Text Box: Official Website for the NSS Conservation Committee

 Conservation News  |  Singapore Green Plan  |  Evidence of Poaching

 

Text Box: Role of the NSS Conservation Committee

 

The Conservation Committee has its origin in the Bird Group's Conservation Committee in the late '80s. In the early '90s, it was transformed into the Nature Society's Conservation Committee, playing a wider role within the Council of the Society, with the following functions:

  1. To identify and make proposals for the conservation of the important terrestrial and marine nature areas in Singapore.
  2. To provide feedback to the governmental authorities on land-use plans & policies affecting nature areas and the biodiversity of Singapore.
  3. To conduct biodiversity surveys and research that will provide the data for NSS conservation plans and projects.
  4. To promote public awareness of and support for conservation of nature areas and related issues.

 

 

Text Box: Conservation Reports & News (May – June 2008)

(Posted 10 April 2008)

 

A) URA’s Punggol  Coastal Recreational Plan

 

A Feedback on this Plan was submitted to the CEO of URA on 3 March 2008. The objective of the Feedback is to provide biodiversity information in that area  to enhance the ecological dimension of the Plan. The official plan includes a 2.4 km Nature Walk along the coast facing Pulau Serangoon (Coney Island). Our proposals include among others: 1) The creation of swale or marshy pond at one of the rivers to attract waterbirds; 2) retaining the rocks and leaving the coastline as it is to the west of Punggol Point; 3) having a two-toned design to the edges of the water channel that is projected to run through Punggol from Sg Serangoon to Sg Punggol, such that the northern edge/bank should be made more natural while the southern edge be made neater and garden-like to cater to both the taste of nature lovers and non-nature lovers; 4) scrapping the plan for a vehicular bridge to cross Sg Serangoon from Punggol Central to Lg Halus and substituting a footbridge instead to avoid disruption to the very important wildlife (e.g. Little Grebe) found at the Lg Halus area.

 

The Conservation Committee would like to thank the following members of The Bird Group and the Conservation Volunteers for the assistant rendered in the formulation of this feedback: Angie Ng,  Ben Lee, Ching Chabo, Cyril Ng,  Ho Hua Chew, Hsu Chia Chi, Julia McLachlan, Leong Kwok Peng, Serene Tang, Sutari Supari, Willie Foo, Wing Chong, Wong Chung Cheong.


Click to view/download feedback


B) URA Jurong Lake Plan


A feedback to the planning authority on the biodiversity of the Jurong Lake area is being planned. The area is becoming more and more popular to birdwatchers and bird photographers as more and more of the interesting migratory and rare resident birds have been sighted over the past five years. A team consisting of birdwatchers and bird photographers  will be formed to prepare the report. If you are interested to assist, please write to: contact@nss.org.sg  or Ho Hua Chew (E-mail: hohc@starhub.net.sg)

         
Report by Ho Hua Chew,

Chair, Conservation Committee           (Posted 10 April 2008)

 

 

Text Box: Petition to Save the Sg Ulu Pandan Woodland

(Posted 18 February 2008)


A petition to save the Sg Ulu Pandan Woodland has been submitted in February (2008) by a group of extremely concerned residents from the housing estates in the area. A total of  1330 signatures were collected. 1075 come from residents in the housing estates  around the Woodland (Clementi, Mt. Sinai, Holland Road, Dover, Sunset Way, Ghim Moh, etc.) as well as recreational users of the Ulu Pandan Park Connector. The Petition campaign took about 6 weeks and the support obtained from the residents around the Woodland is pretty impressive --- an on the ground campaign over such a short haul. Like the case of the residents at Zehnder Road for a similar woodland, this action-oriented manifestation of the community support for the  saving of our remaining natural greenery should be taken seriously to heart by our decision-makers and land-use planners ---  as a strong indication of the surging groundswell for a more concrete  commitment to green causes like nature conservation and the protection of our remaining woodlands and forests as green lungs and carbon sinks. “

 

Click to view/download covering letter of the petition

 

Text Box: Appeal  to Save Woodland at Sg Ulu Pandan Designated for HDB Development

 

 

 

Text Box: Letter by ST Wong Yew Kwan to The Editor, The Forum Page, Straits Times

(Posted 18 February 2008)

 

WONG YEW KWAN

B.Sc.(Hons) S’pore. B.A., M.A.(Oxon)

 

 

Consultant in:

landscape design,

golf course design & maintenance,

Agronomy, forestry, horticulture.

