloh, and you find that it's interesting and you want to explore more, a bigger area, a different type of environment, then perhaps from here, you could think about moving on to other areas in Johor, and vice-versa," she said.

Ms Fu said discussions are still underway, including talks about how to link up the 4 sites.

As for Sungei Buloh, work will start later this year to redevelop its facilities to cope with a higher number of visitors, which averages some 140,000 a year.

The 130-hectare wetland is a familiar stomping ground for nature lovers and bird watchers. It's home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, including over 220 species of birds.

Once completed, it will feature a new 38-hectare park for the casual visitor.

The park will have facilities such as observation hides and coastal boardwalks to allow visitors to get closer to nature.

Another focus of the redevelopment is preserving the biodiversity of the wetland reserve. It will be set aside for conservation work and research.

It will boast of a new mangrove arboretum or living gallery of trees, showcasing all 67 species of mangrove plants and trees found in Singapore.

The existing visitor centre here at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve will be upgraded to become a research and education hub. New facilities such as dormitories for researchers could be added, as well as meeting rooms to host conferences and workshops.

The wetland reserve will become a restricted access area to protect its biodiversity. This is a similar arrangement for Chek Jawa and Semakau eco-park, where special permits to visits the sites have to be obtained.

"We want to conserve and protect the rich biodiversity within Sungei Buloh. Anyone can still enter, but you will need a guide, or do some preparation before you come," said James Gan, assistant director of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, NParks.

Development works on Sungei Buloh will start by the end of this year, and will be completed by mid-2013.

The public can get a sneak peek of the S$50 million redevelopment at an exhibition at its visitor centre until August 1.

NParks said the construction will be carried out in phases so that visitors can still visit the reserve. - CNA/jy/ls

Wetland reserve gets $50m makeover
New 38ha park to help Sungei Buloh cope with growing number of casual visitors
Kimberly Spykerman Straits Times 20 Jun 10;

Conservation will get a boost in the $50 million makeover for the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.

The wetland will get a 38ha park - named the Sungei Buloh Wetland Park - to help it cope with the rising number of visitors.

It is hoped that the park will attract more casual visitors, leaving the main reserve area for researchers, serious nature lovers and bird watchers. The authorities fear that rising and unregulated visitor numbers may have a negative impact on the reserve's rich biodiversity.

The site of the new 38ha park is an extension of the reserve now known as the Kranji Nature Trail.

Funding for the park will come from the Singapore Tote Board.

The park, which has no visitor cap, will house facilities such as observation pods, coastal boardwalks, educational play facilities and wireless learning trails.

To further ensure that the area's biodiversity remains largely unspoilt, access to the 138ha reserve, on the other hand, is likely to be controlled. Visitors may have to apply for permission in advance.

These plans were unveiled yesterday by Senior Minister of State for National Development and Education Grace Fu.

Said Ms Fu: 'While we treasure Sungei Buloh's rich biodiversity, we want to bring the public to nature as well. And the challenge is how do we balance the need to keep nature as it is, and allowing public access?'

The Sungei Buloh wetland was gazetted as a nature reserve in 2002, with its wide variety of flora and fauna, including more than 220 species of birds. It has been identified as a zone for core conservation.

Currently, the reserve sees about 140,000 visitors a year, and the authorities hope to bring the number down to 100,000.

This is so that they can better manage visitor impact on the wildlife, an arrangement that visitors to sites like Chek Jawa and the Semakau eco-park are already familiar with, said Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve assistant director James Gan.

'We are taking the proactive approach. We don't want to wait for signs of deterioration due to visitor impact before we take action,' he added.

Mr Wong Tuan Wah, director of conservation at the National Parks Board, said nature enthusiasts often lament a lack of animal sightings at the reserve, and this could largely be due to congestion and noise from crowds within the reserve.

'It's like having a party in there, and that scares away the animals. So by having the segregation, the serious bird watchers and nature lovers have the opportunity to observe... It's no point for you to be able to go everywhere unrestricted, but you don't get to see or experience.'

Conservation efforts within the reserve will also be beefed up. For example, a Mangrove Arboretum - a living gallery of trees - will be set up. A first in the region, it will be a collection of all 67 species of mangrove plants and trees found in Singapore. It will allow students and researchers to view all species easily within a single location.

In addition, more will be done to protect the reserve's biodiversity and habitats, such as the creation of a freshwater pond to enhance the dragonfly population, and erection of a breakwater to mitigate the impact of waves.

