nature conservation Since 1819, Singapore’s natural history has suffered considerable loss, with the extinction of 38 per cent of butterfly species, 43 per cent of freshwater fish species, 70 per cent of forest bird species, and 40 per cent of mammal species.

Other species are at risk. The cream- coloured giant squirrel (Ratufa affinis), a rodent which was discovered and named by Sir Stamford Raffles, is now so rare that its extinction seems almost assured. Yet in his time, Raffles commented that it was common in the orchard. The banded leaf monkey (Presbytis femoralis), discovered and named by a German scientist over 150 years ago, has a population so low that experts believe it is doomed.

What biodiversity is left is still impressive though. Singapore has over 2,000 species of flora, 340 species of birds, 250 species of butterflies, 110 species of reptiles, 70 species of mammals, 29 species of amphibians, 200 species of hard corals covering 55 genera, and 111 reef fish species in 30 families.

Although over 95 per cent of Singapore’s original vegetation cover has been cleared because of urbanization, there are still some 200 ha of (mostly secondary) rainforest left, as well as stretches of mangroves. And despite sedimentation and land reclamation, there are also many areas with healthy seagrass beds, reefs and intertidal habitats— Chek Jawa on Pulau Ubin being the best- known.

Biologists still regularly rediscover rare and extinct flora and fauna, and uncover species completely new to science. In 2005, a Belgian entomologist discovered over 100 species of forest flies in Singapore over just one year of study.

In recent years, the ‘green movement’ has resulted in a change of heart towards conservation. The National Parks Board (NParks), schools and non- governmental organizations are spreading the conservation message. Areas under protection are studied and properly managed; new green areas are being identified while damaged areas are recovered.

NParks has been designated the Scientific Authority on Nature Conservation. One of its projects is to reduce the rate of biodiversity loss in the fragmented natural areas of Singapore. It focuses on the propagation of endangered and rare species of plants found in the wild and planting them in natural habitats similar to their source of origin.

The gazetted forests— Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Central Catchment Nature Reserve, Labrador Nature Reserve and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve— represent the major ecosystems in Singapore. The forests are protected from commercial logging, and are conserved for recreation, education, scientific research and the maintenance of ecological processes and services.

In addition to nature reserves, several sites have been designated nature areas which, while not legally protected, ‘will be kept for as long as possible’. These are areas where diverse species of natural flora and fauna are still relatively undisturbed. Chek Jawa is an example of a nature area.

Developments near nature areas or nature reserves are subject to NParks’ assessment of their potential impact on the ecosystem.

Photo credit: Singapore Press Holdings/ The Straits Times