CYNTHIA CHOO Today Online 7 Oct 18;
SINGAPORE — The Mandai mangrove and mudflats, a rich feeding ground for migratory birds and home to the vulnerable Mangrove Horseshoe Crab, will become Singapore's newest nature park in mid-2022.
The announcement on Sunday (Oct 7) by Second Minister for National Development Desmond Lee was widely welcomed by members of the nature community.
The new status will allow the National Parks Board (NParks) to better monitor and protect threatened species of mangrove, crustaceans and migratory shorebirds, and will also give NParks teeth to enforce anti-poaching laws under the Parks and Trees Act.
"This nature park will be sensitively managed by NParks, (it) will conduct habitat enhancement measures such as coastal clean ups and mangrove replanting," said Mr Lee, whose announcement was in conjunction with World Migratory Bird Day next weekend and the 25th anniversary of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.
The 73-hectare nature park, sited 3km east of the 130-hectare Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, is currently state land. The conserved area will comprise a 26-hectare mangrove forest, which has 16 threatened species of mangroves, and a 42-hectare mudflat.
The new nature park will complement the wetland reserve as a place for outdoor education and research, said Mr Lee, who is also Minister for Social and Family Development.
Basic amenities like bird hides, bicycle racks and a walking trail could feature at the new nature park.
From surveys and radio-tracking of shorebirds in recent years, NParks confirmed that the majority of shorebirds that roost in the wetland reserve at high tide would fly to look for food at the extensive mudflat exposed at low tide. Molluscs, crustaceans and worms are among the creatures found in abundance at the mudflat.
This means that both the mudflat and the wetland reserve are ecologically inter-dependent habitats for shorebirds.
Some 21 species of shorebirds have been recorded at the wetland reserve, with a peak count of 2,025 birds in 2012. They include the Whimbrel, Common Greenshank and Common Redshank, which are common winter visitors.
Singapore is one of 22 countries along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, which extends from the Arctic Circle through East and South-east Asia to Australia and New Zealand. Among the world’s nine recognised flyways, it supports the greatest diversity and populations of migratory birds — over 50 million from over 250 populations — but has the highest number of threatened migratory species.
The wetland reserve is an important pitstop for migratory birds along the flyway.
Nature lovers said the move to conserve the mudflats and mangroves was a long time coming.
The ecosystem at the mudflat is “under a lot of pressure” due to pollution and an increasingly busy Johor Strait, said a “euphoric” Mr N Sivasothi, senior lecturer at the National University of Singapore's department of biological sciences.
Without management, it would be quite impossible to ensure its long-term survival, he said.
“(This will mean) either side of Kranji river is now conserved. Buloh is extremely small on its own, (so) in combination (with the mudflat), it means much better potential for a healthier mangrove ecosystem," said Mr Sivasothi.
He hopes to reduce the trash that has been collecting in “high loads” in certain areas of the mangrove. “We’ll map out the mangrove, so that we can enter (with minimal impact) and clear it out,” he said.
Mr Stephen Beng, chairman of the Nature Society (Singapore)’s marine conservation group, said the new status is “testament to the hard work (that) volunteers, researchers and managers put in over the years to establish the connectivity of Mandai mangrove and mudflats to its surroundings, like the wetland reserve”.
While a nature park “doesn’t have the same protective status as a reserve”, it signals that the area is of ecological importance, said Mr Beng.
Stakeholders should continue working together on projects such as the management of invasive mussel species, he said.
The steady growth of the non-native Charru mussels, or Mytella strigata, in recent years has led to concerns that they could out-compete native Asian green mussels and horseshoe crabs. The alien species has been sighted at places such as Sungei Buloh, Pasir Ris, Pulau Ubin and Sembawang.
The Nature Society (Singapore), NParks and the Tropical Marine Science Institute are in a partnership to deal with the invasive species, Mr Beng added.
Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat to open as nature park in 2022
Tiffany Fumiko Tay Straits Times 7 Oct 18;
SINGAPORE - Nature lovers and bird watchers will have a new park to visit when the Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat opens to the public in mid-2022.
Second Minister for National Development Desmond Lee announced on Sunday (Oct 7) that the mudflat, located about 3km to the east of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, will be designated a nature park as part of efforts to strengthen the conservation of wetland biodiversity in Singapore.
The 72.8ha park will sit along two upcoming recreational routes; it will form the northernmost point of the Rail Corridor, and an eco-discovery corridor as part of the Park Connector Network's Round Island Route.
The National Parks Board (NParks), which took over the management of the mudflat in October, will provide a minimal level of amenities to minimise visitor impact to the mudflat. These could include a nature trail, bicycle racks and bird hides that will give visitors a panoramic view of migratory birds feeding at the mudflat.
Speaking at the 25th anniversary celebration of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on Sunday, Mr Lee, who is also Minister for Social and Family Development, said that the reserve and mudflat serve as important resting and feeding stops for birds flying south for the winter.
