Garden City Fund gets donation boost for coral reef survey

Channel NewsAsia 29 Sep 12;

SINGAPORE: The National Parks Board's Garden City Fund (GCF) will get a boost from a corporate donation for an upcoming survey of coral reefs.

The Air Liquide Group will donate more than S$50,000 to the fund.

Chairman of GCF, Professor Leo Tan, said: "It is with such partnerships that we can continue our efforts to conserve and sustain our biodiversity for present and future generations to enjoy."

Professor Tan added that Air Liquide is supporting an important national project that will contribute towards the management of Singapore's coastal and marine environment.

For the coral reef survey to be carried out, the GCF is seeking additional funds of S$220,000.

The coral reef survey, scheduled to start next year, is part of the Comprehensive Marine Biodiversity Survey, a national initiative to take stock of Singapore's marine ecosystem, species diversity and distribution.

- CNA/al

Air Liquide Group contributes to conservation of Singapore's natural assets
NParks Press Release 29 Sep 12;

The donation of more than $50,000 will go towards planting of 101 native trees at Punggol Waterway Park and an upcoming coral reef survey

Singapore, 29 Sep 2012 - To celebrate 101 years of pioneering work in gases for industry, health and the environment, over 250 participants from Singapore Oxygen Air Liquide (SOXAL) gathered at Punggol Waterway Park this morning to plant 101 native trees. The Air Liquide Group, together with the Air Liquide Foundation, will also contribute funds for an upcoming survey of coral reefs. Air Liquide Group’s total donation of more than $50,000 to the National Parks Board's Garden City Fund signals its commitment to the conservation of Singapore’s natural assets.

The planting of 101 native trees by the Air Liquide Group was made possible under the GCF’s Plant-A-Tree (PAT) programme. Launched in 2007, the PAT programme is an avenue for individuals and organisations to do their part for nature by planting trees at designated parks. To date, over 12,000 trees have been pledged and planted by some 16,000 participants, including more than 200 corporations.

Scheduled to commence in 2013, the coral reef survey is part of the Comprehensive Marine Biodiversity Survey, a national initiative to take stock of Singapore's marine ecosystem, species diversity and distribution. Led by NParks and partnering experts from tertiary institutions, non-governmental organisations and individual enthusiasts, the Survey began in 2010, and covers a range of habitats including mudflats, intertidal, coral reefs and the seabed of Singapore. For the coral reef survey to be carried out, the GCF is seeking additional funds of $220,000.

"We are encouraged by and thankful for the support from the Air Liquide Group. It is with such partnerships that we can continue our efforts to conserve and sustain our biodiversity for present and future generations to enjoy,” said Prof Leo Tan, Chairman of the Garden City Fund. “Air Liquide is supporting an important national project that will contribute towards the management of Singapore’s coastal and marine environment. As this is a huge undertaking, we would like to invite more private sector support for the coral reef survey.”

“In commemorating our centennial presence in Singapore, we find it appropriate to collaborate with the Garden City Fund to support their admirable efforts to drive key environmental concerns. Air Liquide’s gases are used to protect lives and support technologies that contribute to environment protection. Similarly, many of the gases we supply to our customers in Singapore are used to decrease polluting emissions or to produce energies of tomorrow. In addition, we believe that we can always do more and as such, we are constantly looking at different ways to make meaningful contributions to the environmental landmark in Singapore and this opportunity could not have come at a better time,” said Mr Christophe Chalier, Managing Director, SOXAL.

The tree-planting event was jointly organised by Air Liquide Group, GCF and NParks.