Additional SG 50 Intertidal Walk for members of the public, 5 Jul, 6.15am – 10.45am
News from Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum
Reefy Changi
wild shores of singapore
Toddycats at Ubin Day!
Toddycats!
In a pinch
The annotated budak
Drops of Heaven
Saving MacRitchie
Common Flangetail ovipositing
Bird Ecology Study Group
Pink-necked Pigeons nesting in a flower pot
Singapore Bird Group
Monica Kotwani, Channel NewsAsia 26 Jun 15;
SINGAPORE: The national water agency, PUB, is exploring the feasibility of constructing an underground drainage and water reservoir system which could mitigate the impact of climate change, and act as a buffer against droughts.
The move was announced by Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivivan Balakrishnan at the Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) and Innovation Summit on Tuesday morning (Jun 16).
The two-year study will look into the design of such a system, which PUB said could include tunnels to transport excess stormwater to underground caverns for storage. A pumped storage hydropower system could also be developed to harness energy from when water flows from the surface to underground caverns.
The study will include geological surveys to obtain detailed information on soil and rock properties. PUB said knowledge of such geological conditions is critical, as there are challenges involved in the construction of underground facilities. The location and development of caverns and underground reservoirs will also require suitable rock material.
The study is expected to be completed by the end of 2017.
- CNA/es
PUB to explore underground space for drainage and water storage
AsiaOne 16 Jun 15;
SINGAPORE - National water agency PUB will be studying the technical and economic feasibility of developing an integrated underground drainage and reservoir system, according to a statement from the agency.
PUB will launch a 24-month study to look at the feasibility of the system to reduce the impact of climate change and enhance resilience against droughts.
This study will look into the design options for an Underground Drainage and Reservoir System (UDRS), which could integrate three key components - stormwater conveyance tunnels, underground reservoir caverns, and a pumped storage hydropower system.
One possible option is to have tunnels to convey excess stormwater to underground caverns for storage. The caverns can add to Singapore's reservoir water storage and enhance drought resilience. In addition, the study will explore the possibility of having a pumped storage hydropower system to recover energy from the flow of water from surface water bodies to the underground caverns.
"Besides allowing us to overcome land limitations for key drainage and water storage infrastructure, the UDRS study can potentially allow us to mitigate the impact of climate change and flood risks, and strengthen the overall drought resilience of Singapore's water supply," said Mr William Yeo, PUB's Director of Policy and Planning.
There are challenges involved in the construction of underground facilities and the knowledge of underground geological conditions is critical. The location and development of caverns and underground reservoir will require suitable rock material. The study will include geological surveys to obtain detailed information on soil and rock properties.
"In carrying out this study, we will work closely with key agencies and stakeholders to ensure that the geological surveys are conducted with care and sensitivity to the environment," added Mr Yeo.
The study is expected to be completed in end-2017, according to PUB.
Singapore to look into underground reservoirs
LAURA ELIZABETH PHILOMIN Today Online 17 Jun 15;
SINGAPORE — Flood water from intense storms here that would have otherwise gone to waste could eventually be turned into another water and even power source.
National water agency PUB is exploring using underground space to collect and store excess storm water. It will call for a tender for a 24-month study on the technical and economic feasibility of developing an underground drainage and reservoir system.
The study will explore design options for the system, such as stormwater conveyance tunnels to transport water to an underground reservoir cavern. There could also be a pumped storage hydropower station that could convert kinetic energy of the water flowing in the tunnels to electricity.
Expected to be completed by the end of 2017, the study will also include a geological survey to find a location with suitable soil and rock properties.
Announcing this at the Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) Technology and Innovation Summit yesterday, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan said Singapore receives about 2.4m of rainfall a year. But because of a shortage of land to capture and store rainfall, much of it is discharged into the sea. At the same time, prolonged droughts dry out the current reservoirs, leading to water shortage.
“Climate change increases the probability of both intense rainfall and prolonged periods of drought,” said Dr Balakrishnan in a speech. “ ... Consequently, an underground drainage and storage network will mitigate the impact of climate change and enhance Singapore’s drought resilience, whilst overcoming our land limitations.
“We will be able to take the excess rainfall from the storms, convey it to underground storage, harvest its energy as it percolates through those tunnels and reuse that energy later when we need to pump the water out again.”
Civil and environmental engineering experts TODAY spoke to said the caverns could be as big as five million to 50 million cubic metres, and finding the most cost-effective way of building this underground system would be the biggest challenge.
“There are no special challenges compared to typical tunnelling and underground excavation work,” said Associate Professor Tan Soon Keat, director of Nanyang Technological University’s Maritime Research Centre. “The challenge is more on the balance sheet.”
Some experts felt the reservoir should be designed as one big central cavern, while others said smaller, multiple caverns spread across an area was more cost-effective. They also differed on how deep the reservoirs should be.
Professor Lui Pao Chuen, who is adviser to the National Research Foundation and who first floated the idea in 2012, said there could be multiple caverns, starting with a first “module” of five million cubic metres and having its capacity increased over the years.
Prof Tan said keeping it relatively near the surface at 30m to 40m underground would be a good depth to move the stored water freely.
“The longer it (takes water) to pump up, the more friction you have to overcome,” he added. “Whereas in a shallower surface, there is still friction but it is manageable.”