Migratory shorebirds travel thousands of kilometres from as far north as the Arctic Circle to as far south as Australia and New Zealand, making stops along the way in countries such as China, Vietnam and Singapore to refuel.
But with many rest stops along their route lost or affected by developments overseas, Sungei Buloh, a major stopover, plays a "critical role for their survival", said Mr Lee.
"Despite our small size, Singapore can continue to serve as a safe haven for these shorebirds and an important player in the international biodiversity scene," he said.
Data collected by NParks shows that the reserve and mudflat share an "intimate ecological connection", and the new nature park will provide more research and education opportunities, he said.
The move to conserve the mudflat was hailed by nature groups as an important step in preserving Singapore's natural heritage.
Dr Joseph Koh, chairman of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Singapore, said that the nature community had lobbied for many years to have the area protected.
"I'm glad to see it finally happened... the place is special because it is species rich and has a few mangrove trees that are found nowhere else in Singapore," he said.
Mr N. Sivasothi, senior lecturer at the National University of Singapore's department of biological sciences, said that he felt "euphoric" to hear the announcement.
"Either side of Kranji river is now conserved - Buloh is extremely small on its own, and in combination (with the mudflat), it means much better potential for a healthier mangrove ecosystem," said Mr Sivasothi, who is a member of the Nature Society.
"The management layer that NParks will bring in will make a lot of difference," he added.
NParks' group director for conservation Adrian Loo said NParks can now take action against poaching as well as facilitate research in the Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat, which is home to rare plant and wildlife species.
Dr Loo noted that the mudflat and the Sungei Buloh play complementary roles - birds have been observed to roost at Sungei Buloh, and to feast on the rich feeding grounds of molluscs, crustaceans and worms at the mudflat during low tide.
Migratory birds such as the whimbrel typically begin to arrive in Singapore around September and make their return journey in April, he added.
New nature park to open next to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
Tan Si Hui Channel NewsAsia 7 Oct 18;
SINGAPORE: A new nature park that is 3km to the east of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is slated to open in mid-2022.
The National Parks Board (NParks) made this announcement on Sunday (Oct 7) as Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve celebrated its 25th anniversary.
The Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat will be conserved as a 72.8 hectare nature park that will act as an outdoor education, learning and research centre, with visitor amenities such as bicycle racks, a nature trail and bird hides.
Ecologically linked to the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, the new nature park will be situated along two future major recreational routes - the Round-Island Route and the Rail Corridor.
Visitors can visit the nature park while exploring both recreational routes.
Second Minister for National Development Desmond Lee emphasised the need to “bring people in” to biodiversity areas.
“The management of the Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat reflects the continued approach of conservation, not one where we put in laws and fences and warning signs, and keep everyone out,” he said.
“This is really in line with our role as a City in a Garden - a small city with precious biodiversity surrounded by people and our developments, which requires our conservation efforts to be different from bigger countries.”
Dr Adrian Loo, group director of the conservation department of NParks, said the mangrove and mudflat at Mandai will be complementary to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.
“The birds will roost at Sungei Buloh and when the tides go down, the birds will come over to Mandai mudflat and they will feed there. When the tides start to come up, the birds will then fly back to Sungei Buloh,” he said.
To minimise impact on the mudflat, NParks said it will provide a minimum level of visitor amenities and Dr Loo said an impact assessment will be made.
“Migratory seasons only happen at the end of the year, around September until the end of the year. So most of the development of the nature park will be done outside the season.”
Member of Nature Society (Singapore) N Sivasothi welcomed the announcement of the new park and said researchers from the Asia-Pacific region excited upon hearing the news.
“We’ll roll up our sleeves and synch in to any kind of management group that will be set up to best understand how to work in Mandai. Many researchers, nature groups and volunteers will be involved to help in the surveys as well as the cleanups.”
Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, who opened Sungei Buloh as a nature park in 1993, was also there at the event, celebrating Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve's 25th anniversary.
Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat will be conserved as a Nature Park
NParks media release 7 Oct 18;
- Research and education opportunities will be provided, with the aim of increasing awareness and stewardship of its rich biodiversity
In conjunction with the World Migratory Bird Day next weekend and the 25th anniversary of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, the National Parks Board (NParks) today announced that Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat will be conserved as a Nature Park. Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat is situated about 3 km to the east of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and is one of the richest wetlands in Singapore. Collectively, the Wetland Reserve, Kranji Marshes and the new Nature Park safeguard a variety of complementary wetland habitats, including mangroves, mudflats and freshwater marshes, strengthening the conservation of wetland biodiversity in the northwestern part of Singapore. (Refer to Annex for map of wetland habitats)
Ecologically linked to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, the 72.8-hectare Nature Park will enhance the Reserve’s ecological capacity in wetland and migratory shorebird conservation. NParks will sensitively provide opportunities for research and education in the Nature Park for visitors to learn more about Singapore’s wetland biodiversity and to play a part in its conservation. The Nature Park is slated to be opened in mid-2022.
