“Nature lover” has a whole spectrum of meanings
from Diary of a Boy wandering through Our Little Urban Eden
Octopus Garden at Sentosa
on wild shores of singapore
Skippers @ Mandai
from Beauty of Fauna and Flora in Nature
Haze Monitoring Citizen Science project
from biodiversityconnections
Bats in my porch: 13. Territory and Courtship
from Bird Ecology Study Group
Siamese Rhinoceros Beetle (Xylotrupes gideon @ Sungei Buloh
from Monday Morgue
Bryna Singh The Straits Times AsiaOne 7 Sep 14;
Singapore's first marine park is still under development, but there is already much biodiversity there that members of the public can see on guided walks.
Yes, at the 40ha Sisters' Islands Marine Park, you can get up close and personal with worms, crabs, fish, moon snails, a host of anemone and corals and even a striking nudibranch.
Life!Weekend saw these marine life forms when we joined a recent guided tour for the public.
Organised by the National Parks Board, the first introductory guided walks at the park took place over two days earlier last month.
The walks were fully subscribed with about 90 members of the public being given the opportunity to observe the marine life at Big Sister's Island.
As there are currently no regular ferry services to the islands, the visitors were taken there on a boat chartered by National Parks Board. The walks are free.
Upon arriving at about 8am, we were divided into three smaller groups of about 15 people. The guide for our group was volunteer and nature enthusiast Ria Tan, 53, who runs popular wildlife site wildsingapore.com.
The National Parks Board has been working with organisations such as WildSingapore, Naked Hermit Crabs, Blue Water Volunteers and TeamSeaGrass to design and run programmes at the Marine Park.
Some members of these groups, such as the effervescent Ms Tan, have been helping out on the guided walks.
Our first stop was at the inter-tidal area at the big lagoon on the island. There, Ms Tan pointed out a moon snail, which would burrow through the sand and retract at the slightest touch.
We also saw a fluted giant clam with purplish lips mottled with yellow.
Giant clams are the largest living bi-valve molluscs in the world, and National Parks Board plans to re-introduce these endangered clams with the help of research partners.
Growing around the giant clam were several different types of corals, such as brain corals, galaxy corals and mushroom corals.
"They are given these names because they look like what their names suggest," said Ms Tan.
In time to come, the parks board will be establishing a coral nursery in the waters around the Sisters' Islands.
We stopped to examine a green-coloured carpet anemone, which looked like a lotus leaf. But unlike the leaf, the anemone was rough to the touch, like a dry tongue, and with suction.
As the visitors stroked it, out crawled a female spotted anemone shrimp which had been hiding under the carpet anemone. It was followed by a smaller male shrimp, much to the visitors' delight.
We then set off to another section of the lagoon. Along the way, eagle-eyed visitor Eugene Lim, 42, spotted a pink-hued bristle worm burrowing into the ground.
"What a great find!" crowed Ms Tan, as the group clamoured to get a good view of the fast-disappearing worm.
Mr Lim, who works in the manufacturing industry, was there with his wife Doreen, 37, and daughter Fybie, eight.
Said Mrs Lim, who conducts research for car manufacturer Toyota: "I registered us for the walk because my husband is a huge nature-lover. He grew up climbing trees and catching fish with his bare hands."
Mr Lim added that they brought Fybie along to expose her to the great outdoors. "If not, she would be used to only city life," he said, pointing out how Fybie had whined about getting her feet wet.
At the other section of the big lagoon, we spotted a black sea cucumber, random heaps of worm excrement, a goby hiding underneath a rock and damaged shells that were formerly inhabited by snails before they became dinner for determined crabs that bore holes through the shells with their pincers.
Starfish, a cluster of squid eggs nestled among tape seagrass and more moon snails inhabit the small lagoon.
By then, it was about 9am and almost time to leave.
Before we did, "seekers" - National Parks Board employees and other volunteers - gathered the visitors to look at some of their finds from less easily accessible places around the lagoons.
These marine gems include an uninhabited spider conch, a nudibranch, a teddy bear crab and a hermit crab that had outgrown its shell. The seekers later returned them to where they were found.
Visitors saw close to 30 forms of marine life on that guided walk.
Undergraduate Justin Foo, 22, who was there with his girlfriend Lee Fang, 20, said he found the interconnectedness of the various marine creatures - such as the anemone shrimp living on the carpet anemone - fascinating.
"I just hope I didn't kill anything along the way when I was wading in the water," he said.
Dr Karenne Tun, the coastal and marine deputy director of National Parks Board's National Biodiversity Centre, noted that the current focus of the park is to show marine life to the public, without them destroying the environment.
That is also where the seekers come in. "They bring the items to the people," she said.
There is no completion date set yet, but when finished, the marine park - about the size of 50 football fields - will comprise Sisters' Islands and the surrounding reefs, as well as the western reefs of nearby St John's island and Pulau Tekukor.
The park's main objectives are outreach, education, conservation and research. Next year, there are plans to roll out programmes such as reef monitoring and dives.
There will also be workshops, camps and talks at an outreach and education centre on St John's island.
The park offers the public a chance to see different types of marine flora and fauna from those at Pulau Ubin's Chek Jawa.
Dr Lena Chan, director of National Parks Board's National Biodiversity Centre, said this is because the habitats are different at both places.
