Straits Times Forum 31 Oct 09;
I WAS surprised and disappointed to discover that the route of the recently concluded North Face 100 race passed through the core of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.
Meeting the needs of recreation is important and having a healthy and active nation is a good thing. However, in a small country like Singapore, selecting appropriate venues for any given recreational activity requires understanding, sensitivity and a well-informed populace.
The ultramarathon and training run routes for the race were inappropriate for the following reasons:
# The law: The National Parks Board Act calls for the protection of the plant and animal life of our nature reserves. While NParks is encouraged to promote recreation in nature reserves, the caveat 'appropriate' is applied. Are high-impact runs an appropriate form of recreation in sensitive nature areas? The Parks and Trees Act also discourages such disturbances.
# Sustainability: Our rich biodiversity, already squeezed into a limited area, may be harmed by the noise, compaction and erosion that accompany high-impact activities. I have studied the Bukit Timah forest for 20 years, and my professional opinion is that high-impact activities held in high biodiversity areas are not conducive to their conservation.
The North Face's website says its 'associates, athletes and customers are...dedicated to preserving the places they explore'. Evidence suggests that reality can fall short of corporate ideals.
# Limited resource: The largest remaining remnant of the rainforests that clothed Singapore for thousands of years is a mere 0.6 sq km area in the heart of Bukit Timah, the very area the ultramarathon route traversed. Mistreating such a limited resource base is not a prudent way to preserve the crown jewel of our natural heritage.
Living in a small country means we have to accept and work around certain limitations. Just as we cannot realistically convert the entire island back into a wilderness, we also should not expect to hold recreational activities wherever we want. Unfortunately, the ultramarathon organisers were not informed or sensitive enough to select alternative routes.
Shawn Lum
President
Nature Society (Singapore)
