SINGAPORE: First it was Chek Jawa, then Pulau Semakau -
now soon, another strip of nature little known to Singaporeans, the
Kranji Bund Marshes, will be made more accessible to the
public.
The Nature Society of Singapore (NSS) adopted the Kranji Reservoir
and the surrounding marshes in November, under the PUB's waterways
adoption programme.
The wetlands are the island's last remaining chunk of
freshwater marshes, and are home to threatened bird species.
Measuring 90 hectares, the Kranji marshes have fallen victim to
neglect, urbanisation and poachers over the years.
Now, the NSS hopes to get Singaporeans to treasure the
area's rich biodiversity, and is launching its first tour for the
public on January 31. The three-hour tour will be held every last
Saturday of the month, and will involve a 4-kilometre
trek.
The society will conduct a survey of the plant and
wildlife in the marshlands. It also plans to rehabilitate an
overgrown pond located at the end of Neo Tiew Lane 2.
Said the chairman of the conservation committee, Dr Ho Hua Chew:
"The pond is clogged with aquatic vegetation. It's conducive for
some birds, like the Purple Swamphen, but not others.
"By removing some of the vegetation and opening up the
water surface, we hope to attract the pond's original inhabitants -
the Lesser Whistling Duck and the Common Moorhen - and other
species of birds and dragonflies to forage or visit
here."
Much of the wildlife has been threatened by poaching,
which seems to have increased in recent years. "We've encountered
illegal angling. We've found monitor lizards, terrapins, the Baya
Weavers caught in traps and nets. We try to educate these poachers
when we meet them," said Dr Ho.
As there are not enough perching areas for birds, the NSS
is considering placing a platform in the middle of the pond or on
the shore of the reservoir. Once this is done, the public can
expect to see Ospreys, Kingfishers and Perns on these
perches.
The management of a nature reserve marks a first in the
NSS' 54-year history. "As a non-profit organisation, we are
constrained by resources and our focus has been mainly on...
conservation studies," said Dr Ho.
"However, the PUB has given us this opportunity to go
'hands-on' for the conservation of biodiversity and we've secured
some funding from Bloomberg to help us carry out this
project."
The PUB's adoption programme, which aims to transform our
waterways and reservoirs into community and recreational spaces,
enjoys wide patronage.
Senoko Power, Dunman High School and Waterways Watch
Society are some groups that organise clean-ups and educational
programmes.
To sign up for the Kranji Bund Marshes tour, email
[email protected] - TODAY/fa