"The intertidal area at Chek Jawa is a mudflat adjacent to mangroves, while the intertidal areas within the marine park are largely rocky, interspersed with patches of sand and coral rubble," she explained.
The upcoming public guided walks to the Marine Park this month have been fully subscribed, and there are no tours next month as the tides are not favourable.
Slots for the walks in November will open on Oct 1 at midnight. Details can be found at www.nparks.gov.sg/sistersislandsmarinepark.
Dr Chan added: "We hope the tours will be a fruitful experience for all to learn about our rich natural heritage."
Siau Ming En Today Online 8 Sep 14;
SINGAPORE — A survey to look at how Singaporeans shop for, eat, cook and dispose of their food will be conducted by the National Environment Agency (NEA), as part of efforts to cut the growing amount of food waste here.
Commissioned by a working group formed to look into reducing food wastage, the survey will try to capture both qualitative and quantitative data on consumer behaviour — shopping, cooking, eating and catering habits — that may lead to wastage, the types of food being wasted and why they are being thrown out, among other things.
Targeting about 1,000 respondents, the survey — expected to be completed next month — will also try to identify consumers’ knowledge and attitudes towards food wastage, the NEA said in the tender documents put up on Aug 20. “It will help the (working group) to scope its outreach programme and refine target audiences,” said the NEA and the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) in a joint response to queries.
Last year, Singapore dumped 796,000 tonnes of food waste, a 13.2 per cent increase from the 703,200 tonnes in 2012. Food wastage also took up 10 per cent of the total wastage by Singapore last year.
While food recycling rates in Singapore rose for the second consecutive year in 2013, last year’s rate was still below the 16 per cent of food waste recycled in 2010.
In the tender documents, the NEA said the manufacturing, retail and consumer segments generate the largest amounts of food waste. “At the retail and consumer segments, the working group recognises that operational characteristics of retail and consumers could be influenced by consumer behaviour,” it said.
Formed in 2012 by the Inter-Ministry Committee on Food Security, the Food Wastage Reduction Working Group is jointly chaired by the NEA and AVA and includes representatives from agencies such as the Economic Development Board and the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources.
“To address the rise in the amount of food waste, the (working group) has engaged stakeholders such as food manufacturers, hawkers, hotel operators, retailers and non-governmental organisations to better understand the factors contributing to food wastage,” said the NEA.
The contractor commissioned to conduct the survey will have to propose recommendations on food wastage based on the findings and, where possible, propose initiatives and mitigating measures to reduce wastage.
Speaking to TODAY, Ms Lynda Hong, the Singapore Environment Council communications manager, said this survey would allow for a better understanding of where Singapore stands in terms of food wastage and recycling. She added it was also crucial to understand the extent of food wastage along the supply chain — such as in production and the retail sector.
Mr Eugene Tay, director of Green Future Solutions, hopes that besides this survey, more data will also be collected to identify the amount of food waste generated by different sectors. Currently, statistics here only reflect the annual amount of food waste.
Without the breakdown, Mr Tay noted that campaigns or outreach programmes will not be as targeted and it will be tougher to track their effectiveness. Siau Ming En
Govt study to tackle food wastage
Samantha Boh The Straits Times AsiaOne 10 Sep 14;
Tonnes of food go to waste every day and the Government wants to know why and how this can be reduced.
It has commissioned a food waste survey and plans to interview 1,000 Singaporeans aged 18 and above. The study, which hopes to tackle the country's worsening food wastage problem, is expected to be completed by next month.
According to tender documents obtained by The Straits Times, the study will look at respondents' shopping, cooking, eating and catering habits.
Those surveyed will also be asked how much and what type of food they waste and why.
What will also be examined is consumers' knowledge of and attitudes towards food wastage, and to identify ways to motivate people to waste less food.
Last year, Singapore generated 796,000 tonnes of food waste, an increase of 13 per cent from the 703,200 tonnes dumped in 2012.
This is the sharpest spike in at least six years.
The study will be managed by the Food Wastage Reduction Working Group, which was set up in 2012 to come up with recommendations and initiatives to address Singapore's food wastage problem.
The National Environment Agency, which co-chairs the group with the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority, said the survey will help the working group "scope its outreach programme and refine target audiences".
It added that the aim is not only to raise awareness of the importance of reducing food wastage, but also to emphasise individual responsibility in cutting down on food waste.
Singapore Environment Council spokesman Lynda Hong said the survey will help the authorities understand the extent of food wastage along the supply chain, from the time food is produced till it reaches consumers.
- See more at: http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/govt-study-tackle-food-wastage#sthash.hE3NUrE9.dpuf
muguntan vanar The Star 8 Sep 14;
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah wildlife conservationists are seeking to make the fast depleting Sunda pangolins a totally protected species under a measure to check rampant poaching of the nocturnal animal.
The move to push for full protection under Schedule One of the Sabah Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997 will help boost conservation efforts of the pangolins.
The newly formed Sabah Pangolin Conservation Working Group has suggested that a state Cabinet paper be prepared to propose total protection of the animal that is currently listed in Part One of Schedule Two, which means that it can be hunted with a licence and upgrading its status to Schedule One will accord it full protection.
Sabah Wildlife Department assistant director Dr Sen Nathan said participants at a recent workshop to discuss the fate of pangolins had unanimously agreed that the matter has to be brought to the attention of the State Cabinet.