Work on the reserve will be done in phases, starting from the end of the year, and is expected to be completed by mid-2013.

Ms Fu also highlighted a joint study that Singapore is conducting with Johor to develop a cross-border tourist attraction involving the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and the three Ramsar sites of Sungai Pulai, Pulau Kukup and Tanjong Piai.

A Ramsar site is a title granted by the Geneva-based Ramsar Convention Bureau to identify wetlands of international importance.

She added that the study has the potential to move beyond eco-tourism to include collaboration on environmental and biodiversity conservation.

NParks to enhance outdoor learning and education facilities at Sungei Buloh Mast er Plan Public Exhibition on display from 19 June to 1 August
NParks media release 19 Jun 10;

The National Parks Board (NParks) unveiled the detailed plans for Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve today. Under the Master Plan, conservation of the wetland's rich biodiversity will be strengthened, while its outdoor learning and education facilities will be enhanced. In time to come, visitors can look forward to new facilities, programmes and activities to cater to all groups, from students, families, nature lovers to researchers.

A public exhibition showcasing the future plans for Sungei Buloh was launched today by Ms Grace Fu, Senior Minister of State for National Development and Education.

Speaking at the launch, she said, "We are now writing the new pages of history for Sungei Buloh with the new Sungei Buloh Master Plan. This Master Plan is developed with the twin objectives of strengthening biodiversity conservation, and enhancing Sungei Buloh's status as a premier outdoor education, learning and research centre. NParks and the Ministry of Education (MOE) recognise the richness in learning opportunity that nature provides. Both agencies are exploring ways for our students to step out of their classrooms and learn from the environment that we live in. This year, we embarked on a pilot project to raise students' awareness of Singapore's rich flora and fauna under MOE's Programme for Active Learning, or PAL in short.

The Draft Master Plan for Sungei Buloh was first announced by Senior Minister Mr Goh Chok Tong at Sungei Buloh's 15th anniversary in December 2008. Since then, a working group, comprising representatives from Nature Society Singapore (NSS), the Singapore Environment Council (SEC), National University of Singapore (NUS), National Institute of Education (NIE), National Technological University (NTU), PUB, Ministry of Education (MOE) and volunteers, had worked on the detailed plan for Sungei Buloh.

Enhancing Sungei Buloh's role as an outdoor learning classroom

An extension of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, currently known as Kranji Nature Trail, will be redeveloped as a buffer to the wetland reserve, with a focus on nature learning and recreation. Renamed as Sungei Buloh Wetland Park, this 38 hectare park aims to diversify the visitor experience, and also take on the additional visitorship to the wetland reserve.

New facilities in the pipeline for students and family groups include observation hides, coastal boardwalks as well as educational play facilities to support the programmes and activities which will be implemented. Wireless learning trails will also enhance the learning experience.

Educational trails with themes such as 'Life in Mangroves' and 'Conserving Mangroves' will be developed so that visitors can gain a deeper understanding about this rich ecosystem. This helps to promote family bonding out in the field and allows them to get closer to the natural mangrove environment.

Students can also look forward to an additional Visitor Centre at Sungei Buloh Wetland Park. It serves as a second gateway to Sungei Buloh, with experiential trails leading out into the park. This Visitor Centre will have interactive exhibits and interpretative displays to educate the public on mangroves and conservation.

Strengthening conservation of Sungei Buloh

As a site along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway for migratory shorebirds and an ASEAN Heritage Park, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is a unique asset for conservation, education and recreation in a land-scarce city state like Singapore. It is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, including over 220 species of birds.

To enhance Sungei Buloh's biodiversity, a new Mangrove Arboretum, the first in the region, will be set up. It will be a national collection of all 67 species of mangrove plants and trees found in Singapore, featuring common types of mangroves such as the Nipah Palm as well as the critically threatened Api-api jambu (Avicennia marina). This is about 80% of the world's total mangrove flora. When established, this arboretum enables students and researchers on mangroves to view all species easily at one location.

Measures will also be taken to regularly maintain the mudflats as shorebirds use these non-vegetated plots to roost and feed. A series of improvement works will also be implemented to further protect Sungei Buloh's biodiversity and habitats, such as erecting a new breakwater to mitigate the impact of waves. Nature areas within the wetland reserve will also be linked up through tree planting to form corridors of complementary habitats. In addition, a new freshwater pond will be created, which helps in enhancing the population of dragonflies.

