Newspaper review 1

Date: 7th December 2008
Article: More buzz for Sungei Buloh
From: The Straits Times, Home pg 10

Summary
Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong was speaking at the Sungei Buloh nature reserve's 15th-anniversary celebrations, where he also unveiled new proposals for the area, which is home to mangroves, migratory shorebirds and wildlife such as mudskippers.

The draft master plan will see the reserve being divided into four zones. In those designated as medium to high activity, facilities such as floating boardwalks, outdoor classrooms and a children's play area will be built. There are plans, too, to integrate the surrounding areas so that visitors will be able to enjoy the facilities right from the Kranji area to Sungei Buloh.

To strengthen the park's educational efforts, the visitor centre will be upgraded to include a new lookout tower for birdwatchers, meeting rooms and dormitory-style accommodation for research groups.

Construction work is expected to start in 2010 and end by 2013.

Reflection
I applaud the efforts taken to rehabilitate the reserve, and to literally ‘create more buzz’ around the tranquil environment at the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.

The Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve serves 4 vital roles: Conservation, education, recreation and research. This reserve serves as habitat for a wide range of biodiversity such as birds, plants and other wildlife. Also, it functions as an important site in the East Asian Migratory Flyway for waders. Unfortunately, some people do not realize the importance of nature reserves. Hence, it is important to educate them on the benefits of nature reserves and Natural Sciences, in the local context. Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve also serves to provide an alternative form of recreation to encourage an appreciation of the beauty and diversity of wildlife. Further more, scientific researches are done to contribute biological knowledge regionally and internationally.

Let’s do hope that more city-dwellers can learn to adopt eco-friendly behaviour such as not leaving their litter behind and damaging the flora and fauna in the nature reserves, but instead, learn to appreciate the beauty of these nature reserves.

Rachel