NParks launches mangrove conservation area at Sungei Buloh

The National Parks Board (NParks) launched a new mangrove arboretum at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Coastal Trail on Monday (Oct 5).
Olivia Siong, Channel NewsAsia 5 Oct 15;

SINGAPORE: The National Parks Board (NParks) launched a new mangrove arboretum at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Coastal Trail on Monday (Oct 5), as part of its efforts to conserve native mangrove species.

The arboretum - a place where plants are cultivated for scientific and educational purposes - spans five hectares and is expected to have about 35 native "true" mangrove species. This means that they are plants that only grow in the mangrove environment.

Said Mr Wong Tuan Wah, director of conservation at NParks: “We want to increase the number of species in Sungei Buloh itself so that there is one focal point for people who want to study mangroves. For example, when researchers, scientists, students and visitors come and visit Sungei Buloh, they will be able to see all these types of mangroves in one location. So, it is a good opportunity for conservation, outdoor education and outreach as well."

The initiative boosts the conservation of rare mangrove species, such as the Eye of the Crocodile, which is listed as globally endangered, with only about 200 mature trees in the world.

Mr Wong added: "By bringing back this rare endangered species, we are actually increasing the biodiversity of the mangrove habitat as well. With all these mangrove species, we are bringing a lot of diversity, not only in plant diversity, but also animal diversity.

“A lot of these intertidal animals, marine animals, depend on these mangrove species for survival. So by bringing back all these mangrove species, we hope that in time to come, there will be an increase in this intertidal fauna diversity as well."

The arboretum was opened by new Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan, who also planted a locally endangered mangrove tree.

In his speech, Mr Khaw said that he hopes the arboretum can be "a focal point" for Singaporeans who "may not fully relate or appreciate" the importance of mangrove swamps and how they "impact our quality of life". He added that mangroves bring many benefits, including preventing coastal erosion.

Mr Khaw also said more than 200 years ago, mangroves occupied about 13 per cent of the island. However, the number has shrunk to about 0.5 per cent.

Said Mr Khaw: “At the end of the day, physical infrastructure is not easy, but is the easier part because with an enlightened Government and some money, top-down we can do a lot of things with this hardware.

“But it is the social infrastructure which has to be ground-up, where Singaporeans, the people themselves, who believe in it, believe in the cause and be part of that and they on their own will be (asking) the Government, why don't you do this, why don't you do that faster."

Starting Monday, about 2,000 mangrove trees will be planted along a 500-metre stretch at Sungei Buloh over two years. Students, volunteers and community partners will be invited to plant and monitor the seedlings, collected from various mangrove forests in Singapore.

As this NParks initiative is also about raising the awareness of the public with regard to mangroves and conservation, it has plans to install educational signs, as well as roll out outreach programmes in the near future. A three-hour hands-on education programme - for children aged between four and six - is expected to take place by the middle of next year.

Kikkoman Singapore, the local manufacturing facility of Japan-based soy sauce manufacturer Kikkoman Corporation, also announced a S$500,000 sponsorship for the new mangrove arboretum.

- CNA/wl/xk


Sungei Buloh gets new mangrove conservation area
AsiaOne 5 Oct 15;

SINGAPORE - Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Coastal Trail's new arboretum is expected to plant 2,000 native mangrove trees along a 500-metre stretch over the next two years, the National Parks Board (NParks) said in a press release on Monday (Oct 5).

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An arboretum is a place where plants are cultivated for scientific and educational purposes. The designated area is expected to house about 35 native "true" mangrove species. This means that they are plants that only grow in the mangrove environment.

One such species NParks highlighted is the Eye of the Crocodile, a globally and critically endangered species with only around 200 mature trees in the world.

Manufacturing company Kikkoman Singapore has announced a $500,000 sponsorship for the new conservation area.

New Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan who launched the arboretum on Monday, said: "Mangrove conservation is key to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and in this regard, we place great importance on the establishment of the mangrove arboretum. Sungei Buloh is also home to the largest tract of mangrove forest on mainland Singapore.

"The arboretum will serve as a focal venue for conservation, education and outreach activities. It is an important project that will contribute to the conservation of mangrove plant species through propagating and planting of native mangrove species," he added.

In line with its aim of reaching out to the community, students, volunteers and other community partners will be invited to participate in the nurturing, planting and monitoring of these seedlings collected from various mangrove forests in Singapore.