Ecological significance of the Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat
Mandai mangrove forest, is one of the few remaining mangrove habitats in Singapore with an extensive mudflat exposed at low tide. It has 29 mangrove plant species, 16 of which are threatened. The site is also a habitat for threatened species of seagrass and horseshoe crabs.
NParks’ studies have shown that due to the diversity and abundance of benthic animals such as mollusc, crustaceans and worms, etc., the mudflat of Mandai mangrove provide migratory shorebirds with a rich feeding ground. Results from surveys and radio-tracking of flagged shorebirds in recent years confirmed that majority of the shorebirds that roost in the Wetland Reserve at high tide will fly to forage at the extensive mudflat exposed at low tide. This means that both sites are ecologically inter-dependent habitats for shorebirds, and are important for their conservation in Singapore.
Research and educational opportunities
As part of today’s announcements, Minister for Social and Family Development and Second Minister for National Development Desmond Lee shared that the proposed new 72.8-hectare Nature Park will enhance the capacity of the main Reserve as an outdoor education, learning and research centre, with new opportunities for visitors to learn more about wetland ecology and be involved in its conservation.
The new Nature Park is also strategically situated along two future major recreational routes – the Round-Island-Route (RIR) and the Rail Corridor. The section of RIR that the new Nature Park will be sited on is designated as an eco-discovery corridor that highlights the lesser-known ecological gems in Singapore. Visitors will also be able to visit the Nature Park as a key node while exploring the Rail Corridor.
At the same time, to minimise impact on the mudflat, NParks will provide a minimum level of visitor amenities. This will include bicycle racks, a single nature trail and bird hides that will be strategically located to allow visitors to enjoy a panoramic view of the migratory birds feeding on the expansive mudflat without disturbing them.
Emeritus Senior Minister Mr Goh Chok Tong was the Guest-of-Honour for this morning’s event to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, where he was hosted by Minister Lee.
New nature lovers' park coming up near Sungei Buloh
Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat will open to the public in mid-2022
Tiffany Fumiko Tay Straits Times 8 Oct 18;
Nature lovers and birdwatchers will have a new park to visit when the Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat opens to the public in mid-2022.
Second Minister for National Development Desmond Lee announced yesterday that the mudflat, located about 3km to the east of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, will be designated a nature park as part of efforts to strengthen the conservation of wetland biodiversity in Singapore.
The 72.8ha park will sit along two upcoming recreational routes; it will form the northernmost point of the Rail Corridor, and an eco-discovery corridor as part of the Park Connector Network's Round Island Route.
The National Parks Board (NParks), which took over the management of the mudflat this month, will provide a minimal level of amenities to minimise visitor impact to the mudflat. These could include a nature trail, bicycle racks and bird hides that will give visitors a panoramic view of migratory birds feeding at the mudflat.
Speaking at the 25th anniversary celebration of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve yesterday, Mr Lee, who is also Minister for Social and Family Development, said the reserve and mudflat serve as important resting and feeding stops for birds flying south for the winter.
Migratory shorebirds travel thousands of kilometres from as far north as the Arctic Circle to as far south as Australia and New Zealand, making stops along the way in countries such as China, Vietnam and Singapore to refuel.
But with many rest stops along their route lost or affected by developments overseas, Sungei Buloh, a major stopover, plays a "critical role for their survival", said Mr Lee.
"Despite our small size, Singapore can continue to serve as a safe haven for these shorebirds and an important player in the international biodiversity scene," he said.
Data collected by NParks shows that the reserve and mudflat share an "intimate ecological connection", and the new nature park will provide more research and education opportunities, he said.
The move to conserve the mudflat was hailed by nature groups as an important step in preserving Singapore's natural heritage.
Dr Joseph Koh, chairman of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Singapore, said the nature community had lobbied for many years to have the area protected.
"I'm glad to see it's finally happened... The place is special because it is species-rich and has a few mangrove trees that are found nowhere else in Singapore," he said.
Mr N. Sivasothi, senior lecturer at the National University of Singapore's department of biological sciences, said that he felt "euphoric" to hear the announcement.
"Either side of Kranji (Reservoir) is now conserved," he said, adding that Sungei Buloh is very small on its own, but taken together with the mudflat, there is much more potential for a healthier mangrove ecosystem.
"The management layer that NParks will bring in will make a lot of difference," added Mr Sivasothi, a member of the Nature Society.
NParks' group director for conservation Adrian Loo said NParks can now take action against poaching as well as facilitate research in the Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat, which is home to rare plant and wildlife species.
Dr Loo noted that the mudflat and Sungei Buloh play complementary roles - birds have been observed to roost at Sungei Buloh, and to feast on the rich feeding grounds of molluscs, crustaceans and worms on the mudflat during low tide.
Migratory birds such as the whimbrel typically begin to arrive in Singapore around September and make their return journey in April, he said.
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