Apart from seeking full protection for pangolins next steps include starting an awareness campaign with the soon to be established Wildlife Enforcement Unit, an initiative between Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC) and the department.
DGFC director Dr Benoit Goossens said: “The long term goal which covers a period of two to five years will be to decrease poaching and trade of pangolins, increase ecological and population studies and to look at the possibility of setting up a sanctuary to rehabilitate pangolins.
Dr Goossens pointed out that according to a 2010 report by wildlife monitoring network TRAFFIC, some 22,200 pangolins were killed between May 2007 and January 2009 to supply one syndicate, with most coming from the districts of Keningau, Kota Belud, Kota Marudu and Ranau.
The working group was set up at the end of a day-long workshop involving the relevant government agencies, NGOs, research organisations and an oil palm company.
Pangolins to get total protection
New Straits Times 8 Sep 14;
KOTA KINABALU: The pangolin will be classified as a totally-protected species in Sabah.
Once that happens, the Sunda pangolin, or Manis javanica, will enjoy similar protection like seven other animals in the state.
The Sumatran rhinoceros, orang utan, sun bear, proboscis monkey, clouded leopard, Bornean pygmy elephant and dugong are listed as totally-protected species under the Sabah Wildlife Enactment 1997.
Those found guilty of harming or killing these animals can be jailed between six months and five years.
The Sabah Pangolin Workshop Group was recently formed to prepare a working paper to be submitted to the state cabinet to elevate the level of protection of the species.
Sabah Wildlife Department assistant director Dr Sen Nathan said this was necessary because of the rampant hunting of pangolins.
Between May 2007 and January 2009, 22,200 pangolins were hunted and killed to supply international syndicates. Most of the pangolins came from Keningau, Kota Belud, Kota Marudu and Ranau.
Nurdin Hasan Jakarta Globe 7 Sep 14;
Banda Aceh. A male Sumatran elephant has been found dead with its tusks removed in an inland area in Aceh Jaya district, making it the fourth such death in the province this year, an official said on Sunday.
Genman Suhefti Hasibuan, head of the Aceh Natural Resources Conservation Agency, or BKSDA, said the elephant was found by a passing villager on the banks of the Cengeh River in Panggong village, Krueng Sabee subdistrict.
“Its tusks had already been removed by the time it was found; we strongly suspect the elephant was killed,” he told the Jakarta Globe. “We are still waiting for forensic results to determine the cause of death.”
The elephant was found about 10 kilometers from villagers’ houses. Already rotting, it is thought to have died a week ago.
The BKSDA team visited the site immediately after hearing receiving a report of the dead elephant. It has conducted an autopsy and sent tissue samples for testing to a forensics laboratory in Medan, North Sumatra, to determine the cause of death.
Genman said it was the fourth dead elephant found in Aceh this year alone.
In August, a 6-month-old elephant calf was discovered dead on a river bank in Serbajadi, in East Aceh district. The cause of death in that case remains unknown.
Another elephant was also found dead in Southeast Aceh district.
In April, Aceh police arrested 12 people suspected to be among the poachers responsible for killing an elephant for its tusks in Teupin Panah, West Aceh district. Three were released for lack of evidence; the remaining nine suspected poachers currently await trial.
Between 450 and 500 elephants live in Aceh, according to Genman.
Elephants habitats have increasingly come under threat in Aceh, as enormous swaths of land are cleared for industrial use. Villagers cite elephants’ encroachment on plantation areas as an aggravating factor in often violent responses.
Six elephants died last year in Aceh, most at the hands of humans — whose avowed territorial frustration with the elephants would seem belied by the dead animals’ missing tusks.
Challenges for photographers stalking Little Terns
from Bird Ecology Study Group
Snakesss at Pasir Ris with kids!
from wild shores of singapore
Morning Walk At Venus Drive (06 Sep 2014)
from Beetles@SG BLOG
Revision to the Common Names of Butterflies 2
from Butterflies of Singapore
The Grey-tailed Tattler in Singapore
from Francis' Random Yaks, Articles & Photos
Will the migrants still winter at Bidadari next year?
from Singapore Bird Group
Monica Kotwani Channel NewsAsia 6 Sep 14;
SINGAPORE: As Singapore transforms its energy supply landscape, the use of solar power as a source of electricity is poised for a dramatic increase.
A roadmap on solar energy launched in July forecasts that the use of solar power could jump by almost 200 per cent by 2050 if certain conditions are met. However, experts and stakeholders Channel NewsAsia spoke with said several issues need to be addressed before this transformation can take place.
At the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS) researchers measure the amount of sunlight that they see on the ground to make weather forecasts and record cloud formations and movement. And as solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, which produce electricity directly from sunlight, become more commonly used, a more accurate forecasting system is needed. Currently, the forecasting software has an error margin of about 30 per cent when forecasting weather up to 15 minutes in advance.
“Today, solar contributes only a small amount of electricity for the country, so the weather does not play a role as of now,” said Andre Nobre, Research Associate, Solar Energy Systems Cluster, SERIS. “In the future, when you have hundreds of megawatts of PV systems deployed, the weather will start to play a role, meaning if it's a sunny day, you would need fewer amounts of conventional power sources. On the other hand, if it's a rainy day, you would have to ramp up these conventional resources."