Tel: 64536082

Fax: 64594476

E-mail:  ksz@pacific.net.sg

ADDRESS:             89   SOO CHOW GARDEN ROAD               SINGAPORE   575526

 

Ref:zcorr01/

Date:

 

The Editor, The Forum Page, Straits Times                     

email: stforum@sph.com.sg

 

The Straits Times recently carried articles concerning STB’s potential plan to create an eco-tourism area near the Zoological Gardens. Needless to say, STB’s intention is good, for increased tourism would mean more money for Singapore. However, the question as raised by the Nature Society is that such a project, involving removal of vegetation and construction of buildings, etc., would affect the plant and animal ecology, not only of the subject site but also that of the Nature Reserve, although the subject site, covering some 30 ha in size, is not part of the Nature Reserve.

 

Based on the map appearing in the Straits Times in connection with Lim Wei Chean’s article (Dec 7, 2007) and from the relevant biodiversity information I could gather, I would agree with the Society that, for STB’s proposed development, it would be far better to make use of the adjacent alternative site (hugging close to the Bukit Timah Expressway) proposed by the Society.  I am not worried about plants in the present case, but the various animal species still found in the Reserve, especially the rare and endangered species. If the forest of the STB site is undisturbed, then the area would act as a good link or fording area for these precious animals to go between the forest on one side of the Mandai  Lake Road to the other. If the two STB proposed sites  are used, then the fording link would be lost, and this would lead to isolation of the animal populations.

 

The alternative site proposed by the Nature Society is quite close to the Zoo and it would not be difficult for tourists to go from there to the Zoo and the Night Sarfari, should this be a desirable consideration. Indeed with some planning, one could build an aerial link between the alternative site and the Zoo or Night Safari. With such an aerial link, visitors would cause minimal disturbance to the animal populations, day or night, while going between the two areas.

 

The article under “Think” – Mandai at Risk?  (ST Nov 25) has cautioned us that Singapore is not a choiced site for such touristic activities. I would say that if we wish to promote eco-tourism, it is better for the tourists to have excursions from their hotels which is not far away rather than from new chalets set up at the edge of the Reserves --- so that there will be  minimal disturbance to the natural environment. 

 

 

Wong Yew Kwan

Former Commissioner of Parks & Recreation

 

 

 

Report on the Singapore Tourism Board (STB)  Project at Mandai

 

Click to view/download report

 

 

For Other views/comments on the issue, please click the following link:

 

http://www.eart-h.com/text/mandai.htm

 

 

Google Map  1- Click for full size view

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Roadkill Leopard Cat found along Mandai Road, 11 June 2001

Picture by : Charith Pelpola

 

Text Box: Conservation News

Reforming the Wild Animals and Birds Act  |  Transview Golf Course  |  Gardens by the Bay  |  Meeting with AVA

Kranji Marshes Park  |  Sentosa Costal Forest

 

NSS Proposal for reforming the Wild Animals and Birds Act

 

The review with recommendations for reforming the Wild Animals and Birds Act was finally completed and submitted to the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA)  on 15 September 2007 with CC-copies to the Minister of National Development and National Parks Board.

 

            The review is comprehensive and covers the following topics and issues:

 

1) Definition of ‘Wild Animals’.

2) Need & scope of the ‘Offences Section’

3) Extending anti-poaching measures

    a) Possession offences;

    b) Vicarious/ employer liabilities;

    c) Hurting, disturbing, harassing & torturing wild animals & birds; 

    d) Protection of bird nests.

4) Penalties

5) Legitimate killing of wild animals

6) The use of spring guns, engines, stakes & pitfalls

7) Import & export of non-CITES listed species

8) The outlawed birds --- delisting of Purple-backed Starling & Common Myna

9) Wild Animals & Birds (Bird Sanctuaries) Order

10) Consolidating & clarifying existing laws & practice on licensing.          

 

    Parliament with the assistance of both AVA and NParks has taken commendable and far reaching steps to protect wild animals and birds by strengthening the provisions contained in the Parks and Trees Act and the Endangered Species Act. These enactments deal respectively with the problems relating to the conservation of species in Singapore Nature Reserves and National Parks and the international trade in CITES listed species.