Existing Visitor Centre to become a Research Hub

Over at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, the existing Visitor Centre will be upgraded to become a research and education hub, with amenities such as multi-purpose rooms and workshops to facilitate research into the biodiversity of mangroves. Facilities for meetings and corporate events are also envisioned which can cater to local and regional workshops on biodiversity conservation and corporate retreats.

Sungei Buloh Master Plan recognised at ASLA 2010

The Sungei Buloh Master Plan received an Honour Award in the Analysis and Planning Category at the 2010 American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Professional Awards, which was recently concluded in April 2010.

Development works will commence by the end of this year, and are targeted to be completed by mid 2013.

New Coffee table Book on Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

A new coffee table book called 'Wetlands in the City' was also launched at the event. It is a joint collaboration between NParks and Dr Chua Ee Kiam, a prolific nature photographer cum writer, and a long time volunteer with NParks.

Featuring 360 vivid and stunning photos of the wetland reserve, the 176-page publication aims to showcase the wonders of mangroves, captured from various locations in the reserve such as boardwalks, trails, the observatory tower and the Main Bridge. Dr Chua has also documented the key milestones of Sungei Buloh, from its early days as an area of prawn farms and fruit orchards, to today's wetland reserve of rich biodiversity.

'Wetlands in the City' can be purchased at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, the Garden Shop and Library Shop at the Singapore Botanic Gardens from today onwards at $48 each. It is also available at major bookstores from mid July onwards.

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Singapore-Johor eco-tourism package deal

Singapore and Malaysia are in talks to link Sungei Buloh with 3 Johor sites rich in biodiversity
Amresh Gunasingham Straits Times 27 Sep 10;

THE sleepy seaside village of Kukup, a short hop across the Causeway, stirs to life only on weekends when tourists descend on its famous seafood eateries.

But all that could change if an eco-tourism project combining the lure of Malaysia's biodiversity spots with Singapore's Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve takes off.

The two countries are in talks to look at how three gazetted nature sites in Johor - Pulau Kukup, Tanjung Piai and Sungai Pulai - can be marketed with the popular Sungei Buloh wetlands, to tap the burgeoning eco-tourism market.

The 647ha Kukup island, a five-minute boat ride from the mainland, is one of three Ramsar-accredited nature reserves in Johor state teeming with rich

biodiversity such as flying foxes, bearded pigs and long-tailed macaques.

The title is granted by the Swiss-based Ramsar Convention Bureau to identify wetlands of international importance.

In total, Sungei Buloh with the three spots in Johor will mean more than 1,300ha of lush green reserves, full of flora and fauna, that can be managed holistically and can attract tourist dollars.

The tourism agencies of both countries are conducting a feasibility study, separated into four phases, which includes looking at the environmental impact of visitors on these sites and the best modes of transport between the spots, said Ms Jeannie Lim, tourism concept development director at the Singapore Tourism Board.

She added that Malaysia and Singapore are now studying examples of cross-boundary eco-tourism products overseas.

The collaboration, first mooted last year as part of Singapore's involvement in the Iskandar Malaysia development region, was reiterated during talks between the two countries' prime ministers last week.

The talks secured a historic land swop deal to settle the issue of Malayan Railway land in Singapore, and the leaders also agreed to cooperate on projects such as a rapid transit system link between Johor Baru and Singapore, and an iconic wellness project in Iskandar.

While the feasibility study is on, the lure of Kukup remains a cheap weekend getaway where a mere RM85 (S$36) gets a night's stay and three meals at one of the sprawling holiday chalets overlooking dozens of fish farms dotting the sea.

Fishing remains the main source of income for most locals here, but for years Kukup has crumbled under the weight of a declining fish industry. The busy Strait of Malacca is riven by pollution that has dwindled the supply of red snappers and garoupas in the waters. The issue has been compounded by soaring food prices and a weakening economy.

Kukup is expected to benefit greatly if the eco-tourism plan succeeds. So, too, is the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve here.

Already, more than 140,000 visitors passed through its gates last year, more than three times the number visiting the three Johor sites.

Tourism experts such as travel consultant Subaraj Rajathurai, 47, who for the past 20 years has toured the nature sites in Johor, sees the initiative between the two countries as a 'win-win' situation.

Singapore can leverage on its world-class hotels and efficient transport networks - attributes that already make it a strong tourist hub regionally, while tapping a market dominated by neighbours with bigger and lusher green spaces, he said.

'Many of the roads in Johor are narrow and riven with potholes. A lot of work must be done to make it more attractive to international tourists,' he added.

Experts point to a largely untapped market of eco-tourists who can be wooed - estimates put the number of bird watchers in the United States, for example, in the millions.