On the other hand, Assistant Professor Chew Soon Hoe from the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the National University of Singapore said it may be more cost-effective to build a big central cavern. Conveyance tunnels to transport water from different areas can be built cheaper at shallower depths, he said.
A permanently half-filled underground reservoir, if located at the fringes of the more densely-populated central areas of the island, would also be useful for collecting excess storm water and alleviating floods where economic costs would be the highest. But that would require a sizeable cavern and greater depths of 100m to 150m underground, Asst Prof Chew added.
While more power is needed to bring up water from greater depths, the hydropower that could be generated from the system could come in handy. “If you need to supply power, it’s very costly,” he said. But if the water going in can generate power supply, then “the newly-generated power to pump the water up to the reservoir … would be ideal”.
Given that the caverns would require rock that is not porous, experts suggested potential sites in central and north-eastern Singapore. Prof Lui said the rock mass west of Bukit Timah Expressway may offer a few potential sites.
As for concerns about the extent of underground digging done on the island, Asst Prof Chew gave the assurance that engineers would be able to mitigate any impact on the surroundings with proper design.
“The underground still promises a great opportunity for bigger exploration ... We can afford to build a lot more at a greater depth,” he added.
PUB delves into underground reservoirs
Audrey Tan My Paper AsiaOne 17 Jun 15;
Singapore could soon be digging deep for an answer to its water challenges.
National water agency PUB is looking into creating underground reservoirs to get around the space crunch above ground, said Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan yesterday.
Tapping on such structures will also help the city better deal with the effects of climate change, such as more intense rain and prolonged dry spells, as excess water can be stored and used when needed.
"In Singapore, we receive an average of about 2.4m of rainfall a year... In theory, we should not be short of water... The real limiting factor is not rainfall, but land," said Dr Balakrishnan at the opening of the inaugural Singapore International Water Week Technology and Innovation Summit yesterday.
The two-day water conference, which focuses on research and development, is a prelude to the Singapore International Water Week next year.
The underground drainage and reservoir system is likely to have three key components: Tunnels to channel stormwater below ground, caverns for water storage and a pumped storage hydropower system, which can convert energy from water flowing into underground caverns to electrical energy. This can then be used to pump the water back to the surface.
Such systems have long been championed by experts here as solutions to weather fluctuations and land scarcity.
One of them, Lui Pao Chuen, a National Research Foundation adviser who spearheaded research into Singapore's underground ammunition facility, noted: "One third of Singapore is made up of granite rocks, which are very strong, and rock caverns for underground reservoirs can be constructed there."
Chua Soon Guan, PUB's deputy chief executive, said that a tender for a two-year feasibility study on building such a system will be called in the next few months. Expected to be completed at the end of 2017, it will include geological surveys on soil and rock properties, and look into the design options.
William Yeo, PUB's director of Policy and Planning, stressed that it will work with relevant agencies and stakeholders to ensure that the surveys are "conducted with care and sensitivity to the environment".
Geological studies are essential since the underground storage reservoir must be built on rock mass instead of softer soil, which may not be able to support it, said Chong Kee Sen, president of The Institution of Engineers, Singapore.
Tan Soon Keat, director of the Nanyang Technological University's Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, added that building in a rocky area would also ensure that there is less water loss and would prevent the water from being contaminated by soil minerals.
PUB would not comment on possible locations or other details, but the three experts believe it could be located in the central or north-eastern part of Singapore.
Audrey Tan The Straits Times AsiaOne 16 Jun 15;
What's in a name? Plenty, when compiling a list of animals in Hokkien.
What started out as a hobby for two curators at the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum has evolved into a labour of love that documents, for the first time, Hokkien animal names as they are used here.
Called Minnan (Hokkien) Animal Names Used In Singapore, the 58-page directory was published as an e-book on the museum's website earlier this month, and can be downloaded for free.
Apart from common translations like kau (dog), the directory of more than 300 animal names, complete with photos, lists some less-heard-of ones, such as hai tur (literally translated as sea pig, which refers to the dolphin) and even mythical creatures like the hong (phoenix).
Its main aim is to document Hokkien animal names and their pronunciations as they are used in Singapore, said Mr Tan Siong Kiat, 41, one of the two men behind the project. The other is Mr Kelvin Lim, 48.
"The translations were compiled from memory, experience, and from Hokkien speakers who are mainly the older members of our families and social circles," said Mr Tan.
The names are not simply direct translations from Mandarin. Rather, they are colloquial names used by ancestors to refer to animals, and both men stressed that the list is "neither comprehensive nor authoritative" .
For example, the tapir, a herbivorous mammal that people seldom encounter, does not appear to have a Hokkien name yet, although the curators admit it is possible that they just "have not met or talked to anybody who knows".
"People have come forward to tell us (animal) names that have been omitted," said Mr Tan, and more names will be added, should there be a second edition of the book.
The directory could be a resource for those keen on learning more about Hokkien, although it is not a guide on how to speak it, the writers said.
Nature lovers and guides who talk to older folk may also find it useful.
"Our grandmothers wouldn't understand us if we tried to talk to them about interesting animals using their English names," noted Mr Tan.
The directory had its beginnings in mid-2013, when a volunteer at the museum, then called Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, wanted to learn more about Hokkien, said Mr Tan.
So Mr Tan and Mr Lim, both native Hokkien speakers, started conversing with her in Hokkien. These conversations sparked the idea to compile a list of Hokkien animal names.
