Best of our wild blogs: 24 Sep 10

House Crows fishing
from Bird Ecology Study Group

Birdtanical gardens
from The annotated budak

Damselfly (30) - Libellago Lineata
from Nature Photography - Singapore Odonata

Read more!

Learning Forest of tropical trees at the Singapore Botanic Gardens

Hannah Koh Straits Times 24 Sep 10;

GOOD news for nature and tree lovers.

NParks will be expanding the 6 hectare site of primary rain forest in the Singapore Botanic Gardens to include a 9.8 hectare Learning Forest to showcase the best of tropical trees.

Through thematic walks, visitors will be able to see giant trees, trees with interesting forms and barks of various textures, a conservation collection of rare fruit and nut species, and a bamboo garden.

National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan announced this at the opening of the 'Wealth of the Rain Forest' exhibition at the Singapore Botanic Gardens on Friday morning.

The Learning Forest will also include a new marshland showcasing tropical wetland plant species and aquatic wildlife. When completed, visitors can look forward to an exceptional forest and marshland experience within the city for nature education and nature watching, said Mr Mah.

Mr Mah stressed the importance of rain forests as a ' key defence against global warming' for their natural capacity to store large amounts of carbon, saying that the amount of carbon stored in forests is estimated to be more than the total amount of carbon found in the atmosphere .

NParks also reforests secondary rain forests on top of maintaining existing primary rain forests. Last year, NParks launched the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, which is a framework setting out the key strategies to guide efforts in conserving Singapore's biodiversity.

An exhibition on 'Wealth of the Rain Forest' is now on at the Singapore Botanic Gardens till Oct 6 to celebrate the International Year of Biodiversity.

Some interesting nuggets about the rain forest:

* Outside of the coral reefs, tropical rain forests hold the planet's largest treasure of biodiversity.

* Forests in Southeast Asia house more than three times the number of flowering plants than those in North America, which has a land area almost seven times larger.

* Quinine, the anti-malaria medication, was extracted from the bark of the Cinchona tree found in the rain forests on the Andes mountains of South America.

*The Gutta-Percha, a relative of the Chiku fruit tree, was discovered by the colonial British in Singapore during the mid-19th century for use to insulate the new invention of submarine telegraphic communications cable from 1866. It is still the preferred non-toxic material for dentists performing root-canal fillings.

The exhibition will also feature with its exquisite images of biodiversity in the rain forest - from rain forest giants like the dipterocarps to healing rain forest plants that have been used in traditional and Western medicine.

Interactive exhibits that will also enhance visitors' experience and appreciation of the forest world.

Catch these at the 'Wealth of the Rain Forest' exhibition. Admission is free for the public and it will be held at the Botany Centre at the Singapore Botanic Gardens from Sept 24 to Oct 6.

NParks to expand primary rainforest area
Saiful Bahri Ismail Channel NewsAsia 24 Sep 10;

SINGAPORE: The National Parks Board (NParks) will be expanding the Singapore Botanic Gardens with a new 9.8 hectares parkland.

Speaking at the launch of the "Wealth of the Rain Forest" exhibition on Friday, National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan said the learning forest area will showcase the best of tropical trees.

There will also be a new marshland showcasing tropical wetland plant species and aquatic wildlife.

Mr Mah added when completed, the learning forest will give visitors an exceptional forest and marshland experience within the city for nature education and nature watching.

Through thematic walks, visitors will get to see giant trees, trees with interesting forms and barks of various textures, a conservation collection of rare fruit and nut species, and a bamboo garden.

The "Wealth of the Rain Forest" exhibition is an indoor display that features the richness of plant life in the rain forest, and will be held until October 6.

-CNA/wk

Exploring the rainforest
Straits Times 25 Sep 10;

Check out a native bamboo house used by semi-nomadic and subsistence farmers in the Tropics, stroll beneath a rainforest canopy, see forest orchids and smell the jungle's fruits and spices - at the Botanic Gardens.

Orchidologist Saw Lwin, 51, was among those who got to do these at the Wealth Of The Rain Forest exhibition, which was opened by Minister for National Development Mah Bow Tan yesterday and is on till Oct 6.

In celebration of the International Year of Biodiversity, the exhibition highlights ecosystems and uses of the rainforest, such as for fuel, food and building materials.

Speech by Mr Mah Bow Tan, Minister for National Development at the launch of the Wealth of the Rainforest exhibition
NParks media release 24 Sep 10;

Mrs Christina Ong

Chairperson, National Parks Board

Distinguished guests

Ladies and gentlemen,

1. As we stand amidst the lush greenery of our Singapore Botanic Gardens, it is hard to imagine that what we enjoy here is being deliberately destroyed at an astonishing rate in many countries.

Celebrating Biodiversity

2. As countries along the tropical belt embark on development and urbanisation, one of the casualties is their rainforests, which are being lost at a rate of at least 7 million hectares a year. This is equivalent to about 100 Singapores in one single year! Forests are being converted for agricultural use and urban development. Naturally occurring forest fires, pests and diseases also contribute to the loss.