The power grid of the future would also need to perform several functions. "When you're not at home and your solar panel is producing electricity, it either gets stored and controlled in a smart manner or it is pumped back into the grid and that amount pumped is recorded by a smart meter,” said Professor Low Teck Seng, CEO of the National Research Foundation. “And in the evening, when their solar cells are not contributing to supplying power, they can actually drop out from the grid. So the simple meter being able to measure two-way flow of power is already a level of smartness”
At the moment, only 0.1 per cent of energy is supplied by solar power. Operators of some energy-intensive industrial facilities have said they are keen to explore installing solar panels on a larger scale.
But they cited two issues. The first is when solar panels do not produce enough energy, and companies have to look to the power grid to ramp up supply. But if this means going beyond a specified amount, companies would then have to pay a hefty sum.
Second, energy demands fluctuate for some companies, and solar panels are costly to set up. It takes years before companies can reap the benefits of their investments. Selling excess energy back to the power grid would allow them to recover some of their financial investments, but they face challenges in doing so.
"Removing some of these disincentives would be more attractive for companies to put more power generating facilities because energy cost is a huge cost to companies,” said George Lam, Director, Operations Excellence & Sustainability, GlaxoSmithKline. “So anything that would generate electricity without being too cumbersome will be a competitive advantage to companies."
In response, the Energy Market Authority said it is working with Singapore Power to "further simplify" processes. The Authority added it is further simplifying licensing requirements and the registration process that consumers have to comply with.
- CNA/rw
ICCS next Sat – Independents join Toddycats at Tanah Merah 7 to battle marine trash
from News from the International Coastal Cleanup Singapore
When is the best time to see the Shorebirds at Sungei Buloh?
from Singapore Bird Group
APP can meet projected pulp demand without clearing more forest
from Mongabay.com news
Xue Jianyue Today Online 6 Sep 14;
SINGAPORE — In response to the Government’s plans to redevelop Mandai, nature groups yesterday called for buffer zones to be created between any future man-made and existing forest areas and for the minimisation of any impact on the ecosystem.
The groups also welcomed the Government’s decision to seek their advice on its plans for the area, which is currently home to the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari and the River Safari.
In a joint statement yesterday, the Singapore Tourism Board and the National Parks Board (NParks) said the latter will guide the development so it is sustainable for and sensitive to the natural environment.
The statement reiterated that views from nature groups would be sought to ensure the sustainable development of the area.
It added: “The development should not encroach on the nature reserves and reservoirs. An Environmental Impact Assessment will need to be undertaken to avoid or mitigate any impact of the development on the nature reserves and reservoirs. Through sensitive design and management, the development could potentially strengthen and enhance the nature reserves.”
While he noted that more details had yet to be revealed, Mr Tay Kae Fong, president of the Jane Goodall Institute (Singapore), said any redevelopment should “work with the land”, which meant taking time to study the ecology of the forests that surround the new attraction and minimising the number of trees that would need to be cut.
“What I don’t want to see is them bulldozing the entire place down, (leaving a) blank canvas, and then they start doing planting and manicuring the whole place because they want it to be grand. I’m hoping they would take into account what’s already there,” said Mr Tay.
To reduce any adverse impact on the animal wildlife there, nature groups have called for buffer zones to be set up along the forest edge to separate it from man-made infrastructure.
Nature Trekker founder Ben Lee said this was necessary, as the redevelopment would increase road traffic in Mandai significantly.
Passing traffic could kill animals such as the macaque monkeys, which dwell in the periphery of the forests, said Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) founder Louis Ng, who had previously called for such buffers to be created in the Dairy Farm area.
He said the authorities have approached ACRES on two occasions since the start of the year and he hoped they would continue to do so.
As part of the redevelopment plans, the Jurong Bird Park could be relocated to Mandai.
Mr Ng said the bird park’s relocation presented an opportunity to redesign the park and replace outdated small cages with larger enclosures. “It’s moving in the right direction. A lot of new enclosures are already free-ranging for the birds, whereas the old ones are all cages. We are hopeful that as they move and develop a new bird park, they will follow and move along what they have already been doing to more free-ranging enclosures.”
Mandai mega-attraction will appeal to all: WRS
Wildlife Reserves unveils vision of integrated hub that boosts conservation, education efforts
Joy Fang Today Online 6 Sep 14;
SINGAPORE — An integrated conservation hub, an educational and research destination, as well as a spectacular tourist attraction that caters not just to Singaporeans but also the international crowd. It could also be home to a bird park with one of the biggest walk-in aviaries in the world.
This is the vision that Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) chairman Claire Chiang has for the new mega development planned for the Mandai area. WRS manages the three existing attractions in the area — the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari and River Safari — as well as the Jurong Bird Park, which may be relocated to Mandai as part of the redevelopment plans announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Thursday.
Ms Chiang’s vision of a top-drawer attraction that would appeal to all came as Second Minister for Trade and Industry S Iswaran said yesterday the focus is on making available public spaces for Singaporeans to enjoy what Mandai has to offer.
Speaking to the media yesterday at a Panda Party at River Safari, Ms Chiang also revealed that an expansion of its three existing attractions in Mandai is necessary, given the high volume of visitors that is affecting visitor experience. For example, during Chinese New Year, daily visitorship numbers for the zoo can hit as high as 15,000, said Ms Chiang, adding that there is also greater efficiency under an integrated attraction.