Said Mr Tan: "Singlish now seems to be the lingua franca for young Singaporeans.
"We hope the book will be useful for those of Hokkien descent who are interested in discovering their roots."
Undergraduate Sean Yap, 23, a volunteer guide at the museum as well as with Naked Hermit Crabs, which holds nature tours for the public, believes the directory will help him connect with his audience.
"When guiding, we try to be as conversational and colloquial as possible, and it really helps when you can connect with the people and how they view wildlife," he said.
Businessman Michael Jow, 39, the moderator of the Facebook group, Revival of Non-Mandarin Chinese Vernaculars in Singapore, said that the directory is useful.
Mr Jow, who is also the leader of the Singapore Hokkien Meetup Group, said that the directory gives students a good background, with its list of "colloquial terms used by our ancestors".
The directory is available at lkcnhm.nus.edu.sg/nus/images/pdfs/lkcnhm_ebooks/singapore_minnan_animal_names.pdf
A Hokkien sampler
Two curators at the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum worked for a year to compile a new directory of Hokkien animal names.
The two men, both native Hokkien speakers, are Mr Tan Siong Kiat, 41, and Mr Kelvin Lim, 48.
Here are some examples from the 58-page directory:
Cat: Niau The term niau has also come to be a colloquialism to describe people who are fastidious, fussy or stingy.
House Gecko: Sien Nang/Sien Thang/Sin Nang (good/kind worm)
Crocodile : Bua Ya/ Bua Ia (After the Malay name buaya)
Orang-utan: Ang Mor Seng Seng (red-hair ape)
A hand-reared piglet: Gu Ni Tur/Gu Ni Ti
In Hokkien, a piglet is simply referred to as tur k'ia (literally translated as pig child). But a specific term has been devised for piglets which have been rejected by the sow and are hand-fed with cow's milk. Hence, the literal translation of Gu Ni Tur is cow's milk pig.
Porcupine: Hoh Tur/Hoh Ti (Grand pig) Ci Tur/Ci Ti (Spiny pig)
Otter: Zui Thuaq
Dinosaur: Khiong Liong
The literal translation of Khiong Liong is terror dragon.
Jessica Lim My Paper AsiaOne 16 Jun 15;
That local tropical fish shop in your neighbourhood may soon become a rarity.
There were about 300 licensed aquarium shops in 2002, at the peak of the craze over luohan or flower horn fish, said to bring good luck to owners.
But latest figures from the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore show there were just 120 licensed aquarium shops at the start of the year, down from 140 in 2012.
Industry players say many shops have been hit by falling interest in rearing fish and direct Internet sales.
Among the casualties is Soon Heng Aquarium in Yishun. Owner K. H. Koh, 60, said he closed shop last year because "business was so poor".
Meanwhile, the remaining players are feeling the heat.
At Pet Mart in Serangoon North, ornamental fish sales have fallen by 20 per cent in the past year. Managing director Benjamin Wee, 40, said: "A lot of effort is needed to rear fish and there are so many competing hobbies now.
"Kids watch television shows, have an iPad. The interest in fish isn't there any more," he said, adding that the business will be shuttered after he retires.
"Even if my children want to take over, I will tell them no. Honestly, you cannot earn much and it's really hard work." He pays himself $3,000 a month.
Over in Serangoon North, M. C. Li, the owner of Heisenberg Pet and Aquarium Centre, is thinking of closing when her lease is up in two years' time.
The 60-year-old said the shop barely breaks even each month. Two years ago, it used to earn several thousand dollars a month. "It's hard for us to continue," she said, adding that ornamental fish are sold online.
"Nowadays, the tropical fish farms here can sell directly to customers too," she said.
Andy Yap, the deputy chief executive of Qian Hu Corporation, the leading supplier to local fish shops, said customers often buy fish from the farm after visiting. However, he added that the company makes sure its prices do not undercut those at the shops it supplies fish to.
Mr Yap pointed to other reasons for the falling number of fish shops. "During the flower horn fish craze, there were so many new players who opened up to tap on it. After the craze, they shut down because they did not have the know-how to continue," he said, adding that Qian Hu's sales to retailers here have remained stable over the past decade.
"Shops are also closing because children are not taking over the business from the older generation," he said, adding that there was no new trend after the luohan craze.
SERENE LIM Today Online 15 Jun 15;
A weekend jaunt to Pulau Ubin is always a great way to experience the rustic side of Singapore and immerse in the outdoors, with sights such as Check Jawa. For many, the most inconvenient thing would probably be travelling to Changi Village and hopping on a bum boat. But for those with physical handicaps, the challenge begins with getting out of the house.
But a coming event called Wheels At Ubin is hoping to highlight issues of accessible travel by taking 100 wheelchair users to the island on June 26.
Those who aren’t physically handicapped take a lot of things for granted, said Wheels At Ubin co-founder Dennis Quek. “In 2010, I met a guy in a wheelchair who asked for help finding a washroom in Bukit Merah. That incident, helping him with the most private yet basic thing, was such an eye-opening experience,” said Quek. It eventually led to him and his friends coming up with the idea for the Pulau Ubin trip in April, when the island’s fate was a hot topic during the Budget debates.
