Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

The Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve (?????????) is a nature reserve located in the Northwest area of Singapore. It is the first wetlands reserve to be gazetted in Singapore in the year 2002, and its global importance as a stop-over point for migratory birds was also recognised by the Wetlands International's inclusion of the reserve into the East Asian Australasian Shorebird Site Network. The reserve, with an area of 130 hectares, was listed as an ASEAN Heritage Park in 2003.

History

Previously unheard of as a nature area, the site gained prominence only in 1986 when a call was made to conserve the area by members of the Singapore Branch of the Malayan Nature Society. Particularly significant, was its unusually high variety of bird species, which included migratory birds from as far as Siberia on their way to Australia to escape the winter months. Their suggestion was taken up by the government, and a site with an area of 0.87 km² was given nature park status in 1989. The then Parks & Recreation Department, a precursor to today’s National Parks Board developed and managed the nature park along with a team of experts. The most notable names from the team included the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust from the United Kingdom and World Wide Fund for Nature. Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve was officially opened on 6 December 1993 by then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong.

Over the years, Sungei Buloh charmed people from all strata of society to support its cause. It welcomed its 100,000th visitor in 1994. In 1997, the Park found its corporate sponsor in HSBC, which set up the Sungei Buloh Education Fund in support of its nature outreach programmes. In 1999, Woodlands Secondary School became the first school to adopt the park. It was followed by Commonwealth Secondary School in 2001 and Hillgrove Secondary School in 2002. The latter two schools are atill actively involved in the programme.

The government formally announced on 10 November 2001 that the park will be accorded nature reserve status, a step which protects the area from any unauthorised destruction or alteration. The second phase of the park was opened, and the entire site of 130 hectares officially gazetted on 1 January 2002 as the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. It is one of the 4 nature reserves to be gazetted. The others are Labrador Nature Reserve, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Central Catchment Nature Reserve.

Wildlife

Crabs and mudskippers dominate the littoral zone, the area between the low and high tide zones. Mud lobsters and their volcano-like mounds can be observed above the high-tide level. One may even find Malayan water monitor in the area. Fishes are in abundance due to the cessation of fishing. The Mullet, Archer Fish and Halfbeak are some species of fish in the area. Amongst the many birds that can be spotted feeding on the diverse fauna variety of worms and mollusks, are Whimbrel, Common Greenshank, Common Redshank, Mongolian Plover, Curlew Sandpiper, Marsh Sandpiper and Pacific Golden Plover, Yellow Bittern and Cinnamon Bittern. Lucky visitors to the Reserve may be able to spot the resident family of Smooth Otters, as well as the rare Lesser Whistling-duck. Atlas Moth, the largest species of moth in Southeast Asia can be found in the back mangrove. Observation hides are available in the reserve where visitors can observe the flora and fauna in the surroundings in tranquility and at a distance from the animals and birds.

Future Development

As the Reserve celebrates its 15th year anniversary on 6 December 2008, Draft Sungei Buloh Master Plan was unveiled. The plan was drafted by a team which consists of National Parks Board (NParks) and representatives from Nature Society Singapore, the Singapore Environment Council, National University of Singapore, National Institute of Education, Public Utilities Board, Ministry of Education (Singapore) and Sungei Buloh volunteers. Construction works of the project are expected to start in late 2010 and complete by early 2013.

The plan steers the sustainable conservation of the Reserve’s rich biodiversity into the direction of working towards a distinctive centre for wetland conservation and education. Overall, the Reserve will be expanded. The core of the nature reserve will be conserved with proper care and management while the recreational activities will be developed around the fringes. The draft plan also outlines the possible future of linking up pockets of nature around Sungei Buloh area. These areas include Lim Chu Kang mangroves, Kranji Reservoir Park and Kranji Marshes.

The Reserve will have 4 different activity areas, each with specific programmes that will meet the preferences and needs of the particular types of visitors for the area. The zones are stratified according to the different activity levels in the area. Zone 1 is the High Activity Zone while Zone 4 is the Very Low Activity Zone. Zone 1 targets visitors in groups and caters to them through new facilities such as a wetland-themed play area for kids and a floating boardwalk that will allow visitors to get closer to the mangroves. Zone 2 is the Medium Activity Zone located at the coastal front. Zone 3, being a Low Activity Zone will require the accompaniment of certified nature guides in order to enter. Zone 4 is a restricted zone where the core of the nature reserve will be under conservation and research purposes.