On the possible relocation of the Bird Park, which was opened in 1971, Ms Chiang said the proposal had been discussed in the past few years. “Every product will need renewal and new ideas,” she said. “My wish is to see possibly one of the biggest walk-in aviaries (in the world) ... the open zoo concept is what won WRS its name.”
On Thursday, Mr Lee had announced during a live television forum that the Mandai area would be redeveloped into an all-encompassing wildlife attraction. Adding that the nature reserves would not be infringed upon, Mr Lee said the Government was mulling over the use of available space around the nature reserves, such as an unused orchid plantation and an old fruit orchard. The developments would create something bigger and better, Mr Lee said.
In a joint statement yesterday, the Singapore Tourism Board and the National Parks Board (NParks) reiterated that the Mandai area has the potential to be developed into a precinct of nature-themed attractions for education and recreation, and green public spaces for Singaporeans to enjoy and appreciate nature. “The STB is still working out development plans for Mandai and will share more information when ready,” it added. NParks will guide the development so it is sustainable for and sensitive to the natural environment, the statement said.
Ms Chiang said WRS is looking at using the development as a research platform to boost exchanges among experts, who can look at issues such as rainforest sustainability and biodiversity. “This is yet another new development that is going to make a mark in the global perspective,” she said. “Surely we are going to take every care to study seriously the host of factors related to safeguarding biodiversity and sustainability.”
The Jurong Bird Park was built at a cost of S$3.5 million more than four decades ago, excluding the price of the land.
Speaking to TODAY, Mr Bernard Harrison — former chief executive of WRS who has been credited for helping transform the zoo into being one of the most successful in Asia — said it would be extravagant and unnecessary to relocate the Bird Park. While the attraction could do with an upgrade, a relocation is much more costly, said Mr Harrison, who runs zoo design company Bernard Harrison and Friends. He said: “A bird park is a bird park. People find birds boring, that’s the problem ... How are you going to make the birds more exciting than they are already?”
Responding to Mr Harrison’s comments, Ms Chiang said it was important to innovate and find new ways to attract visitors.
She pointed out that there were also naysayers — citing the high costs — when WRS began creating River Safari. But the attraction has proven to be a success, she said.
Citing hefty entry fees to the zoo, Mr Harrison felt the new development must be geared towards catering for Singaporeans. Public transport to the Mandai area should also be improved, he said.
Speaking on the sidelines of a West Coast community event, Mr Iswaran said yesterday the Government must make sure the new development has a strong attraction for Singaporeans to visit. And then it has to look into augmenting the development to also appeal to tourists.
“I don’t think it’s mutually exclusive. But, as the Prime Minister mentioned, the focus is on the public spaces and what can be available in terms of open areas for Singaporeans to enjoy,” he said, adding that it is not only about gated attractions.
Stressing that plans are at a preliminary stage, Mr Iswaran described Mandai as a very special area consisting of existing attractions, the nature reserves and a reservoir. “It has the potential to be enhanced as a nature-themed, eco-friendly kind of precinct that all of us — Singaporean families — can enjoy,” he reiterated. ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY LAURA PHILOMIN
Mandai makeover of zoo; Bird Park could be there too
Audrey Tan and Charissa Yong The Straits Times AsiaOne 7 Sep 14;
Get ready for the massive Mandai makeover. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong revealed last night that the leafy northern swathe of Singapore will be transformed with a "bigger, better zoo", and even Jurong Bird Park could migrate to Mandai.
The 41-year-old zoo will be overhauled and could expand to take up available land next to it. This will significantly enlarge its present 26ha plot, which is about the size of 23 football fields.
The neighbouring space now houses an old orchid plantation and an old fruit orchard.
The plans should start coming together soon and could be rolled out by as early as 2020.
"You want something which is green, you want something which improves on what is there, you want something which will enhance the nature reserves and not infringe into the nature reserves. And I think we have some interesting ideas," he said.
"By 2020, we should see something, and beyond that, we should have even more. This is not so complicated to do as moving Paya Lebar Airbase to Changi. So, within the next 10 years, we should have quite a lot to see."
He also said that the Bird Park could be moved from its current 20ha site to Mandai: "The Bird Park is all by itself down in Jurong. Why not move it to where the zoo is?"
Asked if its iconic waterfall would move too, he replied: "I think they (the planners) have something in mind which is even more spectacular than the waterfall," he said, without wanting to reveal more details.
He was speaking at a live television forum titled Ask the Prime Minister, in which he fielded wide-ranging questions, from hot-button issues on retirement adequacies and paper qualifications to light-hearted takes such as which superhero he would like to be. The answer: Superman.
On plans for Mandai, The Straits Times has learnt that a fifth zoo - on top of the current zoo, River Safari, Night Safari and Bird Park - is on the cards.
Among the ideas being considered for it: A jungle adventure theme and suspension bridges built through a tree canopy for visitors to enjoy.
The Mandai makeover is just one of several big redevelopment plans Mr Lee has announced over the past year, such as for Paya Lebar and Jurong.
He said that the new nature area in Mandai will also have areas for the public to relax for free, much like Marina Bay's Gardens by the Bay. "You also have public areas where you can wander around and you can go and take wedding pictures, and you can enjoy the waterfront and watch the sunset on Upper Seletar Reservoir. I think it can be a very beautiful, very nice place."