Coming up with the idea was one thing, planning for it was another. “The most important issue was getting the wheelchair users across safely. We asked the ferry operators who all turned us down because of the risk,” recalled Fiona Phua, an event committee member and director of events management firm Imagine+.
Enter the Singapore Navy, which agreed to commit six fast craft utility (FCU) units to the cause. In addition, 30 navy personnel will also be onsite to assist. In addition, other organisations have also stepped in.
The event is supported by the SG50 Celebration Fund; SMRT Taxis, which volunteered 100 taxis to fetch wheelchair-bound participants to and from their homes; the Changi Sailing Club, which opened its premises for wheelchair users to board the FCUs more conveniently; National Parks Board, which will provide planks for easy disembarkation on the beachfront of Pulau Ubin; Republic Polytechnic and Ngee Ann Polytechnic students, who will be staging performances at Ubin; and six nurses from KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital and two doctors, who have also volunteered their services.
A total of 500 volunteers will also be present to assist the participants, who are from the Asian Women’s Welfare Association (AWWA), Hand-Cycling Association of Singapore (HAS) and Society for the Physically Disabled (SPD), Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC). The youngest participant is nine years old and the oldest is 77.
Wheels At Ubin has reached its maximum capacity, but Quek said it has a waiting list and will get in touch with individual wheelchair users if there are slots available. And while there have been requests to open the event up to the visually impaired, limited resources meant sticking to the original plan. “Planning a tour for the visually impaired would require an added dimension, a more sensory experience,” he explained.
But Phua also pointed out that these issues are precisely what an event like Wheels At Ubin hopes to highlight. “There are so many forms of disabilities and we’re just touching the surface. We hope to encourage more advocacy,” she said, adding that the Pulau Ubin trip is also a “symbolic” one that can get building designers, companies and government organisations thinking about issues of accessibility.
“Accessibility is not just about physical accessibility for wheelchair users. It’s also about able-bodied people being accessible to them, whether it’s to lend a helping hand or just to be there to talk to them in everyday life.”
WWF-Malaysia 15 Jun 15;
15 June 2015, Kuala Lumpur: As sea turtles fill a vital role in the balance of our marine ecosystems, WWF-Malaysia (World Wide Fund for Nature-Malaysia) calls for more awareness in saving this species in conjunction with World Sea Turtle Day (WSTD) on 16 June 2015.
Sea turtles have travelled great distances across the world's oceans for centuries and face many dangers during their journeys. Sadly, humans’ ignorance have attributed to the loss of these marine creatures. This includes the consumption and trade of turtle eggs, direct capture of turtles for their meat and shell, fishery-related mortality (accidental death in the nets and long-lines of fishing fleets), poorly planned coastal development, marine and nesting beach pollution leading to loss of nesting and feeding habitats, unsustainable tourism, and climate change.
Sea turtles’ survival is critical as they help maintain the health of sea grass beds and coral reefs that benefit commercially-valuable species such as reef fishes, shrimp, lobster, and tuna. They attract marine tourists and are considered charismatic by divers and non-divers. Turtles are also flagship species for both local and regional conservation, and conserving these species and their habitats will protect wide marine areas on which both marine and human species are dependent upon.
Recognising the urgent need to save these creatures, WWF-Malaysia heightens its turtle conservation efforts in Terengganu and Malacca.
Ms Lau Min Min, Senior Marine Conservation Officer, Conservation of Hawksbill Turtles & Painted Terrapins of Melaka, WWF-Malaysia, explained, “We constantly work on three main turtle conservation components in the State: nesting habitat and egg protection, hatchling dispersal pattern research, and engaging local communities in turtle conservation.”
“Our work in Kerteh and Setiu focuses on turtle nesting beach monitoring, working closely with government departments and local rangers to manage turtle hatcheries and monitor nesting females,” added Ms Sharifah Ruqaiyah Syed Mustafa, Senior Marine Conservation Officer, Terengganu Turtle Conservation, WWF-Malaysia.
In line with WSTD, WWF-Malaysia in Malacca has planned a series of awareness activities revolving on the slogan, ‘Penyu Karah Melaka: Jual pun tidak, makan pun tidak’ or ‘Malacca’s Hawksbill Turtle: Not for Sale, Not for Consumption’. While in Terengganu, WWF-Malaysia’s Turtle project team is organising relevant activities focusing on ‘Telur Penyu Dibiar Tetas, BUKAN untuk Dijual’ or ‘Hatch My Eggs, They are NOT for Sale’. An upcoming turtle fun run and Terengganu Turtle Camp will be held in Ma’Daerah Turtle Sanctuary, Kerteh from 18 to 20 August.
In the context of legislation, turtle protection laws are inadequate and current Federal laws on turtles are limited. Under the Federal Constitution, each respective state has the authority in making its own laws on turtles. State laws vary from each state and are inadequate in combating human practices of consuming turtle eggs.
Everybody should work together and play their roles. The law on turtle egg consumption and sale should be amended and additional resources and enforcement on the ground should be heightened to protect and manage key nesting and feeding habitats. The public should, in turn, help by not consuming eggs or meat and not buying souvenirs made of turtle parts. Local communities which found turtles empowering should be engaged and involved in turtle conservation work and environmental stewardship. With strong, combined efforts, let us hope that sea turtles survive for years to come.