 

    In order to complement these provisions we believe that parliament and the authorities should seek to strengthen the provisions of the Wild Animals and Birds Act which remains the principal legislative enactment for the protection of wild animals and birds in Singapore.

 

    The recommendations contained in the proposal reflect the views of a wide range of individuals from conservationists involved in the protection of wild animals and birds in Singapore to nature enthusiasts and animal (and bird) lovers who believe that Singapore's urban landscape will benefit immensely from having an ecological element. It also represents a year of internal deliberation and consultation by the Nature Society where the views of various members were sought on the best way to protect wildlife in Singapore.

 

    The proposal not only looks at combating poaching and associated activities in Singapore but also aims to enhance the welfare of wild animals in Singapore, including those kept in captivity. The proposal also stems from the very positive meeting that the Nature Society had with AVA more than a year ago during which we highlighted our concerns in relation to the taking of bird nests, the status of Singapore's outlaw birds and the practice of net fishing especially in inter-tidal areas. We are grateful to AVA for listening to our concerns and emerged with a greater appreciation of some of the challenges they face especially in combating poaching.

   

            We trust that this proposal will go a long way towards assisting AVA in dealing with the many issues that confront the protection of wildlife in Singapore.

 

            We would like to record our sincere thanks to Alan Owyong, Ching Chabo Gloria Seow, Hsu Chia Chi, Leong Kwok Peng, Lim Kim Seng, Margie Hall, Nick Baker Richard Hale and Yeo Suay Hwee for taking the time to go through the proposal and for their invaluable comments and suggestions.

 

            We would also like to take this opportunity to thank Alfred Chia, Amy Tsang, Ashley Ng, Cyril Ng, Ben Lee, Betty Vong, Cheong Loong Fah, James Heng, Jim Tietjen, Kelvin Chen, Kenneth Kee, Peter T. K. Wong, R. Subaraj, Serene Tang, Sutari Supari, Tang Hung Bun, Tsang Kwok Choong,  Ulf Remahl, Wang Luang Keng, Willie Foo and Yang Chen Lin who over the years have brought to our attention wildlife offences committed in Singapore and who have given an insight into the problems and challenges faced in this respect.

 

            Finally we would like to especially thank Dr. Astrid Yeo and her team at AVA for taking the time to meet us and for giving us an insight into the administrative and technical issues faced in the protection of wildlife in Singapore. We sincerely hope that this proposal will be of assistance to AVA in its continuing effort to tackle the protection of wildlife in Singapore and look forward to supporting them in this respect.

 

            The proposal was prepared by Vinayagan Dharmarajah, Lye Lin Heng & Ho Hua Chew.  

 

 

The Defunct Transview Golf Course (Dover Road)

 

A biodiversity feedback report was prepared by the Bird Group after two bird survey sessions and submitted to the Singapore Land Authority (SLA) on 13 September 2007. SLA has kindly forwarded our feedback to NUS which is now planning for a university town in this area. The defunct Transview Golf Course is located between Dover Road and the AYE and is currently under the jurisdiction of the SLA.

           

            The area is rich in birdlife for a golf-course in the suburban zone. 42 species, resident and migrant, were recorded. 32 species are resident, among which are  the Spotted Wood Owl, the Changeable Hawk Eagle and the Banded bay Cuckoo. The Spotted Wood Owl and the Changeable Hawk Eagle are nationally threatened species.         

 

            We are not against the development of the university town and has put forward our recommendations as eco-guidelines for any forthcoming development plans  to be contributive towards the national goal of sustainable development.        

           

             We would like to thank the following for assisting in the surveys and for providing suggestions and information to the feedback: Alan Owyong, Cyril Ng, Ho Hua Chew, Jimmy Chew, Sutari Supari & Willie Foo.

 

 

Nature Society’s feedback on the Gardens by the Bays Designs

 

NSS was invited to the Focus Study Group on the two winning designs of the international Design Competition.  Angie Ng & Hua Chew attended the group session on 19 September as representatives of the NSS.  The areas designated for the gardens (Marina South and Marina East), although reclaimed lands, have over the past decade or so harboured a rich birdlife.  A written feedback report was formulated for the two winning designs and was submitted to Dr. Tan Wee Kiat, the Project Director (Nparks) on 9 October.

This report will be made accessible on the website ConservationSingapore as soon as possible.

