Channel NewsAsia 16 Apr 08;
SINGAPORE : Singaporeans can look forward to having more trees around the island in a few years' time.
The National Parks Board and the Singapore Land Authority have turned four state land sites, almost the size of 50 football fields, into tree banks. The four sites are being used to nurture young trees to meet future demands for landscaping in Singapore.
Three sites are located at Sungei Tengah and one in the West Coast area. The Sungei Tengah (Lorong Pasu) sites measure a total of 24 hectares and the West Coast site provides seven hectares of tree-bank space.
One such site at Sungei Tengah will nurture the young trees before they are transplanted in a nursery in Pasir Panjang.
To maximise land use, the trees are planted using a root control bag. The bags will also help contain the root structure of the saplings which will help make it easier to transplant the trees.
A total of 11,000 trees, including the popular 'Jelutong' and 'Katong Laut' trees, has been planted on the four land sites.
Simon Longman, Director, National Parks Board, said: "We have this big demand for semi-mature trees for maximum impact in our projects. We have a lot of parks projects and street scape projects, which are projects along the roads... Gardens by the Bay is one example of a project which is coming up." - CNA/ms
Four new tree banks - for a greener future
Shobana Kesava, Straits Times 17 Apr 08;
FOUR new banks have been set up by the Government, but they are not designed to help investors save for the future. Instead, they will satisfy Singapore's growing demand for trees.
The National Parks Board (NParks) has so far spent $800,000 on four new nurseries that are home to 72 species of saplings. Many are rare here, including the Jelutong with its pagoda-like branches and the Katong Laut, which is normally restricted to coastal forests.
NParks says that eventually, the trees will be transplanted to roadsides, gardens, parks and other places in need of a visual pick-me-up.
Located on the western side of the island, the tree banks cover just over 30ha, enough land for about 48 football fields. The nurseries are expected to pay out in semi-mature trees in the next three to five years.
'Within five years they will be large enough to make an impact in their new environment and people can appreciate them better,' said NParks streetscape director Simon Longman.
The tree-planting drive is part of an NParks plan to turn Singapore greener.
In particular, many of the trees are expected to go into the Gardens By The Bay project in Marina South which will be ready in late 2010. A series of waterfront parks, they will include a conservatory and serve as Singapore's second botanical garden.
The saplings are expected to increase the number of trees planted in Singapore to 80,000 or so each year, up from the current 60,000.
Most of the trees in Singapore are imported from neighbouring countries which is slightly more expensive than raising them here, said Mr Longman.
More importantly, he said, there would be greater certainty in being ready for major projects like Gardens By The Bay.
The Singapore Land Authority's (SLA) deputy director of land asset management services division, Mr Lewis Koh, said the use of these sites as tree banks is scheduled to be reconsidered in 2013.
By that time, the 72 species of trees being planted this year are expected to be lush.
Among the more unusual species that could line roads here are the seashore mangosteen, mangrove trumpet tree and Katong Laut. These are now being tested for their hardiness at the tree banks.
Mr Longman said NParks will be working with the SLA to identify three more nursery sites by August.
NParks will be investing in about 30,000 tree saplings in all.
31ha of land for tree nurseries
Singapore snippets Today Online 17 Apr 08;
About 31 hectares of state land will serve as nursery or tree banks to meet Singapore's future landscaping needs under a joint project undertaken by the National Parks Board (NParks) and the Singapore Land Authority.
Comprising four sites – three in Sungei Tengah and one in West Coast – the bank has 11,000 trees comprising 72 different species. The Sungei Tengah site measures 24ha and the West Coast one is 7ha in size. The tree banks will also serve as temporary homes for trees salvaged from other sites.
To maximise the land space and simplify the inventory process, NParks planted the trees plantation-style, using a patented system of root-control bags from the United States that will ease the transplanting process in three to five years' time. The bags help contain the roots of the plants, making harvesting easier and quicker.
Said NParks director Simon Longman: "The tree banks allow us to pre-grow quality trees, and provide lush greenery and better shade at a faster rate. And we can make available trees of more diverse species."
NParks & SLA create more than 30ha of space for tree banks
Inter-agency project sees more than 11,000 trees nurtured on State land for future use
NParks press release 15 Apr 08;
15 April 2008 – In a few years’ time, Singaporeans passing along Sungei Tengah and West Coast would be treated to a visual spectacle of lush, green young trees sprawling across more than 30 hectares of State land.
The National Parks Board (NParks) and Singapore Land Authority (SLA) – tapping on each other’s resources and expertise - have embarked on their biggest tree-banks project. Four sites in Sungei Tengah and the West Coast area are being used to nurture young trees to meet future demands for landscaping in Singapore. These trees will liven up Singapore’s streetscape and add more than a touch of greenery in upcoming significant NParks projects such as Gardens by the Bay, the Streetscape Greenery Masterplan and new park developments.
SLA is known for its role as the central land bank of Singapore’s 14,000 hectares of State land. It is now also the tree bank of some 11,000 trees planted on four State land sites. There are 3 sites in Sungei Tengah and 1 in West Coast. The Sungei Tengah (Lorong Pasu) sites measure a total of 24 ha and the West Coast site provides 7ha of tree-bank space.
Several factors go into site selection, such as accessibility, size, location and the suitability of the ground for tree banks. More than two months of planning, sourcing and surveying work were done before the project was implemented in June 2007.
The 11,000 trees that have been planted so far comprises 72 different species of trees, with 75% being species found in the region. The tree banks also serve as temporary holding areas for trees salvaged from various sites before they are transplanted in other parts of Singapore.
SLA’s Deputy Director of Land Asset Management Services, Mr Lewis Koh, said: “This joint initiative by SLA and NParks to create tree banks effectively optimises the use of vacant State land, and provides a long-term supply of trees for landscaping needs in Singapore. Our State lands are beautified aesthetically and this enhances the value of our land as green lungs for the community. We will continue to identify and study sites with the potential for tree banks on more State land.”
NParks’ Director of Streetscape, Mr Simon Longman, said: “SLA has shown great spirit of collaboration as a fellow government agency to help NParks in our overall efforts to make Singapore a ‘City in a Garden’. The tree banks allow us to pre-grow quality trees, and provide lush greenery and better shade at a faster rate. We are also able to make available trees of more diverse species. Many of these tree species are native to the forests of this region. By planting them in various parts of Singapore, we are introducing a greater biodiverse mix of trees in urban areas and enhancing our natural heritage”
To maximise the land space at the current sites and simplify inventory process of the stocks, NParks planted the trees plantation-style using a patented system of root control bag from the United States which will ease the transplanting process in about 3 to 5 years’ time. The bags help contain the root structure of the plants, making harvesting easier and quicker.