Alister Doyle and Megan Rowling PlanetArk 12 Jun 15;
Several nations expressed growing unease on Thursday that time is running short to resolve disputes about global warming after U.N. talks ended with little progress toward an international deal to combat climate change meant to be agreed in December.
Delegates representing almost 200 countries trimmed a few pages off an 89-page draft text at the June 1-11 preparatory meeting in Bonn, but stopped short of confronting major underlying issues such as whether to set a global goal for phasing out greenhouse gases this century.
Several governments called for a faster pace, noting there were only two preparatory sessions left before a summit in Paris in December meant to agree a global deal.
"We have not seen as much progress as we would like," said Elina Bardram, head of the European Commission delegation. "It is not something we can tinker around with indefinitely."
A senior U.S. official called the meeting productive but said: "We would like the pace to be quicker." Speaking on condition of anonymity, he said: "These are negotiations of great moment to countries. The details matter a lot."
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The United Nations said the talks were on track.
"This is a step-by-step process," Christiana Figueres, head of the U.N. Climate Change Secretariat, told a news conference, saying there had been progress in streamlining the text and clarifying options for action.
Su Wei, China's chief negotiator, said all countries wanted an "ambitious and balanced outcome in Paris" to limit greenhouse gases.
The U.N. panel of climate scientists says it is at least 95 percent probable that most global warming since 1950 is caused by human activities, led by burning fossil fuels.
The Alliance of Small Island States, representing nations from the Pacific to the Caribbean at risk from rising sea levels, said there had been progress in Bonn but: "We are acutely aware that we still have considerable work."
Negotiators meet again in August and October but delegates say the toughest issues will be left for Paris, including aid for developing nations and how to make the deal legally binding.
Nations asked the co-chairs of the meeting to work on the draft text before the next meeting.
Co-chair Ahmed Djoghlaf accused the media of being too negative. "Saying that the process is going nowhere is not a responsible statement," he said. "The job is huge, we are talking about a revolution."
On Monday, the Group of Seven industrialized nations set a goal of phasing out global fossil fuel emissions by 2100. The U.N. talks are deeply split about whether to follow suit.
Many developing nations favor a tougher deadline of 2050 for shifting to renewable energies while some OPEC producers would prefer to omit any deadlines at all.
(Editing by Janet Lawrence)
Festival of Biodiversity @ Vivocity – 27 & 28 June
biodiversityconnections
Birdwatching in Pasir Ris Park (Buffy Fish Owl) June 8, 2015
Rojak Librarian
Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker and its black excrements
Bird Ecology Study Group
Bats roosting in my porch: 24. A bag of red chillies
Bird Ecology Study Group
Life History of the Grey Pansy
Butterflies of Singapore
Javan Myna (Acridotheres javanicus) @ Dairy Farm Nature Park
Monday Morgue
A new facility will be set up on Pulau Ubin to support biodiversity research, says Minister of State for National Development Desmond Lee. Phase one of the development will be opened by the end of 2015.
Monica Kotwani, Channel NewsAsia 14 Jun 15;
SINGAPORE: A new facility to support biodiversity research and floating wetlands to attract new species will be opened on Pulau Ubin by the end of 2015, announced Minister of State for National Development Desmond Lee announced on Ubin Day on Saturday (Jun 13).
More than 1,500 people gathered on Pulau Ubin to celebrate Ubin Day and partake in a weekend of games, cultural events and activities. Among them were some 1,000 Siglap residents including National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan.
The island is known for its rustic charm and the diversity of its flora and fauna. Several initiatives were announced last year by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to better protect and enhance the nature and heritage spaces.
The Ubin Living Lab is among the initiatives announced and will be situated at the former Celestial Resort, which consists of 25 buildings.
Two of the buildings will undergo restoration and be transformed into seminar rooms, classrooms, a field laboratory and a 12-bed facility. It will be open to schools, community groups and researchers.
"A lot of researchers are not being able to store the samples they've collected, not having the facilities to do proper research and identification of species. They have to go back to the mainland," said Mr Lee.
"If they have Ubin Living Lab, they can operate out of this facility and thereby enable them to better study and better support our biodiversity."
Mr Lee said a feasibility study is being carried out for Phase two of the development. This includes having a jetty to accommodate a large group of students, and an outdoor classroom.
Other new features are bat houses at two locations and floating wetlands on the Pekan Quarry.
The base of the wetland will be a floating mat through which roots are able to grow. The second layer will be made of woven coconut fibres which are permeable and can yet hold nutrients and the top-most layer will have plants of different height, all of which will come together to mimic a natural island.
The quarry is currently a habitat for herons but National Parks hopes the wetlands will also be ideal for birds like kingfishers, as well as frogs and dragonflies.
A group called "Friends of Ubin Network’, or Fun, has developed a code of conduct to preserve the island’s heritage and biodiversity. Its five tenets include respecting and bonding with the community and being considerate towards the island.
Volunteers intend to impart these points to children and other people who visit. These values will also be put up on signboards around the island.
- CNA/ec
Integrated lab facility on Pulau Ubin to be ready by end 2015
AsiaOne 13 Jun 15;
SINGAPORE - A new Ubin Living Lab with facilities for students and researchers, new bat houses, as well as floating wetlands prototypes, are some of the new installations that visitors can expect on Pulau Ubin by the end of the year.
Rolled out under The Ubin Project, the Ubin Living Lab was unveiled by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong last November, in conjunction with his launch of Ubin Day 2014, according to a media release by Ministry of National Development (MND).