3. Today, only 36% of all forests in the world are primary forests. This "Wealth of the Rain Forest" exhibition is indeed timely and useful as it helps to create better awareness and appreciation of the incredible richness of life in the rainforest and its value to mankind. The exhibition is also a good preamble to next year's United Nations International Year of Forests.

4. The tropical rainforest is probably Planet Earth's best showcase of biodiversity. Rainforests contain more than half the world's biodiversity species, even though they occupy only 6% of the Earth's land surface. It is quite amazing that Southeast Asia, with about 3 million square kilometres of land area, actually houses more than three times the number of flowering plants than North America, which has a land area almost seven times larger.

5. The "wealth" that tropical rainforests confer is multi-fold. They provide us with sustenance and valuable materials for fabrics, building, fuel, pharmaceutical and medicinal applications. Rainforests also present eco-tourism and recreational opportunities. But more importantly, rainforests are our key defence against global warming as a mega carbon sink, given their natural capacity to store large amounts of carbon.

In fact, the amount of carbon stored in forests is estimated to be more than all the carbon found in the atmosphere[1].

Singapore's Role in Rainforest and Biodiversity Conservation

6. Like many other countries, we are also grappling with the dilemma of development and conservation. We have been able to manage this policy dilemma through judicious land use planning and development over the years. Our nature reserves still contain primary forests. The 280 hectares of primary forests in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve are living laboratories for important ecological and taxonomic research. Even outside of our nature reserves, we have 6 hectares of primary rainforest right in the heart of our city - in fact, right here at the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

7. We are among a handful of cities in the world today which still have a primary rainforest in the city. NParks will be expanding this 6 hectare site to include a 9.8 hectare Learning Forest that will showcase the best of tropical trees. Through thematic walks, visitors will get to see giant trees, trees with interesting forms and barks of various textures, a conservation collection of rare fruit and nut species, and a bamboo garden. There will also be a new marshland showcasing tropical wetland plant species and aquatic wildlife. When completed, this extension of the Singapore Botanic Gardens will give visitors an exceptional forest and marshland experience within the city for nature education and nature watching.

8. Besides conserving our remaining primary rainforests, NParks also carries out reforestation activities in our secondary forests to help sustain viable biodiversity populations. A recent example would be the Forest of Giants[2] initiative at Telok Blangah Hill Park.

9. The Singapore Botanic Gardens plays an important role in plant conservation efforts in Singapore and the region. Since its establishment in 1859, the Gardens has worked with scientists worldwide to develop and pool new knowledge of rare and endangered species, both in the wild and in cultivation. Our botanists are exploring the forests in the region to document, research and name plants. Our researchers have pioneered horticultural trials for plant groups and are studying how to grow endangered species.

10. At the national level, NParks has also formulated a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, which was launched last year. It is a framework that sets out the key strategies to guide our efforts in conserving Singapore's biodiversity.

11. At the international level, we are working with the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity or CBD, to develop a City Biodiversity Index to be endorsed at next month's United Nations CBD Conference of Parties meeting in Nagoya. The Index is a self-assessment tool for cities around the world to evaluate their own biodiversity conservation efforts, which is an important step towards preserving global biodiversity.

Conclusion

12. In conclusion, let us marvel at the diversity and beauty of the rainforest as we walk through the "Wealth of the Rain Forest" exhibition. I hope that you will be motivated to return, together with your families and friends, to explore the rainforest right here at the Gardens.

13. On this note, it gives me great pleasure to open the "Wealth of the Rain Forest" exhibition. Thank you.

[1] Forests store 290 Gigatonnes of carbon (289 tonnes x 109). Source: FAO, 2010

[2] The Forest of Giants initiative was launched by Minister in Apr 2010. With $1mil sponsorship (over 5 years) from Sembawang Corporation, the forest comprises over 600 trees that NParks will plant across 76ha of land area at the Southern Ridges.

Singapore Botanic Gardens celebrates International Year of Biodiversity with launch of "Wealth of the Rainforest" exhibition
NParks media release 24 Sep 10;

24 September 2010 - In celebration of International Year of Biodiversity, the Singapore Botanic Gardens is holding a public exhibition that features the richness of plant life in the rain forest. Held for the first time in the gardens, "Wealth of the Rain Forest" is an indoor display of the many treasures that the forest holds and little known facts, which aim to create awareness and enhance visitors' appreciation towards biodiversity.

Few may realise that outside of the coral reefs, tropical rain forests hold the planet's largest treasure of biodiversity. In addition, forests in Southeast Asia house more than three times the number of flowering plants than those in North America, which has a land area almost seven times larger. These amazing facts and many more will be unveiled in the exhibition, which was declared open by Minister for National Development, Mr Mah Bow Tan, this morning.

Not only does the forest provide pleasure for mankind to enjoy nature for leisure, it also offers many economic opportunities for centuries through the fruit and other foods, fibre used to make fabrics and materials for building, fuel, pharmaceutical and medicinal applications.

