NParks Intensifies Habitat Enhancement in Parks

Singapore, 28 November 2015 - The Zhenghua Nature Park extension today opened to residents in the vicinity, extending the buffers for our nature reserves and forming part of an islandwide ecological network for biodiversity. The development of the extension is part of efforts by the National Parks Board (NParks) to enhance habitats in parks. 

The Nature Park’s extension will open up opportunities for the community to cultivate a greater appreciation of our biodiversity. The surrounding residents and schools will now be able to enjoy the new extension’s amenities including outdoor fitness equipment and public toilets.

Gracing the event was Senior Minister of State for National Development, Desmond Lee, who planted a Jelutong tree to mark the occasion. Mr Desmond Lee said, “Together with Springleaf Nature Park, Zhenghua Nature Park serves as a green buffer for the Central Catchment Nature Reserve and forms part of an islandwide ecological network for biodiversity. Under the Nature Conservation Masterplan, NParks has also been carrying out habitat enhancement efforts in parks across the island to support biodiversity conservation efforts. Our future generations of Singaporeans need to understand the value of conserving our natural biodiversity. I hope that with our habitat enhancement efforts, these green spaces will become outdoor classrooms for our students to observe the various plant and animal species and gain deeper knowledge of them.”  

Increase in ecological linkage and green buffer for the Central Catchment Nature Reserve

The development of these nature parks is part of a holistic approach to strengthen the conservation of the biodiversity in Singapore’s nature reserves. Like other nature parks, Zhenghua Nature Park will help to reduce visitorship pressure on the nature reserves by providing alternative venues for the public to enjoy nature-related activities. Zhenghua Nature Park skirts the Central Catchment Nature Reserve and forms a green buffer for the reserve. By forming a vital ecological linkage between nature reserves and forested areas in the west like the Western Catchment, it facilitates the safe passage of fauna among green spaces. Such buffers thus function as extensions of the Reserve.

The nature park is home to 37 species of birds. Besides birds such as the Olive-backed Sunbird, Flameback Woodpecker and Pink-necked Green Pigeon which are often spotted in parks and gardens, birds which are typically found in forests have also been sighted like the Greater Racket-tailed Drongo and Long-tailed Parakeet. The nature park is also a stopover for migratory birds like the Arctic Warbler. Sixteen species of birds have been seen at the extension since May this year when habitat enhancements first began, including the Blue-throated bee-eater and the Oriental Dollarbird, both of which are forest-edge species.

More than 30 species of plants were added to the park’s extension including bird attracting species like Tembusu, Syzigium polyanthum, Ficus microcarpa, Leea indica, Rhodomrytus tomentosa and Ixora javanica. The 3.8 hectare extension is located in Bukit Panjang New Town and was completed in early November 2015, bringing the total area of Zhenghua Nature Park to 17.3 hectares. The 13.5 hectare linear Zhenghua Nature Park was completed in 2002 and stretches for about 2.5 km along the BKE, linking the Bukit Panjang Park Connector to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.

In addition to retaining mature trees, 12 tree species were planted at the Nature Park for greater variety.

Enhancing habitats in parks

The shrubs planted at Zhenghua Nature Park are another step towards intensifying habitat enhancement efforts in our parks across the island. These efforts encompass the selection of biodiversity-attracting plants as well as creating habitats for fauna. Complementing the current 61 km of Nature Ways, these compatible habitats would create essential green nodes for flora and fauna to find refuge in an urban environment.

Over the years, NParks has been carrying out habitat enhancement efforts in parks across the island, especially those which are located close to our nature reserves. These include Bukit Batok Nature Park, Hindhede Nature Park and Dairy Farm Nature Park which are situated near the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. Green buffers to the Central Catchment Nature Reserve like Springleaf Nature Park have also undergone habitat enhancement efforts. Intensive planting of native species to restore the forest habitat, and the use of more diverse species of plants have attracted a rich biodiversity of birds, insects, butterflies and other forest species.

Habitat enhancement efforts were also implemented at some of our green spaces such as Coney Island Park, where nest boxes for birds like bee-eaters, kingfishers and woodpeckers had been installed around the island to increase the availability of suitable nesting sites. Critically endangered or locally extinct plants such as the Barringtonia and cycads had been rescued and planted at Coney Island Park.

Other habitat enhancement work will also be progressively embarked on at 18 other parks in different parts of Singapore including Woodlands Town Garden, Changi Beach Park, East Coast Park, Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, and Pasir Ris Town Park, to name a few. Concerted efforts are being undertaken to enhance the health status of the natural ecosystems within the parks, including secondary forests, streams, coastal and beach vegetation, and mangroves etc. These habitat enhancement efforts carried out at our parks, together with other ongoing efforts to create Nature Ways, and safeguard our nature reserves, are part of a holistic approach to protect and conserve Singapore’s biodiversity.

Habitat enhancement efforts are part of the Nature Conservation Masterplan which sets out the course of Singapore’s biodiversity conservation plans for the next five years. There are plans to continue creating green spaces across Singapore, by enriching the habitats in our parks and streetscapes to make them more conducive for biodiversity. In addition, degraded habitats will also be restored through enhanced planting. This will benefit the conservation of rare native species and increase the native biodiversity of some of our degraded areas. 

Facilities at the extension

The extension provides more green spaces for the community to gather and engage in nature-based recreational activities while bringing biodiversity closer to residents. 

It houses facilities such as a multi-purpose event lawn, a children’s play area, an exercise station, a pavilion, public toilets, shelters, as well as jogging and cycling tracks. Some of these facilities were installed at the suggestion of the community and incorporated into the development of the extension.

Highlights of the park are the arboretum of mature trees and collections of ferns, palms and bamboos. These have been planted to enhance the existing habitat and minimise disturbance to resident wildlife. They include plants found in grasslands, woodlands, tropical rainforests as well as ferns and palms. This zone could function as an outdoor classroom for students in the nearby Beacon Primary School to learn about the flora and fauna in their neighbourhood.

Environmental sustainability measures

Several environmentally-sustainable measures were adopted in the park’s development. These include the reusing of the soil that was originally at the development site as well as the setting up of a temporary nursery onsite to minimise the need for loading and unloading of transplanted saplings. Dead branches and leaves were also chipped and composted on site for planting at the park.