The Ubin Project was launched in March 2014 by MND to gather public feedback and work with the community to preserve and sensitively enhance the island. The aim is to keep Pulau Ubin an enjoyable rustic destination for the public.
At the two-day Ubin Day event on Saturday, Minister of State for National Development Mr Desmond Lee said since the project was launched, many Singaporeans have come forward to share ideas on how to "sensitively enhance Ubin and keep it rustic".
Mr Lee said: "With the development of the Ubin Living Lab, various species recovery and habitat enhancement programmes and cultural mapping initiatives."
Ubin Day is a community event which celebrates the different facets of the island, organised by more than 20 community groups including Team Seagrass, Nature Society (Singapore) and Butterfly Circle.
The event is also supported and facilitated by relevant agencies.
Ubin Day was first held in 2002, this is the fourth time that the event is being organised.
At the event, Mr Lee also encouraged participants of Ubin Day 2015 to adopt the "Ubin Way", a Code of Conduct guiding ecologically and socially responsible behaviour on the island.
By following the "Ubin Way", Mr Lee said the island can remain a familiar and rustic destination for current and future generations of Singaporeans.
Visitors to the island this weekend can participate in Ubin Day with activities such as guided nature walks, bird watching, mangrove and quarry kayaking, and coastal clean-ups.
NParks to build 'homes' on Pulau Ubin for bats, birds and other creatures
CHEW HUI MIN Straits Times 14 Jun 15;
SINGAPORE - The Ministry of National Development is concerned not just with housing Singaporeans, but also other rarer species.
The National Parks Board (NParks) will be installing bat houses and other "homes" for animals on Pulau Ubin, Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan revealed on the Ministry's official blog on Sunday (June 14).
"Singaporeans love Pulau Ubin for its lush greenery, rustic landscape and laid-back charm. Animals are fond of Ubin too," he wrote on a blog entry titled "Ubin is for all".
The bat houses are meant for two species to roost in: the Ashy Roundleaf Bat, a native of Ubin, and the Lesser False Vampire Bat, which is found only in Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong.
"We are also making provisions to encourage nesting for three uncommon bird species - the Red-wattled Lapwing, the Baya Weaver and the Blue-throated Bee-eater," he added.
NParks will also be installing floating wetland units at the Pekan Quarry.
Other resident species including herons, crakes, rails, kingfishers, dragonflies, and frogs will benefit from the programmes as they can look forward to more nesting and roosting sites, Mr Khaw said.
Plans for new Living Lab on Pulau Ubin unveiled at Ubin Day 2015
NParks Press Release 13 Jun 2015
Community groups celebrate the adoption of “Ubin Way”
13 June 2015 - A new Ubin Living Lab with facilities for students and researchers, new bat houses, as well as floating wetlands prototypes, are some of the new installations that visitors can expect on Pulau Ubin by end 2015 (Please see media factsheet for details.)
Rolled out under The Ubin Project, these initiatives were first unveiled by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong last year, in conjunction with his launch of Ubin Day 2014 in November last year.
Ubin Day is a community event which celebrates the different facets of the island, organised by more than 20 community groups including Team Seagrass, Nature Society (Singapore) and Butterfly Circle, and supported and facilitated by relevant agencies. First held in 2002, this is the fourth time Ubin Day is being organised.
At the event, Minister of State for National Development Desmond Lee also encouraged participants of Ubin Day 2015 - which include volunteers, nature groups, grassroots leaders and residents of Siglap - to adopt the “Ubin Way”, a Code of Conduct guiding ecologically and socially responsible behaviour on the island, so that the island can remain a familiar and rustic destination for current and future generations of Singaporeans. Initiated and drawn up by nature lovers, grassroots leaders, Ubin operators, educators and volunteers, the “Ubin Way” encourages visitors to:
Relive and experience the kampong lifestyle
Appreciate and conserve our cultural heritage
Discover and cherish the diversity of nature
Respect one another and bond with the community
Care for Ubin, and be considerate towards its environment
“Since the launch of The Ubin Project, many Singaporeans have come forward to share with us their ideas on how we can sensitively enhance Ubin and keep it rustic. By the end of this year, we can see some of these ideas come to fruition, with the development of the Ubin Living Lab, various species recovery and habitat enhancement programmes and cultural mapping initiatives. But, what make the island truly special are our people - the residents, volunteers and visitors – who activate, discover and celebrate the island. I hope that everyone who visits Ubin will embrace the Ubin Way, so that the island will remain a special place for all Singaporeans, where our children and their children can build lasting memories” said MOS Lee.
This year, the annual Siglap Day was held in conjunction with Ubin Day. Guest-of-Honour Minister Khaw, together with Ministers of State for National Development Desmond Lee and Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman (also Adviser to East Coast GRC Grassroots Organisations), spent the afternoon on the island with Siglap residents participating in various Ubin Day 2015 activities and reliving the kampong experience. Some of the other activities organised by Siglap grassroots organisations include a showcase of a Malay wedding, and tours of House 363B (a traditional Chinese Kampong House) and the Sensory Trail.
The Ubin Day 2015 will take place on 13 and 14 June. The event is open to public. Visitors can participate in activities such as guided nature walks, birdwatching, mangrove and quarry kayaking, and coastal clean-ups at the event.
