Leave the beautiful Mandai rainforest alone

ST Forum Nov 27, 2007

I READ with dismay the planned conversion of 30ha of the Mandai rainforest into a nature-themed park for tourists ('Mandai to get new nature attraction on 30-hectare site'; ST, Nov 21).

We are just a tiny island with not much forest left after our much-lauded efforts in transforming it into a world-class city within a garden, recognised for its steady economy, reliable infrastructure and governance.

Tourist arrivals have increased tremendously and it is forecast that the population in Singapore could reach 5.5 million. Do we need another tourist attraction at the expense of plundering our small rainforest and upsetting the ecosystem and biodiversity of the area?

Where there is much human activity, Nature cannot stay its course and degradation of the once-pristine landscape will follow, to the point of no return.

There are many 'back to nature' tourist resorts in neighbouring countries which are a hop, skip and jump away and with more expansive jungle or forest landscapes and panoramic scenes which will easily eclipse our 30ha offering.

We already have many world-class tourist attractions and with the integrated resorts and the Formula One race coming on stream, do we need to sacrifice a portion of our island's rainforest heritage just to attract a couple of million more tourists?

We do not need more hotels and chalets to denude whatever remaining greenery we have on this fast-urbanising island.

The Mandai road is flanked by a waterway and thick rainforest of sheer tropical splendour, which merge naturally into the theme parks of the zoo and Night Safari. The surrounds of the zoo and Night Safari are a fitting introductory welcome to visitors to these two attractions.

Please don't spoil the ambience of the Mandai area.

George Pasqual

Barren grass - 070912

Barren grass - North Bridge Road

071123

Apollo Open Space

Anson Road - International Plaze

071112

Why cut down big trees to build family park?

Straits Times Forum
Nov 17, 2007

AMID the call for a clean and green Singapore, we are felling big, beautiful and healthy trees to build a family park so that we can play basketball, skate, jog, etc, among man-made nature.
The proposed park is located along Braddell Road, next to the junction of Braddell Road and Bishan Road.

After some residents objected strongly to destroying the greenery, the project was scaled down and the town council promised to plant 10 trees for every one that is felled. However, this is little consolation because the trees felled were more than 20 years old (they were already fully grown when we moved in in 1988) and it takes more than 10 years for the new saplings to grow to considerable size.

Though I do not know the names of the birds that are living in the area or come resting at different times of the year, I have spotted at least nine types among the trees, and squirrels running on the branches.

It is ironic to destroy beautiful, fully-grown trees to build a park. I am quite sure the new plants will be lined in straight rows and stand X metres apart. Singaporeans just can't leave trees and plants standing haphazardly.

A number of the old trees were cut down last Saturday. Is there something someone can do to stop further destruction?

Lai Yoke Kwai (Miss)

Bishan - Trees

Are Albizias 'killer' trees?
Residents sad that those in park got the chop
Thursday November 15, 2007
Letter from Sharon Lee Siew Kiang

The Government's move to set aside $700 million to develop new parks and enhance existing ones, such as East Coast Park and the Botanic Gardens, should be applauded. While this initiative targets mostly large parks, the need to preserve the greenery in smaller parks should not be overlooked.

Over the weekend, I was shocked to find workers chopping down several mature trees (picture) in the small park at the junction of Bishan and Braddell roads.

When I called the Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council, I was told the trees that had been chopped down were Albizia trees. These were the same species as the one that had fallen on a woman at Bukit Batok Nature Park in May and a contractor the Town Council had engaged, recommended the trees be felled.

While I am saddened by the woman's death, I wonder if that unfortunate incident, which is a rare occurrence, makes it necessary to chop down all the trees of that species.

These trees have been in the park for more than 30 years. They help to block noise and dust from vehicles that use the neighbouring Braddell flyover, and provide shelter for residents from the afternoon sun.

What's even more puzzling is the fact that the Town Council intends to build a family park in this area, and called a meeting with the residents on July 21 to discuss its plan.

During the meeting, new plans for the park were unveiled which showed that the existing trees would be conserved.

This was done after the residents had voiced their opposition to having most of the trees removed, as called for in the original plan.

I would understand perfectly if the trees had been removed if they were diseased or infested with termites.

However, chopping down healthy mature trees because of the possible risk they present displays a blatant disregard for residents' wishes and the need to save the environment.
I hope the Bishan-Toa Payoh Town Council and the National Parks Board can provide some answers. Couldn't they have taken some preventive measures to save or transplant the trees instead of chopping them down?

Copyright MediaCorp Press Ltd. All rights reserved.

Barren Grass - Orchard Road

071111 - Junction of Orchard Road and Stamford Road

Barren Grass - Singapore Expo

After - 071111

Barren Grass - Singapore EXPO

Bus shelter signs - Anson Road

请停止锯树

观点 > 今日观点 2007-11-10

● 伟统宁

　　我住在裕廊西91街的组屋已有16年了，对于此处的环境十分满意，有一种清幽和温馨的感觉、树木也很茂盛和凉爽。可惜这几年来，每逢三几个月，当局就派人把一部份的树枝锯得光秃秃，只剩下树身而已。这使得这里的环境变得非常闷热。

　　原本这个组屋区树荫多很凉爽，对我们的健康非常有益。我们不明白当局为什么要不停的一再锯树。希望有关当局停止这么做，以免浪费资源，又损害民众健康。


2007-11-14
锯树为防鸟儿栖息带来噪音

　　谨答复《联合早报·交流站》于11月10日刊登的伟统宁读者投函《请停止锯树》:

　　我们了解伟先生对树枝被锯问题的关心。然而，我们不时收到居民对八哥鸟在大牌915和916旁的树木栖息的反映。它们发出让人难以忍受的噪音，一些居民因此而不能好好的休息。把树枝锯掉是阻止八哥鸟前来栖息的最有效方法，市镇会在收到居民的不断反映后，只有展开锯树枝的工作。

　　我们明白一些居民希望组屋区拥有翠绿的环境，但是让居民在辛勤工作一整天后能够好好的休息也同样重要。我们希望居民能够谅解。

　　感谢伟先生的反馈，伟先生如果有其他意见，可以打电话6791-5755同我们联络。

丰加市镇理事会
总经理

吴彩雯

Trees - Cross Street

Trees felled only as a last resort
Thursday November 15, 2007
Letter from Suhana Kharudin Manager,

Media Relations,

Land Transport Authority

We refer to the letters, "Whither the trees" by Albano Daminato and Lisa Garris (Nov 6) and "Where once there was greenery ..." by Carlyn Law (Nov 8), on the trees around Cross Street.

We share the writers' concerns for our greenery and would like to assure them that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) makes every effort to preserve trees. Where possible, trees that have to be cut will be replaced by new ones.

The trees mentioned by the writers are directly affected by the construction of the Downtown Line Cross Street Station.

Prior to felling these trees, the LTA explored whether there was any alternative to their being felled. This is a standard process for all cases of roadside trees affected by development projects.
In this case however, there was no alternative given site constraints at Cross Street.

Work on the underground station has to be conducted within the space of the existing five-lane road. The road had to be diverted to the planting strip to improve safety and enable the continued smooth flow of traffic. There was no other space left in the area to replant the trees and shrubs.

Once construction is completed new trees and shrubs will be planted around Cross Street.
We thank the writers for their feedback.

Copyright MediaCorp Press Ltd. All rights reserved.

Walkway - Marsiling

Half-sheltered walkway,

HDB at night - View from Henderson Rd Blk 96

Sidewalk - Tanjong Pagar

Before ... flooded footpath and sidewalk. Nobody complains, no action.

After feedback to LTA ...