Search

Saving MacRitchie forest: A youngster’s view

on 24th May 2013

The MacRitchie forest is under threat with plans to build a Mass Rapid Transit Line through the Central Catchment Nature Reserve (CCNR), in particular the MacRitchie forest LINK. Within a few months time, soil testing will commence, meaning that the forest will be invaded by heavy machinery that in turn will cause damage to the fragile ecosystem. This patch of forest is the oldest within the CCNR, with some areas as old as the primary forest at Bukit Timah. This is Singapore’s natural heritage and as such has been legally protected as a nature reserve. Below is an appeal by a 12 years old nature enthusiast, Saker Subaraj (below), who is very concerned of the widespread damage that can come with this move…

“When I heard that an east-west line was going through the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, I thought it was a joke but soon came to realise that it was turning into reality when I found out that soil investigation was going to be carried out in October this year. This shocked me as I never thought that the government would place an MRT track through this incredible nature reserve. So now I am taking a stand against this action.

“I have had many beautiful experiences in MacRitchie and that will not change. Every New Year, MacRitchie is a hotspot for New Year’s Day morning bird-watching where we get a range of different species of animals. We get to see 50 to 70 species of birds, 5 to 8 reptiles, a few mammals and amphibians. These animals are essential for the survival of the MacRitchie forest. If the government continues this process of running an MRT line through this reserve, all these species will decline drastically or go extinct.

“On other occasions such as a big day or surveys of the area, we sit on the Juletong Tower LINK for 6 hours and often find some lifers that I never thought that I would see, like the Lesser (Chloropsis cyanopogon) and Greater Green Leafbirds (Chloropsis sonnerati). When I go on walks with my father, Subaraj Rajathurai, we often see a variety of animals such as the Grey-headed Fish-Eagle (Ichthyophaga ichthyaetus), Changeable Hawk-eagle (Nisaetus linmaeetus), Blue-crowned Hanging Parrot (Loriculus galgulus) (above left), Blue-rumped Parrot (Psittinus cyanurus) and Short-tailed Babbler (Malacocincla malaccensis). Others, like the Common Treeshrew (Tupaia glis), Malayan Colugo (Galeopterus variegatus) (below), Black-bearded Flying Dragon (Draco melanopogon) (above right), Twin-Barred Tree Snake (Chrysopelea pelias) and Oriental Whip Snake (Ahaetulla prasina) are also seen.

“MacRitchie has a diverse variety of animals and to see it being destroyed for the convenience of humans is a real tragedy. Is a few minutes of getting to work faster really more important than the survival of many species of animals?

“There are still animals that I want to see such as the Sunda Pangolin (Manis javanica) and the Lesser Mouse Deer (Tragulus kanchil).

“If this MRT line manages to go through, then the government has only themselves to blame for the destruction, of what must be, the greatest eco-system in Singapore.”

Saker Subaraj, 12 years old
Singapore
24th May 2013

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

Other posts by YC Wee

22 Responses

    1. Agreed. However, this is a legally protected site. More so the government should not invade the area to test the soil, etc.

  1. Isn’t it ironical that we are building a eco-link to connect Bukit Timah Nature Reserves with Central Catchment Area (CCA) on the one hand, and on the other planning an MRT line to cut through the CCA ?

    I think the Land Transport Authority and gahment will have lots of explaining to do ! Lornie Road cannot extend into CCA hence Bukit Brown had to give way …. in just a few months this is no more valid ?!

Leave a Reply to Bird Ecology Study Group Save MacRitchie Forest: 18. Night birds Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Categories
Archives

Overall visits (since 2005)

Live visitors
1045
25028
Visitors Today
51764029
Total
Visitors

Clustrmaps (since 2016)