The Ubin Project Partnerships and Sponsors
NParks Press Release 13 Jun 2015
The Ubin Project has received strong support of sponsors, enabling outreach and conservation projects to be conducted on Pulau Ubin. With the generous contributions of these partners and sponsors, future generations of Singaporeans can continue to enjoy the island’s rustic charm, natural environment, biodiversity and heritage.
Some of the initiatives supported by our partners include:
Nature Gallery, children’s book and tree planting supported by HSBC
HSBC has pledged a sum of $170,000 to support conservation and education projects at Pulau Ubin. This sum will go towards refreshed educational displays at the Nature Gallery, a children’s book about Pulau Ubin, and the planting of trees on the island
Habitat enhancement efforts supported by Syngenta
Syngenta has contributed a sum of $30,000 to support reforestation and planting efforts at Ketam and the foothills directly below 363B home. These activities will be carried out later this year.
Plant-A-Tree Programme
Since 2013, many organisations have supported reforestation efforts at Pulau Ubin by supporting the Garden City Fund’s Plant-A-Tree Programme.
These organisations include:
TTJ Design and Engineering Pte Ltd [50 trees, 2015]
Burea Veritas Marine (Singapore Pte Ltd) [50 trees, 2014]
Norinchukin Bank [50 trees, 2014]
StarHub [50 trees, 2013]
JEAN CHIA AND CHUA AI LIN for the Straits Times 13 Jun 15;
It will be Ubin Day again today, when the island has an open house for visitors.
At last year's Ubin Day, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong spoke of the need to document the island's cultural heritage in order to "honour our past, treasure our present and shape our future".
PM Lee's remarks reflect the Government's growing recognition of the importance of heritage awareness.
Earlier this year, the National Heritage Board (NHB) commissioned research on Pulau Ubin which includes an oral history project and video documentary. Concurrently, the agency is embarking on an unprecedented nationwide survey of the country's tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
Cultural self-knowledge is important. Despite Ubin's accessibility, we know startlingly little about its rural culture.
The island's rudimentary infrastructure means that different skills are required to live there, and it is precisely these skills that distinguish the culture of Ubin from that of the mainland.
What special knowledge is required on a day-by-day, or season-by-season basis? What leads someone to live on Pulau Ubin? What is life like when the weekend crowd disappears?
One might be surprised to learn that, despite the island's size and dwindling number of residents, there are unique environmental and ecological practices, human-animal relations, settlement patterns, community networks and religious traditions that characterise "island life".
In the context of contemporary Singapore, these characteristics become particularly fascinating for citizens and tourists alike.
Over the years, there have been efforts to document the nature and history of Pulau Ubin. NParks has recorded and indexed the island's biodiversity with help from nature group volunteers.
These efforts have paved the way for conserving and even reviving some of the plant and animal species familiar to the island. In addition, NHB has previously commissioned historical research on Ubin, which will allow us to install heritage walking trails and informative signs at historically significant sites.
With the right mix of diligence and building code allowances, we may even be able to conserve and restore some of the climate-appropriate architectural heritage in the area.
However, we still do not have enough "cultural data", that is, information on the way people live on the island. There is no comprehensive study of the traditions and practices of Singapore's last remaining island community.
Hence, we know little about the livelihoods of Ubin's residents and the contemporary challenges they face. Without this information, it is difficult to know what to conserve, how development should proceed or assess how residents (and visitors) would be affected by development plans.
We do know that life on Ubin has never been static.
Before colonialism, Ubin was home to the indigenous, riverine, semi-nomadic Orang Seletar (people of the Seletar River), who fished and harvested from the forest and mangrove swamps along the Seletar River and the Johor Strait.
Following the arrival of the British, the population increased to serve the needs of the larger Singapore island. From granite quarries to farming and agriculture, parts of Ubin were linked to various economic industries on the mainland.
In the 1980s, farming practices and communities began to diminish, and Ubin became a place of recreation and tourism.
Pulau Ubin holds particular significance for Singaporeans. A visit to Ubin is to go "back in time" to an era before public housing and mass rapid transit.
There is very little motorised traffic to mask the sounds of nature and local architecture in the form of timber houses built by villagers themselves is well suited to the tropics before the era of air-conditioning.
Residents use well water (though visitors consume water brought from the mainland), and diesel generators are the primary source of power (or in the more experimental present, solar panels and biodiesel generators).
As our nation matures, we need to acknowledge the continuance of the past in our present. Beyond merely documenting cuisine, cooking techniques, "traditional" customs or "dying" trades, the nationwide survey on Singapore's cultural heritage must study how the national narrative of progress has encompassed the lives of Singaporeans over the years. This would include recognising the significance of our cultural loss.
As we sow the seeds for our future, it is critical not to underestimate the value of such self-understanding.
Discussions over Pulau Ubin's future are closely tied to the larger question of how we understand ourselves and the role we play in shaping our own future.
Is ours a root-less future without any consideration of our proud past, or is it a future arising from a shared history?
Ubin presents a wonderful opportunity for Singaporeans to be involved in shaping a way forward that considers our cultural heritage. We would be wise to take it.
stopinion@sph.com.sg
Jean Chia is an anthropologist and member of the Singapore Heritage Society, where Chua Ai Lin is president.
