Speech by MOS Desmond Lee at the Biodiversity of Singapore Symposium IV
Aug 1, 2015
Good morning, and thank you for inviting me to the BoSS IV. You’ve got a very exciting and wide-ranging variety of presentations this morning.
Evolving priorities on biodiversity
Indeed, for a city-state that is small, dense, and that in the minds of many people here and overseas, highly urbanised, it is remarkable that Singapore remains an exciting place in terms of biodiversity. On our little red dot, we can find a diversity of natural habitats, with more than 10 different ecosystems, and over 40,000 species of flora and fauna.
We have come a long way in biodiversity conservation over the past 50 years.
In the first few decades after independence, the overriding focus was on tackling existential threats, as well as bread and butter issues. While these are still important, today, the interest in our biodiversity has grown beyond the nature community to our general public.
For instance, there is a palpable delight in the recent encounters that people have had with otters at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, and with crocodiles at Sungei Buloh.
Government’s seriousness in biodiversity conservation
Our biodiversity conservation efforts are now conscientiously and systematically planned, guided by NParks’ Nature Conservation Masterplan as well as the Marine Conservation Action Plan.
As described during the Festival of Biodiversity, there are 4 major thrusts to the Masterplan:
First, “Physical Planning”. Deciding what and where to conserve amidst the different tensions. Nature Reserves and Buffer Parks, Nature Areas, ecological connectivity.
Second, “Conservation Programming”, or in short, species recovery, starting with critically endangered species, with a special focus on those that are endemic only to Singapore.
Third, “Research”, to help strengthen our understanding of how biodiversity thrives and to ensure that we leverage on technology and the learning that people have to enhance our conservation efforts. For example, primary research like the comprehensive marine biodiversity research – the earthing up of new species, not only new to Singapore but new to science. Another example would be the comprehensive survey of the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve that was launched recently.
Fourth, “Community Stewardship”, because even as we in this hall and nature groups care deeply about our natural heritage, we cannot do without the support of our wider community – their buy in, their understanding, and their tolerance for biodiversity. Our conservation efforts are strengthened by community partnership and greater public awareness of the flora and fauna that live and thrive in Singapore. An example of community stewardship would be our Citizen Science activities. An app on the phone would enable you to participate in the Garden Bird Count and Butterfly Count. When you participate in the count, naturally you will ask “how do I know what species this is?”, “what are its habits?”, “what flowers do these butterflies fly from?” With the app and the content in there, you can help share knowledge, and create and create awareness and understanding of our environment.
What’s next? 3 challenges
The theme of this year’s Biodiversity of Singapore Symposium is “What’s Next?”. It is a question that we can approach in either one of two ways.
The first is to fold our arms as a bystander, look at current trends and trajectories, and passively extrapolate what the future holds.
The other approach is a normative one: where we look at where trends and challenges might take us, but then say that we want to play an active and constructive part, and work together positively to create the future that we want to see. And in the last few years where I’ve had the opportunity to talk to and work with many of you, I’m encouraged that this is the approach that we’re taking to the protection of our natural heritage.
Today, I would like to share 3 challenges that we will face as we continue this journey of biodiversity conservation. In fact, I’m encouraged that many of the presentations in the first segment of today’s Symposium focus on these.
Balancing between difficult differences
The first challenge is striking a balance between difficult differences. Or, better, attempting to work out win-win outcomes between 2 or more competing needs.
The most obvious is between conservation and development.
On the one hand, land is very scarce in Singapore. Within 700 sq km, we have to accommodate everything that a sovereign state has to have.
On the other hand, plant and animal species, once lost, are lost forever.
This tension is felt not just at the national level, but also in our everyday lives, right in our neighbourhoods and estates.
Our society is getting more diverse, and not everyone shares the same enthusiasm for nature. Some communities near nature areas may enjoy the flora and fauna right at their doorstep. But others may be frustrated by the disamenity that wildlife can sometimes cause. Others may even prefer to forgo greenery and replace them with facilities such as schools, or sports facilities, or more car parking space. How do we accommodate these differences?
Even among those who enjoy nature, there are differing views on what to do. Some feel that our nature areas should be kept pristine and out of bounds to all visitors.
Others feel that they should be made accessible to all Singaporeans.
Take for example, Chek Jawa. During the issue of whether Chek Jawa was to go or stay, I was a still a student at that point of time. My friends and I went to Chek Jawa and visited what was a pristine environment. But, shortly after all the news and awareness, a lot more people visited and there were a lot of trampling, damage and destruction. And then, NParks built that beautiful boardwalk. But, as I walk on the boardwalk, sometimes, I cannot help but wonder if we need to strike a better balance because we are keeping people too far away from the majesty of nature.
Of course, there are others who wish to limit them to specific activities such as mountain biking, which rules out others due to the danger of collision. What then should we do?
Moving from diversity to dialogue
This brings me to the second challenge, which is how to bring groups with differing viewpoints into constructive and meaningful conversation.
To try to turn division and differences into diversity, by moving from disagreement to dialogue.
There is room for biodiversity conservation and other competing demands to come closer to a middle ground. The starting point is dialogue.
The trade-offs in making one choice over another are very real and often emotional.
Dialogue can throw up win-win solutions that address the concerns of different groups.
More importantly, dialogue will help us understand one another, and see that more often than not, people are not just caricatures with narrow selfish concerns, but are reasonable and have equally valid points of view.
To do so effectively, we have to enter these conversations with respect, a collaborative spirit and an open mind, while leaving our emotions, propensity to judge, and personal interests at the door.
This is a hard but important thing to do. Initiatives like the Biodiversity of Singapore Symposium, whose objective is to encourage Conservation, Conversations and Collaborations within and beyond the biodiversity community, are exactly what we need.
The ongoing Ubin Project is being conducted in the same spirit. We have formed what we call the “Friends of Ubin Network” or FUN, comprising representatives from nature groups, heritage buffs, artists, sportsmen, educators, social anthropologists, Government agencies and the Ubin community.
We meet regularly and just met again yesterday afternoon.
In FUN, we are working hand-in-hand to maintain the rustic nature of Ubin, protect its biodiversity and heritage - tangible and intangible - and make it accessible in a sensitive way to visitors.
The Festival of Biodiversity is another initiative that brings together diverse groups of organisations and people in celebration of biodiversity and provides opportunities for like-minded biodiversity conservationists to collaborate with each other.
Making harder choices
The third challenge is for the next generation to bring this conversation to the next level.
The priorities of our society have changed in ways which we would not have imagined 50 years ago. They will continue to evolve in the next 50.
As Singaporeans become more educated, more connected and more vocal, our opinions will get stronger, louder and more diverse. At the same time, certain fundamental challenges will remain – the need to provide space for homes and leisure, to keep Singapore safe and secure, to provide jobs so people can take care of themselves and their families.
The question that this Symposium is asking is, “What’s Next?”.
What’s next is probably that the choices will get harder as the constraints get tighter, but the test is how we negotiate the solutions to these difficult choices.
What is crucial is for our next generation to keep this dialogue going, and remember that in the end, we must build a consensus that reflects the evolving priorities of Singaporeans, and make choices for the good of Singapore as a whole.
Conclusion
I am glad that we have invited young people – tertiary and secondary school students – to join us today. 31 NUS Toddycats are also involved in organising this Symposium. To the young Singaporeans among us today – the future is yours. You will shape the balance between biodiversity conservation and our other priorities in SG100. This is both a daunting responsibility, as well as an exciting privilege. I wish you all the best.
I hope that this Symposium will inspire, nurture, and motivate us all. May you have an enriching and engaging dialogue today. Thank you.