 

Nature Society’s feedback on the Gardens by the Bays Designs – Download full report. (MSWord file)

 

 

Meeting with Agri-food & Veterinary Authority (AVA)

 

Hua Chew & Vina had a meeting with a senior staff together with two others of the Import & Export Division on 25 Sep at the AVA office.  In this meeting, we expressed NSS’s concerns with the increasing problem of poaching, the designation of six bird species as outlaws and the using & discarding of fishing nets in the inter-tidal shore & inland waterbodies.  The following proposals were mooted and discussed.

 

  1. Reducing wildlife poaching via legal & other means – in particular the poaching of bird nests;
  2. Re-installing the Asian Glossy Starling, the Purple-backed Starling & the Common Myna back into the Wild Animals & Birds Act; and
  3. Introduction of legal measure to prevent the use of & the discarding of fishing nets in inland waterbodies and coastal waters.

 

The discussion is pretty useful and some insights into the difficulties or problems in implementing the legal measures mooted above are gained.  We believe that these difficulties or problems are not insurmountable.  We informed the senior staff that a formal presentation of our concerns and proposals will be submitted later.  The senior staff assured us that AVA welcomes and will consider carefully our feedback & recommendations to tighten and shore up the gaps or inadequacies in the legal measures for the protection of Singapore’s wildlife. 

Vina & Hua Chew is currently working on a draft of this formal representation and it will be ready for submission soon.

 

Proposal for NSS management of Kranji Marshes Park

 

This document was submitted to URA, PUB, & Nparks on July 2006.  It makes the case that the URA-designated Kranji Marshes Park at the end of Neo Tiew Lane 2 together with a patch of woodland adjacent to it at the Turut Track area be awarded to the Nature Society for the purpose of its management.  The area in total is estimated at 39 hectares and is a major freshwater marshland habitat in Singapore harbouring a rich biodiversity in terms of its birdlife and butterflies.  As far as the Society is aware, no organization has been assigned to manage it.  There is an urgent need to implement eco-management to this sensitive nature area given the developmental pressures that are now existing and that are to come in the near future.  Apart from the promotion of nature-oriented recreational, educational and environmental values for Singaporeans and foreign visitors, the Society envisages that the Park could be nurtured into a centre for freshwater marshland management within the urban context with the implementation of management training programmes that will be useful for nature conservationists and related environmental professionals in Singapore and the region.  The Society’s envisaged management of the Park will be complementary to the management work of the National Parks while adding a new dimension to the conservation effort in Singapore by exemplifying the Principle of the Three Ps of our Singapore Green Plan, i.e., the involvement and harmonious integration of the People, the Public and the Private in working towards an ecologically green environment .

 

We are still awaiting the decision on this proposal.

 

Currently, about a quarter of the pond area will be used for a marshland pollution filter project --- a PUB-NTU pilot study spanning two years.  Part of the project involves the erection of an earth-bund across a corner of the pond to separate the filtered from the unfiltered water.  The construction work has begun and the birdlife using the pond are affected during the construction..  We hope they will all return soon when the construction work is done.

 

 

Appeal to Save the Coastal Forest at Sentosa

 

We understand that the Resorts World’s plan for the Sentosa integrated Resort involves the use of the coastal forest north of Siloso Road.  It appears to us that the forest is already being prepared to be cleaned up – with only selected trees that are mature and of botanical interest to be left standing.  This will convert the area from a self-sustaining forest to a parkland, which will be clean and neat but requiring a high degree of maintenance.  It is not clear what the actual usage for the area is going to be but whatever is the plan to be finalized, we strongly urged that the forest be left as it is as a forest eco-system.  Apart from alien species, the cutting and clearing of the undergrowth and any plants that have grown naturally over the area leaving only the old, tall or interesting specimens standing will constitute a destruction of the forest ecosystem.

 

Download full report. (MSWord file)

View Map

 

Text Box: Singapore Green Plan

 

Singapore Green Plan Action Programmes

 

Feedback to The Singapore Green Plan 2012 (2002)

Download file (MSWord file)

 

MEWR Press Release, 24 May 2005:  Online environmental survey launched today as part of the Singapore Green plan Three-year Review.

 

Text Box: Evidence of Poaching

 

Photographs submitted by Tang Hung Ban taken at Kranji - link

 

 

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