For Ubin Day information, go to https://www.facebook.com/pulauubinday
The island will also be hosting activities such as a trail walk and a tour, so that visitors can experience the kampung spirit.
Nuranisha Abdul Rahim, Channel NewsAsia 12 Jun 15;
SINGAPORE: One thousand Siglap residents will plant a hundred trees in Pulau Ubin this weekend to celebrate Singapore's Golden Jubilee, but it is not just a reforestation project. The island will host some exciting activities this weekend to let visitors experience the kampung spirit.
From taking a walk through the NParks Sensory Trail, to touring the different kampungs, the Siglap SG50 Day@Ubin event by Siglap grassroots organisations hopes to encourage family bonding, as grandparents tell of life in the past and how it has changed.
On Saturday (Jun 13), Siglap residents will participate in reforestation and coastal clean-up activities, and enjoy other activities like the trail walk. Members of the public can take part in the trail walk and kampung tour on Sunday.
"We are going to bring the residents there to cherish the present and really preserve the future," said Dr Maliki Osman, Mayor of the South East District. "As part of the Government's effort, in keeping Ubin as rustic as it can. We want Siglap's residents to go there and mark and celebrate this 50th anniversary celebration."
Dr Maliki is leading efforts in Siglap to raise S$50,000 towards the education of five young beneficiaries under a project called 50@50. Fifty 50-year-old residents and grassroots leaders are participating.
Residents have also been busy printing 5,000 T-shirts with an orchid motif that they can wear during National Day.
- CNA/hs
Siglap residents to raise funds for needy children to mark SG50
HOLLY MATTHEWS Today Online 13 Jun 15;
SINGAPORE — As they celebrate their 50th birthday with Singapore this year, 50 Siglap residents will be doing their bit for five children from low-income families.
They aim to raise S$10,000 for each of the children’s education by selling 1,000 limited-edition polo T-shirts printed with a special SG50 design.
Among those involved in the fund-raising is Mayor of the South East District, Dr Maliki Osman, who felt it was a meaningful way to mark the personal milestone. “What better way for us to come together ... to say thanks to Singapore for what she has done for us, than (by) giving back in our small way to these five kids.”
Agreeing, Mr Lim Khay Guan, one of the Siglap residents taking part in the fund-raising, said: “You (would) feel like you have done something, even though it’s small ... We’re planting seeds for the next generation.”
Dr Maliki also announced other activities Siglap will hold to mark SG50.
For instance, 1,000 residents will spend the day in Pulau Ubin today as a way to discover Singapore’s past. They will be visiting Malay and Chinese kampung houses, eating traditional food and celebrating a mock Malay wedding, among other things.
Another initiative is an ongoing project to have some 5,000 residents print an orchid SG50 logo on red or white T-shirts to be worn at Siglap’s National Day Observance Ceremony.
Dr Maliki said these initiatives all stemmed from the idea of bringing residents together to celebrate the nation’s birthday.
“Celebrating SG50 is to celebrate the Singapore spirit and ensure it remains alive for many generations to come.” HOLLY MATTHEWS
Danson Cheong The Straits Times 12 Jun 15;
Minister for Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan has urged NParks to reconsider closing one of its trails in the Central Catchment Area after a cyclist wrote to him concerning the closure.
Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan has urged the National Parks Board (NParks) to reconsider closing a trail in the Central Catchment area.
He revealed this in an e-mail on Monday to concerned cyclist Lee Kee Tar, 45, who earlier wrote to him about the closure.
Called the Butterfly Trail, the 3.2km route popular with mountain bikers was closed by NParks in March as parts of it fell within the construction site of the upcoming Chestnut Nature Park.
Mr Lee posted the reply on a Facebook group page for mountain bikers. In his e-mail, Dr Balakrishnan called the trail, which had its beginnings decades ago as a kampung path, one of the "best secrets" in the mountain biking community. "I am very familiar with the Butterfly Trail as I used to cycle there personally many years ago," he wrote. "I have appealed for reconsideration by NParks. Will wait for their response."
With the opening of the Chestnut Nature Park, NParks is considering permanently closing the trail, known for its gnarled tree roots and views of Upper Peirce Reservoir. The Nature Society (Singapore) is lobbying for it to stay closed, noting recreational activities have damaged the century-old nature area off Chestnut Avenue.
NParks said it had received Dr Balakrishnan's request and was studying it.
There are only four other areas officially open to mountain bikers - in Bukit Timah, Mandai, Kent Ridge and Pulau Ubin.
Mr Lee told The Straits Times yesterday he was thankful Dr Balakrishnan had written to NParks.
"It was very nice of him," said the finance manager. "Being a cyclist himself, he would understand our concerns, and obviously he rode there before, so he knows how special the trail is."
Last week, the Nature Society (Singapore) met the Mountain Bike Association Singapore (MBASG) to exchange views on the trail's closure.
"This area is well known to be high-quality primary and regrowth forest hosting many nationally endangered species of flora and fauna throughout its extent," said Mr Tony O'Dempsey, chairman of the society's plant group. He noted the society stood firm that no recreational activity should be allowed in these areas.
Meanwhile, an MBASG petition started last week to save the trail has garnered more than 1,200 signatures. "We will be submitting it to the Government soon," said MBASG president Calvin Chin. "The Government has to take a stand and allow some recreation in nature areas. They've made it happen in areas like MacRitchie."
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