The redevelopment will be done in a way which preserves the environment and enhances the current nature reserve in the area, he said. The nature reserve itself - known as the Central Catchment Nature Reserve - is Singapore's largest, occupying over 2,000ha of forest cover.
Mr Lee added that the authorities have been talking to some nature groups: "I am sure that as they understand what is happening, they will help us to refine and to improve the scheme."
His announcement drew a cautious reaction from the green community, many of whom acknowledged that it was an "ambitious plan".
Some praised the move as one that would create an impressive nature hub, while others feared the loss of biodiversity.
Mr Jose Raymond, chief executive of the Singapore Environment Council, said: "The plan to create a nature reserve in the Mandai area... will definitely bring Singaporeans closer to nature and biodiversity."
But lobbyist groups, such as the Nature Society (Singapore), said existing biodiversity could be at stake, and called for a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment.
But Professor Leo Tan, director of special projects at the National University of Singapore's Science faculty, noted that the areas planned for redevelopment are on land already in use. He is confident that "care will be taken to ensure the green aura of the place is maintained".
Olivia Siong Channel NewsAsia 5 Sep 14;
SINGAPORE: With its existing wildlife attractions, the Mandai area could be redeveloped into a precinct for nature-themed attractions for education and recreation, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and National Parks Board (NParks) said. Both agencies released a joint statement on Friday (Sep 5), a day after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in a forum on Channel NewsAsia that a "bigger and better" Mandai zoo is in the works, as part of a larger makeover of Mandai that could happen by 2020.
A joint statement from both agencies on Friday (Sep 5) said STB is still working on development plans and will share more information when ready.
RESORT ATTRACTION?
Currently, Mandai is not only home to the Singapore Zoo, but the recently opened River Safari and the Night Safari as well. Mr Lee said an old orchid farm and orchard could be used for the zoo's extension. One idea from the Association of Singapore Attractions (ASA) is to create a resort immersed in nature, and turn Mandai into a place that could boost tourism.
Said ASA chairman Kevin Cheong: "We should not look at the Mandai area as just a place to visit. It should be a must-see, must-stay, and stay overnight. People can stay, live in nature for two or three days and that can prolong the length of their stay in Singapore. That would generate repeat visitorship to other precincts in Singapore."
Mr Cheong added the redeveloped Mandai should not just cater to tourists, but Singaporeans as well. "When I say wildlife resorts, I don't mean a five-star resort, I don't mean living it up in luxury, I mean going back to nature. Could it be staying in a 'kampung'? Could it be in a longhouse? Through social media, our residents become not just visitors, but advocates for nature, advocates for our attractions, telling their friends from overseas to visit Singapore and experience their favourite parts of Singapore. That is true tourism."
"NATURAL" ESCAPE
Second Minister for Trade and Industry S Iswaran said various Government agencies have been studying how the area can be enhanced as an entire precinct, in ways that preserve Mandai's natural charm. “It's not just about gated attractions such as the Zoo or the Night Safari. It is also about creating public spaces, green spaces, that more Singaporeans can enjoy.There is a lot of potential for that in the area, by virtue of the fact that it is contiguous with the reservoir and the natural setting that it has."
Hospitality and tourism management lecturer Shirley Tee, who teaches at Nanyang Polytechnic, said activities involving nature are becoming popular. “Because of the stress of life that everybody has now, there is this need to escape from your daily routine, go back to nature and let your mind relax and be at peace. That is something I think a lot of tourists would look forward to - a place where you have enjoyment, but can also be relaxed," she said.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS
Prime Minister Lee had said the Mandai development will be green and enhance the existing nature reserve without infringing it. He also mentioned ongoing talks with nature groups that are expected to help improve and refine the plans for the area.
The Nature Society (Singapore) said it was consulted about a month ago, though it noted that the history of the project goes back a few years. "There was a large STB-organised consultation in 2012 and an earlier one in 2007. There has been a long history of engagement with stakeholders," said Nature Society president Shawn Lum. “The earlier engagement, consultation, envisioning activities that I was privileged to be part of, were mainly kind of scoping out what would an appropriate, nature-friendly, sustainable attraction be for this area, given its proximity to the zoo and so on."
While the group is concerned about the impact the development will have on the environment and wildlife, it hopes a middle ground can be found. "What we can't sugarcoat is we will lose habitat," said Dr Lum. "But in terms of the net benefits of the whole project, in terms of changing perceptions towards nature, getting kids excited about wildlife, increasing the people's sense of wonderment at nature, if these things can all be accomplished and the thing will synergise existing attractions and existing NGO efforts, it could be something quite special."
NParks said it will guide the development so that it is sustainable and sensitive to the natural environment. An Environmental Impact Assessment will also be done to avoid or mitigate any impact on the nature reserves and reservoirs.
THE "BIGGER AND BETTER" ZOO
Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) - the holding company of Jurong Bird Park, Night Safari, River Safari and Singapore Zoo - said the planned expansion of the zoo will focus on its mission of conservation, biodiversity and maintaining the area's environmental sustainability.
Speaking to reporters at a party to celebrate the birthday of pandas Kai Kai and Jia Jia, WRS chairman Claire Chiang said: "Edutainment has always been our mission and I think this is one opportunity to create a Singapore with that focus. With that sort of exchange among experts and with all our biodiversity experts in the region, this is yet another new development that is going to make a mark in the global perspective on sustainability."
