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?

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