Then there are the environmental benefits. Protecting wetlands which are separated by small stretches of water could also slow the loss of mangroves and allow birds to migrate back and forth, noted Assistant Professor Edward Webb from the department of biology at the National University of Singapore.

He said: 'The old school way of managing ecosystems, in which each country takes care of its own spaces, is outdated.

'Ecosystems do not respect national boundaries.'

Biodiversity boost to sleepy spots
Straits Times 27 Sep 10;

Amresh Gunasingham susses out the three Johor sites, which may be linked with Sungei Buloh if an eco-tourism project between Malaysia and Singapore takes off.

SUNGEI BULOH

THREE decades ago, a visitor to the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve would be greeted by a smattering of prawn ponds situated within acres of wasteland.

Today, through a concerted effort to protect the 138ha green space, which was gazetted as a nature reserve in 2002, the area now teems with a variety of flora and fauna, including more than 220 species of birds.

Concerns have been raised about the need to protect the site from excessive public exposure.

Some 140,000 visitors walked through the reserve's gates last year. To try and alleviate the crowds, the authorities want to lower the number to 100,000 by channelling some of them to a 38ha park that will be built soon surrounding the reserve.

Linked to the nearby Kranji trail, the new park will be replete with facilities such as observation pods, coastal boardwalks and wireless learning trails.

The prospect of developing a cross-border tourist attraction involving the reserve and the three Ramsar green spaces in Johor has caught the attention of researchers and nature enthusiasts alike.

'It makes both economic and ecological sense,' said Assistant Professor Edward Webb from the department of biology at the National University of Singapore.

SUNGAI PULAI

JOHOR is a state blessed with an abundance of natural wonders and Sungai Pulai is a good example.

Spanning 9ha, it is the second-largest mangrove area in the state and was gazetted by the state government in 1923, the first mangrove forest to receive that distinction.

For years, the reserve has played an important economic role in supplying wood products such as timber.

It is also home to the rare small tree, Avicennia lanata, and animals such as the smooth otter and flat-headed cat. Threatened bird species like the mangrove pitta are known to live there.

The reserve, much of which remains protected and open only to environmental groups and researchers, sits at the mouth of a lowland tropical river basin, teeming with animal life.

Yet over the years, the mangroves there, like those in the rest of Malaysia, have fallen victim to illegal logging, the clearing of upland vegetation and land reclamation.

It is estimated that, between 1980 and 1990, 12 per cent of the country's mangrove forests disappeared.

TANJUNG PIAI

LOCATED at the southern tip of Malaysia, the Tanjung Piai National Park is home to more than half of the 40 known freshwater mangrove species in the world.

Named after a local fern known as 'Paku

Piai', the park supports many threatened species, such as the pig-tailed macaque, and birds such as the mangrove pitta.

The site has been conferred the status of a state park for eco-tourism by the Johor government, meaning it is funded by an estimated RM5 million (S$2.15million) annual budget that is shared with four other such parks.

The park is easy to navigate - a raised boardwalk network runs through the mangroves, while an ample number of maps and directional signs are also provided.

The site already appears to be popular with Singaporean nature lovers and schools alike, with schools taking students on annual nature trails and rubbish clean-ups there. More than 70 per cent of the 35,000 visitors to Tanjung Piai annually are from overseas.

Said Mr Yeo Suay Hwee, a nature guide: 'The reserve supports 23 species of mangroves. Considering there are only 30 known freshwater mangrove species in the region, that is a substantial number.'

PULAU KUKUP

A CENTURY ago, the seaside town of Kukup in south-west Johor was a famed fishing hub. Yet, just a stone's throw away from its coast, the 647ha island of Pulau Kukup holds the distinction of being the world's second largest uninhabited mangrove forest.

Local legend has it that the island is cursed - it was once home to five celestial princesses until one of them committed the forbidden act of falling in love and eloped with a sailor.

Gazetted as a national park in 1997, the lack of human intervention has seen it become home to more that 70 bird species and 30 mangrove species, crabs and wild boars, while the mudflats are rich with shellfish.

A thriving marine cage industry exists in the coastal waters between the island and the mainland. Its geographical position enables it to shield the mainland from the elements.

'Kukup has huge mudflats, which are important for the stabilisation and maintenance of mangroves,' said assistant professor Edward Webb from the department of biology at the National University of Singapore.

However, the western part of the island has been eroding in the last 15 years, leading to some mangroves vanishing.

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