- CNA/xy
Mandai mega-attraction will appeal to all: WRS
Joy Fang Today Online 6 Sep 14;
SINGAPORE — An integrated conservation hub, an educational and research destination, as well as a spectacular tourist attraction that caters not just to Singaporeans but also the international crowd. It could also be home to a bird park with one of the biggest walk-in aviaries in the world.
This is the vision that Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) chairman Claire Chiang has for the new mega development planned for the Mandai area. WRS manages the three existing attractions in the area — the Singapore Zoo, Night Safari and River Safari — as well as the Jurong Bird Park, which may be relocated to Mandai as part of the redevelopment plans announced by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Thursday.
Ms Chiang’s vision of a top-drawer attraction that would appeal to all came as Second Minister for Trade and Industry S Iswaran said yesterday the focus is on making available public spaces for Singaporeans to enjoy what Mandai has to offer.
Speaking to the media yesterday at a Panda Party at River Safari, Ms Chiang also revealed that an expansion of its three existing attractions in Mandai is necessary, given the high volume of visitors that is affecting visitor experience. For example, during Chinese New Year, daily visitorship numbers for the zoo can hit as high as 15,000, said Ms Chiang, adding that there is also greater efficiency under an integrated attraction.
On the possible relocation of the Bird Park, which was opened in 1971, Ms Chiang said the proposal had been discussed in the past few years. “Every product will need renewal and new ideas,” she said. “My wish is to see possibly one of the biggest walk-in aviaries (in the world) ... the open zoo concept is what won WRS its name.”
On Thursday, Mr Lee had announced during a live television forum that the Mandai area would be redeveloped into an all-encompassing wildlife attraction. Adding that the nature reserves would not be infringed upon, Mr Lee said the Government was mulling over the use of available space around the nature reserves, such as an unused orchid plantation and an old fruit orchard. The developments would create something bigger and better, Mr Lee said.
In a joint statement yesterday, the Singapore Tourism Board and the National Parks Board (NParks) reiterated that the Mandai area has the potential to be developed into a precinct of nature-themed attractions for education and recreation, and green public spaces for Singaporeans to enjoy and appreciate nature. “The STB is still working out development plans for Mandai and will share more information when ready,” it added. NParks will guide the development so it is sustainable for and sensitive to the natural environment, the statement said.
Ms Chiang said WRS is looking at using the development as a research platform to boost exchanges among experts, who can look at issues such as rainforest sustainability and biodiversity. “This is yet another new development that is going to make a mark in the global perspective,” she said. “Surely we are going to take every care to study seriously the host of factors related to safeguarding biodiversity and sustainability.”
The Jurong Bird Park was built at a cost of S$3.5 million more than four decades ago, excluding the price of the land.
Speaking to TODAY, Mr Bernard Harrison — former chief executive of WRS who has been credited for helping transform the zoo into being one of the most successful in Asia — said it would be extravagant and unnecessary to relocate the Bird Park. While the attraction could do with an upgrade, a relocation is much more costly, said Mr Harrison, who runs zoo design company Bernard Harrison and Friends. He said: “A bird park is a bird park. People find birds boring, that’s the problem ... How are you going to make the birds more exciting than they are already?”
Responding to Mr Harrison’s comments, Ms Chiang said it was important to innovate and find new ways to attract visitors.
She pointed out that there were also naysayers — citing the high costs — when WRS began creating River Safari. But the attraction has proven to be a success, she said.
Citing hefty entry fees to the zoo, Mr Harrison felt the new development must be geared towards catering for Singaporeans. Public transport to the Mandai area should also be improved, he said.
Speaking on the sidelines of a West Coast community event, Mr Iswaran said yesterday the Government must make sure the new development has a strong attraction for Singaporeans to visit. And then it has to look into augmenting the development to also appeal to tourists.
“I don’t think it’s mutually exclusive. But, as the Prime Minister mentioned, the focus is on the public spaces and what can be available in terms of open areas for Singaporeans to enjoy,” he said, adding that it is not only about gated attractions.
Stressing that plans are at a preliminary stage, Mr Iswaran described Mandai as a very special area consisting of existing attractions, the nature reserves and a reservoir. “It has the potential to be enhanced as a nature-themed, eco-friendly kind of precinct that all of us — Singaporean families — can enjoy,” he reiterated. ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY LAURA PHILOMIN
New plans for Mandai will be 'sensitive to area'
Melissa Lin And Samantha Boh The Straits Times AsiaOne 8 Sep 14;
The new developments at the Mandai area will be sustainable and sensitive to the surrounding area, with an Environmental Impact Assessment to be undertaken to address any impact on the nature reserves and reservoirs.
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and the National Parks Board (NParks) said in a joint statement yesterday that the development "should not encroach on the nature reserves and reservoirs".
"Through sensitive design and management, the development could potentially strengthen and enhance the nature reserves," it said. NParks added that views from nature groups will be sought to ensure the sustainable development of the area.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said during a live television forum on Thursday that leafy Mandai will be transformed with a "bigger, better zoo", and the Jurong Bird Park could be moved to the area, home to the Singapore Zoo, River Safari and Night Safari.
Second Minister for Trade and Industry S. Iswaran said last night that the green groups here are important stakeholders in the development of Mandai. "They will be engaged; (we) already have spoken to some. As the idea develops, there will be more engagement to ensure that some of the key concerns that already have been outlined can be addressed in a fair manner," he said.