NParks will also introduce a series of new interpretive signs and outreach programmes at the aboretum.


Mangrove field opens at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
LAURA ELIZABETH PHILOMIN Today Online 5 Oct 15;

SINGAPORE – A new mangrove arboretum that will be home to half the world’s 70 “true” mangrove species — those that grow only in the mangrove environment — has been launched at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve by the National Parks Board (NParks), with a donation of S$500,000 from Kikkoman Singapore to mark its 30th anniversary.

The arboretum — or collection of trees — will have 2,000 mangrove trees from 35 native species planted progressively along a 500m stretch at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Coastal Trail, which is currently open to the public as part of the reserve’s latest extension along Kranji Way. NParks will install signs with information on various mangrove species at the arboretum. Among the species to be featured include the globally critically-endangered Eye of the Crocodile trees, which got its name from breathing pores on its trunk that resemble crocodile eyes.

Mangroves provide habitats for animals and prevent coastal erosion. NParks’ director of conservation Wong Tuan Wah said at the launch today (Oct 5) the initiative came about after a study found that Sungei Buloh housed 30 out of 35 native mangrove species in Singapore. “So with this new initiative now, we want to increase the number of species in Sungei Buloh itself so that there’s one focal point for people who want to study mangroves,” he said, adding that the initiative would also replenish and increase the biodiversity of the mangrove habitat.

Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan helped to plant one of the first 200 trees, together with Mr Yuzaburo Mogi, honorary chief executive officer and chairman of the board of directors for Kikkoman Corporation. Kikkoman staff, student volunteers and other community partners will continue the planting process over the next two years, starting this month. Kikkoman Singapore will also sponsor a three-hour education programme for children between four and six years old starting in June next year.

Schools are one of the community partners regularly called on, among them River Valley High School student Micaiah Chua, 16. He and his schoolmates will be transplanting 30 mangrove saplings of six different species, which they collected from Changi Beach in April and were growing in school for the past few months as part of a conservation project.

“I (was not) very familiar with mangroves, (but) from my project and from coming here today, I’ve actually learnt much more; for example, identifying the species of mangroves (and) why conservation is so important,” said Micaiah.


'Living gallery' to help conserve mangroves here
Carolyn Khew, Straits Times AsiaOne 6 Oct 15;

An area will be set aside at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve for a living gallery of mangrove trees, comprising about half of the true species in the world, in a move to conserve these plants.

The 5ha area at the reserve's coastal trail will include a nursery and have, in two years' time, 2,000 native trees across 35 true species - those that grow only in mangroves or intertidal conditions.

The collection of trees, or arboretum, is an initiative to conserve Singapore's dwindling mangrove species. They now cover about 0.5 per cent of Singapore's land area, compared with 13 per cent in 1950.

Mr Wong Tuan Wah, director of conservation at the National Parks Board (NParks), said that just like any other plant, young mangrove saplings are susceptible to being eaten up by animals in the intertidal area or swept away due to water currents.

"What we want to do is to nurse them in the arboretum, in the nursery... until they are of suitable size (and) they are big enough to withstand all these physical conditions," said Mr Wong. "Once they are about 1m, or big enough, we will plant them into the intertidal area or into the mudflat in such a way they can withstand the conditions, or elements of the sea."

The mangrove species which will be planted include the globally critically endangered Eye of the Crocodile, or Bruguiera hainesii. Singapore has 11 of these in places such as Pulau Ubin, and none in the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve; there are only about 200 trees of this species globally.

According to the United States' National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's website, mangroves can store three to five times as much carbon dioxide as tropical trees, easing the effects of climate change. NParks also noted that their roots offer hiding places for young fishes and shrimps, and their branches offer shelter and nestling areas for birds such as herons.

Mangrove planting at the new arboretum is well under way, as 80 students planted some 200 mangrove saplings yesterday.

Institute of Technical Education College East student Tan Yong Qing, 22, together with his schoolmates, planted about 30 saplings. "This is the first time we are doing this... It makes you feel good because you're helping nature," he said.

During the launch of the arboretum yesterday at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan planted a locally endangered mangrove tree called the Dugun with Mr Haruhisa Takeuchi, Ambassador of Japan, and Mr Yuzaburo Mogi, honorary chief executive officer and chairman of the board of directors of Japan soya sauce maker Kikkoman. Kikkoman Singapore created a $500,000 sponsorship for the mangrove arboretum to mark its 30th anniversary.