Professor Leo Tan,
Director, National Institute of Education
Chairman, National Parks Board;

Dr Ira Rubinoff, Director
Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute;

Dr Tan Wee Kiat, CEO, National Parks Board;

I am happy to be here for the launch of - “Forest Trees of Bukit Timah”.

Singapore’s Commitment To Its Natural Heritage

2 Singapore is a small country, but we are not so small in terms of biodiversity. In our Botanic Gardens, there is a 6 ha plot of primary rainforest where we can find 165 species of trees. For the whole of Singapore, the number of tree species is even more - 887 to be exact. If we include that for shrubs, climbers, ferns and so on, the number of native plant species in Singapore is even much more - 2168. This is more than that found in the whole of United Kingdom (1623 species) !

3 The Bukit Timah Nature Reserve was accorded conservation status since the late 1800s. It occupied only about 75 hectares when Singapore became independent in 1965. Today, the Reserve stands at over 160 hectares - more than double its original area.

4 Indeed, our rainforests are important assets in terms of their natural heritage and biodiversity of flora and fauna. The gazetting of two Nature Reserves in 2002 - the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and Labrador Nature Reserve - together with the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Central Catchment Nature Reserve, shows our commitment to protect and conserve our nature areas for as long as possible.

Need for Collaboration in Sustaining Our Nature Reserves

5 As we conserve our nature, NParks has also improved accessibility to our nature areas for more Singaporeans to experience the nature first-hand. Educational signs are being set up along the nature trails to provide information about our ecosystems. For example, there is one sign to explain why a plant is known as the “Kiasu” plant - because it captures fallen leaf matter between its leaves and composts them. There are also educational signs on “How You Can Help the Nature Reserves”, educating the public on why certain actions - such as feeding the monkeys in the Reserves - are not right things to do if we want our visits to the Reserves to remain enriching and enjoyable for a long time to come.

6 With better accessibility to our reservoir parks and Nature Reserves, the job of protecting our natural heritage has become more challenging. All of us - as stakeholders of our natural heritage - will have to work together under a “3P + R” partnership.

The Private Sector – Corporate Sponsorship and Support

7 The first P is the Public Sector, through agencies such as NParks. The second P is the Private Sector. Over the years, we have seen a higher level of support from the private sector in our greenery efforts and nature conservation. We have received corporate sponsorship and adoption of nature areas through the Garden City Fund. HSBC, for example, has contributed funding support to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, TreeTop Walk and Pulau Ubin. We have also received good support for outreach and conservation programmes - eg, Shaw Foundation, Chevron Oronite, ST Microelectronics, Shell, ExxonMobil, Borneo Motors, SPH Foundation, Underwater World, etc. We hope to see more of such corporate sponsorship and support to help strengthen our resources and efforts in biodiversity conservation.

The People Sector – Community Participation

8 The third P is the People Sector - community participation is another key to protecting our nature areas. Our Nature Reserves is our shared heritage. We must not damage our natural habitat, if we want our children to enjoy and experience the flora and fauna of Singapore.

9 Between 1990 and 2004, there were 13 forest fires in and around the Bukit Timah and Central Catchment Nature Reserves. Just a few months ago, in February 05, we experienced unusually hot and dry weather. There was a record number of bush fires all over the island, started mainly by careless and inconsiderate human actions such as indiscriminate disposal of cigarette butts. These fires, if out of control, could result in an irreversible loss of valuable plant and animal species.

10 This is why we have decided to prohibit smoking in Nature Reserves. This is also why NParks appreciates very much the efforts of volunteers who come forward to help in the various outreach programmes. They conduct educational tours and monitor activities in the Nature Reserves. The efforts of these active citizens have contributed much to the protection and preservation of our nature heritage.

The Research & Academic Institutions

11 Even though a strong 3P partnership is necessary, it is insufficient. We need not just “3P”, but “+ R” as well. It is important for us to conduct research about the nature, as it will help us understand better how to manage our natural heritage more effectively. The work of research institutions, scientists and expert naturalists in ecological and conservation are useful and will get only more important. I am therefore particularly heartened by this ecological work - “Forest Trees of Bukit Timah”. It reflects the 3P+R partnership between NParks and all the shared owners of our Nature Reserves.

12 Building on earlier publications on topics such as the biology and conservation of Bukit Timah, the survey of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, and the plant life of Tanjong Chek Jawa on Pulau Ubin, the book launched today takes the story of Bukit Timah another big step forward.

13 The “Forest Trees of Bukit Timah” is a culmination of years of efforts by Dr James LaFrankie and his co-authors. They have spent a fair portion of their lives unravelling the mysteries of the tropical rainforest. This book introduces us to the ecology of Bukit Timah and offers ecological information on the 100 most abundant species in the forest. It also records some of the authors’ main findings from their 10-year study. For example, it tells us that the forest at Bukit Timah is considered to be, in comparison to other forests studied, very “dynamic” in that there is a high turnover rate of trees. Another interesting finding, I am told, is that the diversity of the trees appears to be holding steady, despite the rapid turnover of individual trees. This book will further stimulate the people to learn more about the forest and about our nature.

Conclusion

14 I am encouraged that this 3P+R partnership is taking root in our Green Community here in Singapore. As we strive to preserve our shared natural heritage, understanding our nature better will certainly help us in this common cause. I congratulate the authors of the book, staff of NIE, and my colleagues at NParks, for their wonderful efforts and contributions. Thank you.

>>back to top