In the joint statement, STB said it is "still working out" the development plans for Mandai. It noted the area's potential "to be developed into a precinct of nature-themed attractions for education and recreation, and green public spaces for Singaporeans to enjoy and appreciate nature".
Moving the Bird Park to Mandai would be a win-win situation for the attraction and its neighbours, as such a cluster would be more marketable to tourists, said industry players and experts. A new Bird Park would also create a buzz among Singaporeans for the 43-year-old attraction.
But a cluster could also result in saturation of attractions and increased competition among them, said Dr Guan Chong, marketing lecturer at SIM University's School of Business.
Dr Michael Chiam, Ngee Ann Polytechnic's senior lecturer in tourism, said the problem with the Bird Park is its "isolated location, with no other attractions around to support it". A crocodile farm next door closed in 2006.
A move would allow Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS), which runs the four parks, to hold joint promotions and events to draw crowds back to the ailing attraction, said Dr Chiam.
Last year, the Bird Park attracted nearly 800,000 visitors - nearly 14 per cent less than in 2012 and the lowest in at least seven years, according to Singapore Department of Statistics data.
Dynasty Travel "usually omits" the Bird Park from its itinerary in Mandai as it takes 20 to 30 minutes by coach to reach the park from there, said director of marketing communications Alicia Seah. If the Bird Park moves to Mandai, it could be added to the current package under a special price, she added.
Attractions overseas have already found success with this concept. The Darling Harbour area in Sydney has a zoo, aquarium, wax museum and observation tower.
The expansion of the wildlife parks is necessary, said WRS chairman Claire Chiang yesterday. The zoo saw a peak of 15,000 people a day during Chinese New Year. "That kind of crowdedness is not giving us the guest experience," Ms Chiang added.
Khairul Amri Mohd Sidik Today Online 6 Sep 14;
SINGAPORE — A narrow, nondescript two-way street under a raised section of retired train tracks leads to one of Singapore’s largest and most pristine patch of primary rainforest at the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.
As you make your way into the nature reserve via Hindhede Road, there is the common and uplifting sight of a myriad of visitors — from the serious hiker to the occasional jogger and families — gathering.
Among them is 61-year-old Keng Chong Wong, who has a standing weekly appointment with his friends. As he does some light stretching near the visitor centre, he recounts his regular trips to the reserve since the ’90s.
In addition to helping him keep fit, he said his time here is crucial for his social well-being in his silver years — He “meets old friends, makes new friends”. For seniors who have encountered countless changes in Singapore’s fast-changing landscape, there is a sense of familiarity and nostalgia at the reserve, he adds. “(It) reminds me of the olden days.”
Once the closure kicks in, Mr Keng hopes to continue his weekly meet-ups elsewhere. “I like the slopes over here and I come down with friends. Where will we go after this?” he wondered.
In June, the National Parks Board (NParks) announced that the 163ha nature reserve will be closed for about two years from Sept 15 for restoration works. Heavy rainfall and an increase in visitorship over the years — from 80,000 in 1992 to 400,000 last year — has taken a toll on the grounds. As part of the restoration, about half of the reserve’s 9km of trails will be repaired, a 1.3km-long raised boardwalk will be built and the visitor’s centre will be upgraded.
A little way off from the visitor centre is a resting spot up a slope, and there I chatted with 43-year-old Razali, who, like many others, goes to the nature reserve to train for hiking expeditions. “We are going to Mount Kinabalu and this is part of our training,” he said.
Clad in red polo tees, the interest group he trains with meets every Sunday for some intermediate-level circuit training on the slopes. There is a lot of camaraderie and encouragement among the avid hikers, adding a certain buzz and vibrancy to the nature reserve.
“A lot of people who actually come here are training for an expedition. In Singapore, Bukit Timah is the best place to go to for such trainings,” Mr Razali said. “We come to this place every week and it’s sad … One fewer place to go to for a trek,” he added regarding the impending closure.
Perhaps they will now train using the staircases at Housing and Development Board flats, said 22-year-old Lu Jiaxi, who recently returned from a hiking expedition. “What I’ll miss is the convenience and it being nearby.”
“When it reopens, I hope it doesn’t become too commercialised or look like something that people will think is (man-made),” said 25-year-old Lim Ai Ting, who trained at the reserve for her climb up Mount Everest base camp. She now exercises at the reserve once a month to keep fit.
United Kingdom citizen Ian Wright, 53, who has lived in Singapore for almost a decade and is a fan of the reserve for its technical courses, shared: “What I’m fearing is that they’ll put down gravel everywhere.” The naturally undulating slopes serve as excellent training areas for enthusiasts.
“The natural surroundings need to be allowed to heal itself, but don’t do what they did to the MacRitchie (nature trail), where they just chopped down six inches of ground over a technical section just because one or two people wanted to go out for a short walk,” he said.
The authorities said the main road that leads to the summit will reopen on weekends next March, but the rest of the reserve will remain closed for another one-and-a-half years. But some visitors, like 52-year-old Richard Yong, are hopeful that other areas can reopen sooner.
“Some of the grounds are badly eroded, so I can understand if you need to close it for a longer period of time, but (for) the other (areas) not affected, I think they should be open,” he said.
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