|
|
|||
|
What is a weblog?
|
News about nature and the environment in Singapore - ArchivesList of Categories : about * animalwelfare * articles * books * coastalcleanup * cycling * education * envt * errata * events * heritage * internet * malaysia * marine * nature * news * parliament * photos * research * software * stamps * talks * trade * tvradio * world * jobs * conceptplan * cameratraps * map * Tue 22 Jan 2013 LTA's proposed Cross Island Line (CRL) cuts through the Central Catchment Forest ReserveCategory : news Last Thursday, LTA unveiled “Two new rail lines and three new extensions by 2030″. This significant announcement doubles the rail network from 178km to 360 km by 2030, putting some 80% of households within a 10-minute walk of a rail station.
Of these proposed new lines, the 50km Cross Island Line (CRL) was the biggest surprise, and also of greatest concern. The CRL begins in Changi and moves westwards through Loyang, Pasir Ris, Hougang, Ang Mo Kio, Sin Ming and through the Central Catchment Nature Reserve to Bukit Timah, Clementi, West Coast and Jurong Industrial Estate.
Singapore still has a mosaic of small secondary forest patches. The largest of these are hemmed in to five major areas - the Western Catchment (military use), Bukit Timah Nature Reserve (BTNR), Central Catchment Nature Reserve (CCNR) and the islands of Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong (military use). Of these, the oldest patches and some of the least impacted forest areas are found in BTNR and CCNR, the green heart of Singapore.
 Map of Singapore showing locations of major forest fragments (map by Marcus Chua)
The Central Catchment Nature Reserve is a rectangular area in the centre of Singapore island bound by four roads: Mandai Road in the north Upper Thomson Road in the east, Lornie Road in the south and Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) in the west. This reserve encloses four large reservoirs - MacRitchie Reservoir in the south, Upper Peirce Reservoir and Lower Peirce Reservoir in the central west and east respectively and Upper Seletar Reservoir in the north.
Adjacent to CCNR in the south west is the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. Isolated from the larger CCNR since 1986 by the BKE, the construction of an EcoLink was announced in 2009 to link BTNR with CCNR once again later this year.
Shortly after the LTA announcement about the new rail lines last week, singeo provided a Google Earth overlay of the LTA map which I downloaded and examined.
 The CRL (in red) through southern CCNR
This line will cause concern amongst local naturalists, who will have to examine the issue and ask questions.
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and the Central Catchment Nature Reserve are precious spaces. These are being carefully managed to cope with preservation of biodiversity for future generations, and we are also the planet's custodian for rare endemic species found nowhere else in the world.
Understandably, the forest is under pressure for recreational use. As in many other cities, Singaporeans seek relief from the confines of our urban space in the forest. Over the years the mountain bike community has grown, as have the number of trail runners and hikers. Outdoor education of our students is increasingly understood to be important.
Just last week, DBS Vickers suggested the expected Population White Paper to be unveiled by government will raise the population target of Singapore to 7 million [link]
This will bring further pressure to our heavily used forests. As an open ecosystem, man's activities in one area will affect other parts, often in ways we do not entirely understand.
Thus when I examined the map, some immediate, obvious questions came to mind. If the CRL is an underground line, could we mitigate impact during and after construction? The questions are,
A close examination of the issues would be helpful and there is much to ask and understand. This sounds like a proposal for an honours thesis! |
Blog RSS Feed
Comments RSS
|
|