News Flash - Northern Exposure, 30-ha site in Mandai to be nature retreat

TODAY (Pg. 2), Wednesday, 21 November 2007.
http://www.todayonline.com/articles/223211.asp

Nature retreat. Nice idea, but on the already space-limited island? Mandai? Is it going to be near the Central Catchment Reserve? If so, will another case like in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve (BTNR) happen again?

I did another research project along side my final year project and it was pertaining to BTNR's history and present condition. As Singapore was plagued by social trend of having developments near green spots, invasions have been taking place around the reserve.

As of the latest statistics, a total of 14 condominiums, all within 2 kilometers of BTNR, are developed or in the process of completion and they have a total projected residency of about 15,000 people (Chatterjea et al., 2007). Imagine the kind of impact this has on the reserve. There is always a limit to the carrying capacity of a reserve. Due to Singapore's location near the Equatorial Convergence Zone, BTNR used to have the richest biodiversity in the world. Partial credits to such urban and industrial development, gone along with some of the forests was the rich diversity of fauna and flora (Ooi, 1998).

Perhaps, before we are going to be more 'developed', we should consider the plight of our very own Nature. You can't 'develop' Nature as you wish.

References:
Chatterjea, K. et al, 2007. Development and environment: The constant battle. In Ooi, G.L., Chatterjea, K., Chang, C.H. and Lim, K.Y.T., Geographies of a changing world: Global issues in the early 21st century. (pp 145-178). Singapore: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Ooi, G.L., 1998. Environment and the city. Sharing Singapore’s experience and future challenges. Singapore: Federal Publications (S) Pte Ltd, pp. 1-12, 185-199.