"Wealth of the Rain Forest" also reveals interesting facts on how certain rain forest plants have healing properties and how the forests present opportunities for eco-tourism and other forms of recreation. For example, quinine, the anti-malaria medication, was extracted from the bark of the Cinchona tree (Cinchona spp.) found in the forests on the Andes mountains of South America. The Gutta-Percha (Palaquium gutta), a relative of the Chiku fruit tree, was discovered by the colonial British in Singapore during the mid-19th century for use to insulate the new invention of submarine telegraphic communications cable (from 1866) and is still the preferred non-toxic material for dentists performing root-canal fillings.

This educational display will also entertain with its exquisite images of biodiversity in the rain forest - from rain forest giants like the dipterocarps to healing rain forest plants that have been used in traditional and Western medicine. Interactive exhibits will also enhance visitors' experience and appreciation of the forest world.

Dr Wong Wei Har, Director of the Singapore Botanic Gardens, said, "We are very excited to have been able to put together this exhibition that allows people in Singapore to have a better understanding of the rain forests and their biodiversity. Through this educational and entertaining exhibition, we hope visitors to the Singapore Botanic Gardens will be able to discover and appreciate the richness of these forests. More importantly, we hope they will be reminded that Singapore is not only rich in biodiversity, but that they can see a primary rainforest right here in the Gardens, just 5 minutes away from busy Orchard Road. "

The exhibition is free for the public and will be held at the Botany Centre at the Singapore Botanic Gardens from 24 September to 6 October 2010.

The event also saw the launch of the Singapore Botanic Gardens 2011 Calendar at the exhibition. The Singapore Botanic Gardens Calendar is a community project by ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, a staunch supporter of this project since 2002. Featuring some of the beautiful wild orchid species native to Singapore, the 2011 calendar is available for sale at Singapore Botanic Gardens from 24 September, and is priced at $12 for a desk calendar and $20 for a wall calendar. All proceeds from the sale of the calendar will go towards the Singapore Botanic Gardens Exhibition Fund, in support of the Garden's public exhibition programme. This programme is used to educate visitors about the appreciation of flora and fauna.

Read more!

PUB wins two international water awards

Straits Times 24 Sep 10;

THE national water agency PUB scored another feather in its cap yesterday.

It scooped up two international awards - one in recognition of the Marina Barrage and the second for developing a pioneering water treatment plant that is able to collect and treat water flowing in small estuaries such as canals and streams near the sea.

The biennial Project Innovation Awards, conferred by the International Water Association, recognise innovative excellence in water engineering projects around the world.

Despite the limited availability of land here, more than two thirds of Singapore's land area has been set aside for water catchment space. Most major rivers that flow through the island have been dammed to create 15 reservoirs that provide most of the water supply generated locally.

But till recently, it was not possible to create catchments from the streams and rivulets that flow near the shoreline, due to their relatively small size.

It is to tap this water resource that the Variable Salinity Plant was designed, said the PUB.

The plant can generate a higher yield of treated water by being able to treat surface runoff stored in a canal behind an inflatable rubber weir when rain water is present.

If the canal is dry, it is able to switch to treating sea water.

'By tapping the small rivers and streams near the shoreline as sources of water, the Variable Salinity Plant has the potential to increase the water catchment from 67 per cent to 90 per cent,' said MrChua Soon Guan, PUB's Assistant Chief Executive of Policy.

This is the third international award won by the Marina Barrage, widely considered an engineering feat for its ability to both serve as a water catchment and alleviate flooding, as well as be a focal point for recreational activities.

Together with the Punggol and Serangoon Reservoirs, which will be opened over the next few years, the Marina Reservoir will increase Singapore's water catchment space from half to two-thirds of the country's land area.

It will also boost Singapore's water supply by 10 per cent.

AMRESH GUNASINGHAM

Read more!

Two metre sea levels predicted by U.S. coastal geologist

ABC 24 Sep 10;

An American coastal geologist describes rising sea levels is going to be the first major negative impact of global warming.

Described as America's most outspoken coastal geologist Professor Orrin Pilkey assumes sea levels will rise by 2 metres by 2100.

This is far beyond the predictions of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change who claim levels will rise to half a metre.

He says more needs to be done to prepare coastal communities from climate change threats.

"If you're going to have development and its close to the beach, make sure the buildings movable."

He also recommends a planned retreat.

"It means you recognise there's rising sea levels and you move things back as required, or you demolish the buildings."

With threats of rising sea levels and more extreme weather events to thrash our coastline, there is a high probability of litigation and claims of compensation, brought on by property owners for damage to their properties.

Professor Jan McDonald, director of the Griffith University Climate Change Response Program says currently there's no policy position in respect of liability for past decisions, and this needs to change.

It's going to cost a lot of the next 50 to 100 years to either fortify and protect existing properties, repair properties that have been damaged or in some case retreat and relocate whole communities.

Rather than focusing on litigation and individual property owners that may want to sue, I would like to see a national conversation on a proper funding mechanism for dealing with these coastal impacts."

She says currently COAG is putting together national planning principles for sea level rise and other coastal impacts, but liability funding mechanisms aren't being discussed."

Read more!