Speech by MOS Desmond Lee to announce the Inclusion of the Learning Forest as a Nature Area
May 30, 2015
Launch of the New Learning Forest Nature Area
A very good morning to everyone.
Back in 1859, the Agri-Horticultural Society turned a 23-hectare piece of land into an ornamental garden. This Garden is known today as the Singapore Botanic Gardens, where we are right now.
Within the Botanic Gardens are 6 hectares of primary forest, which we call the Rain Forest. The Rain Forest, which has been largely untouched for hundreds of years, is set aside as a Nature Area, holding some rare and unique species of flora and fauna that can only be found here and nowhere else. For example, if you take a walk under its canopy of giant forest trees, you may see the Brown Tree Snail, which is found only in the Rain Forest and nowhere else in Singapore.
There is also another forest, known as the Learning Forest, located next to the Rain Forest, where we have just planted a total of 100 trees. As these saplings mature, they will create a habitat to support the rich biodiversity that we want to keep and enhance in the Singapore Botanic Gardens.
Besides providing a home for our precious biodiversity, the Learning Forest shields the Rain Forest from urban stresses, and helps create more opportunities for the pollination and seed dispersal of native forest trees.
To enhance the genetic diversity of this area and protect our precious flora and fauna, we will have a forest corridor to link the Rain Forest and the Learning Forest. We will also partner our many green volunteers and local communities to help plant the Learning Forest. In this way, more Singaporeans will get to actively participate in our greening efforts that make us a City in a Garden.
Groundbreaking for the Canarium Pond
Today also marks the groundbreaking for a new Canarium Pond in the freshwater swamp section of the Learning Forest. The freshwater swamp forest is a vital part of the watershed that supplies over half of the water that replenishes the Gardens’ well-loved Swan Lake. The new Pond will feature a system of bioswales and siltation ponds that work together to clean the water before it is discharged into the Swan Lake. Some of us might not know this, but the water in the Swan Lake is used to water the plants in the Botanic Gardens.
When ready, sometime in 2016, the Canarium Pond and the network of boardwalks and viewing decks will allow us to get a closer look at the unique flora and fauna found in Singapore’s freshwater swamps.
The Singapore Garden Photographer of the Year Competition
All these upcoming developments will truly enhance our Botanic Gardens. However, what truly makes a City in a Garden come alive are people like us, who activate and further energise these green and community spaces – for example, senior citizens who use our parks to practice taichi in the morning; patient fathers teaching their children to cycle along our park connectors; families who picnic in our parks on weekends; nature lovers who immerse themselves and celebrate our beautiful flora and fauna, or even the newlyweds exchanging their vows amidst the lush garden setting of our parks.
This is why NParks launched the "Singapore Garden Photographer of the Year" photo competition last year. The competition allows the community to capture personal memories and favourite moments in our green spaces on camera and share them with others. It is heartening to know that the competition received overwhelming response.
I would like to congratulate all the winners of the competition. Your photographs showcase the rich biodiversity and greenery that make Singapore an endearing and exceptional City in a Garden.
I would also like to thank presenting sponsor for the competition – City Development Limited; sponsors Nikon and Singapore Press Holdings; and our partner, Photographic Society of Singapore, for their support.
Conclusion
As you all know, the Botanic Gardens is working towards being inscribed as Singapore’s first World Heritage Site. While we await the results of our bid, let us continue to celebrate the heritage of our Singapore Botanic Gardens. I hope that you will enjoy your morning at the Gardens today.