Letter from George Pasqual, Straits Times Forum 27 Nov 07;
I READ with dismay the planned conversion of 30ha of the Mandai rainforest into a nature-themed park for tourists ('Mandai to get new nature attraction on 30-hectare site'; ST, Nov 21).
We are just a tiny island with not much forest left after our much-lauded efforts in transforming it into a world-class city within a garden, recognised for its steady economy, reliable infrastructure and governance.
ourist arrivals have increased tremendously and it is forecast that the population in Singapore could reach 5.5 million.
Do we need another tourist attraction at the expense of plundering our small rainforest and upsetting the ecosystem and biodiversity of the area?
Where there is much human activity, Nature cannot stay its course and degradation of the once-pristine landscape will follow, to the point of no return.
There are many 'back to nature' tourist resorts in neighbouring countries which are a hop, skip and jump away and with more expansive jungle or forest landscapes and panoramic scenes which will easily eclipse our 30ha offering.
We already have many world-class tourist attractions and with the integrated resorts and the Formula One race coming on stream, do we need to sacrifice a portion of our island's rainforest heritage just to attract a couple of million more tourists?
We do not need more hotels and chalets to denude whatever remaining greenery we have on this fast-urbanising island.
The Mandai road is flanked by a waterway and thick rainforest of sheer tropical splendour, which merge naturally into the theme parks of the zoo and Night Safari. The surrounds of the zoo and Night Safari are a fitting introductory welcome to visitors to these two attractions.
Please don't spoil the ambience of the Mandai area.
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