1. Good morning. I am happy to see so many of you here this morning to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. As we gather today, the economic winds have become increasingly unfavourable. Nevertheless, given that we are marking the opening of this wetland only after 15 years, we should not let the crisis take the wind out of our celebration. I am particularly pleased to see that your enthusiasm for birds and nature has not waned since I officially opened Sungei Buloh in 1993. Likewise, the Government’s appreciation of nature has increased, in part because we all feel the pressures of urbanisation. That is why we have since declared Sungei Buloh as a legally protected Nature Reserve.
2. I well remember what this place looked like when there were prawn farms. As a boy, I used to visit a prawn farm here owned by a relative. Then too, there were many birds, though I appreciated the prawns more than the birds. I saw how they opened the sluice gate and harvested the prawns with a big net. After most of the water had been let out, we would wade into the muddy pond to catch the remaining prawns with a scoop or with our bare hands. It was all very exciting, especially eating steamed prawns and prawn fritters thereafter.
Urbanisation and Sustainable Development
3. But Singapore has changed. So has the world. In fact, this year marks the first time in history when more people live in urban areas than in rural ones. And the trend of migration to urban areas will continue. Cities are where new, interesting and well-paying jobs are created. By 2050, the proportion of the world’s population living in urban areas is expected to reach 70%.
4. With increasing urbanisation and consciousness of the long-term perils of global warming and climate change, governments all over the world are keenly aware that cities need to grow in an orderly and sustainable manner. That means good urban planning, energy-efficient buildings, and policies to balance the demands of economic growth against the need to protect the environment and natural habitats.
Singapore’s Experience –
symbiosis between growth and green causes
5. This challenge is more acutely felt in Singapore than in other countries given that we need to support 4.8 million people, including non-Singaporeans, within our small land area of 700 square kilometres. Our approach is not to see economic growth and environmental protection as opposing objectives. In fact, we think of them as being symbiotic or mutually reinforcing. For without economic growth, we will not generate the resources needed to build and maintain parks and greenery and protect this wetland reserve. In the extreme, Sungei Buloh might well have to revert to being prawn farms! With sustained economic growth and rising incomes, Singaporeans naturally pay more attention to the environment and the conservation of our natural heritage. More than ever, Singaporeans want a lush, verdant setting and rich natural environment to relax in and to uplift their spirit. Indeed, a study published recently in The Lancet, an international journal of medical science, concluded that having green spaces near homes is more than just about prettying up neighbourhoods. It can also improve people’s health and well-being.
6. This symbiosis between growth and green causes has underpinned our basic developmental philosophy since independence. From expanding our water catchment area to water recycling to waste management, we have developed policies and acquired expertise to make Singapore one of the most liveable cities in the world. So, despite the pressure from urbanisation, we will set aside some 10% of our land for parks and nature reserves. Singapore is, in fact, one of the few cities in the world today with gazetted nature reserves within an urban setting. It is not a commonly known fact but our small island is home to a rich diversity of flora and fauna. Some species thought to be extinct, like the Oriental Pied Hornbill, are now establishing healthy colonies here. Also, Singapore’s waters harbour about a third of the world’s species of hard corals, even as they serve as shipping lanes to one of the busiest ports in the world.
7. Most Singaporeans take our greenery for granted but not foreign leaders, investors and visitors. They marvel at how we have managed to keep our city so green. And many of them did not even have the opportunity to visit Sungei Buloh yet! This is possible only because as a government we take a holistic view of development and prudently devote resources to enhance our living environment. Economic growth is not an end but a means to build a beautiful and endearing home.
Sungei Buloh – Born of Collaboration
Between the Community and the Government
8. Sungei Buloh is a fine example of how the Government and the community have collaborated to conserve a natural heritage. In the 1980s, members of the Nature Society discovered a rich variety of birds feeding and roosting in the abandoned prawn farms. These bird enthusiasts then submitted a proposal for the Government to conserve the area. After studying the proposal, the Government decided to sensitively develop the site into a Nature Park. Many parties were involved in Sungei Buloh’s development, from local bird experts to their international counterparts from various environmental and conservation groups.
9. The community continued to play an important role after the Sungei Buloh Nature Park was completed. NParks has grown a team of dedicated and passionate volunteers who lead guided tours for the public, helping them to appreciate our wetland ecosystem. Several corporate sponsors have also come onboard to enhance Sungei Buloh’s education and conservation programmes. This strong community ownership has made Sungei Buloh what it is today – an internationally important site for migratory shorebirds and an ASEAN Heritage Park. Sungei Buloh is a significant stopover point for birds flying South during the Northern winter months, very much like our seaport and airport for ships and air traffic respectively. Sungei Buloh adds a new dimension to our role as a global transportation hub!
10. But we are not stopping here. In the same spirit of collaboration from which Sungei Buloh was born, NParks has consulted volunteers and stakeholders to conceptualise a new Master Plan. This draft Master Plan, which will be unveiled today, will ensure that the core of the nature reserve is conserved for its biodiversity values while the fringes are enhanced for nature learning and recreation. I hope you will continue to give your feedback and support to NParks to enhance the value of the wetland to the community and anchor Sungei Buloh’s position in international conservation efforts.
Conclusion
11. Building a home should not just be about building world-class infrastructure and aesthetically pleasing buildings, or about en bloc redevelopments, high economic growth and having more to spend on material goods, as important as these might be. It is about creating a country which though small has all the important natural attractions and attributes of a larger developed country. There is a Chinese saying, “麻雀虽小,五脏俱全”. A sparrow may be small, but it has all the essential organs, just like other bigger birds. Singapore is like this little bird, small but with all the features of a larger country to allow Singaporeans to live a good, rounded life in a complete home.
12. In closing, I would like to congratulate the staff, volunteers and partners of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on its 15th anniversary. You can all be very proud of Sungei Buloh’s achievements, and I thank you for your tireless efforts and contributions.
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