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Seeding
a Dream
Main article | Five threatened
coastal plants once common on our shores
Plant a robust tree
see ... and one day you may well have a forest. Jean W H Yong shares his
dream of active replanting and saving the last of Singapore's coastal trees.
Once upon a time there was no need for humans to plant seeds
of forest or mangrove trees: Mother Nature's hand-maidens—the wind,
the tide, the birds, the insects and the animals—all played their part
in dispersing seeds. But in recent times forests have been cut down so ruthlessly
that Nature has no chance whatsoever of re-growth and re-generation.
Species, both animal and plant, are dying far more rapidly than they can
ever be replaced by natural means. But biologist Jean Yong has a dream,
and that dream is to plant tree seeds that will one day grow into stands
of trees and, who knows, if Man can be kept at bay, then those stands of
trees will eventually become a forest.
Jean, a PhD student in biology in the Australian National University in
Canberra, has already taken this dream one firm step to reality. He has
planted some tree seeds
in the soils of Singapore. It
all began when Jean (who is a Singaporean) walked along our beaches and
noted that whereas most of Singapore's natural coastal vegetation have been
destroyed by development, yet pockets of surprisingly good mangrove and
seashore vegetation remain. This is what Jean observed and he reports for
Nature Watch.
"Stands of hardy mangrove are strung out along Sungei Buloh, Pasir
Ris Park and St. John's island; seashore vegetation is lush on the
northern sandy coast of Pulau Ubin and on the west coast of Pulau
Semakau. More natural seashore greenery was found on the rocky shores
and cliffs of places like the south-west coast of St. John's island
and even tiny Southern island, Pulau Jong".
That was when Jean began to daydream (remember, Einstein's Theory
of Relativity was 'born' when this genius daydreamed while sitting
atop a hill)... The re-planting dream takes form... In Jean's mind's
eye he saw Singapore's coastal vegetation restored to the pristine
conditions still found in parts of Malaysia and Indonesia, he saw
"rocky coastline dotted with the magnificent Malayan fern palms (cycads);
towering mangrove trees laden with the lush growth of epiphytes (orchids,
hoyas and ferns) and the peculiar baboon's head, an ant plant".
Then, he saw trees on the seashore playing host to mistletoes. And
birds abound in Jean's picture for the mistletoes provided a valuable
source of food for many feathered creatures. His mind wandered inland
and found joy in seeing crinum lilies blooming everywhere in the thick
undergrowth.
But Jean returned from his dream very quickly and reports in Nature
Watch, "this dream will not be fulfilled unless we start an active
programme of replanting right now!" If only other daydreamers
act on their dreams as Jean has, for thanks to his efforts, active
replanting of endangered coastal species along the Sungei Api Api
in Pasir Ris—especially the upper reaches of this river—has
already begun. And there will be more. The biologist says that "of
the three main coastal vegetation types found on Singapore's shores,
the species that occur on our sandy shores may be most amenable to
replanting efforts because there now exists a large number of parks,
waterfronts and beaches which can serve as potential habitats for
the re-establishment of these species all around the island".
This would be most desirable, not only because these trees are native
to our land but because "many of the local seashore species are
attractive and free flowering". An example are the showy red
flowers of Lumnitzera littorea and the head-turning white flowers
of Lumnitzera racemosa. Even the spiny seashore pandan with
its attractive orange fruits can find its way into the occasional
odd corner.
"Did you know too that many of our common wayside trees such as the
angsana and the flamboyant yellow flame are actually native beach
trees!" So ensuring that these native seashore species continue
to be replanted in our manicured parks is a good way to conserve our
native flora and also fauna—as there would be fauna attracted
to these natives.
Help
threatened tree saplings survive!
Play your part
It is hard enough for trees to survive in our concrete and increasingly
polluted environment, so one can imagine how much tender loving care
must be given to delicate saplings - even though these were once hardy
natives!
Here's what we suggest the authorities can do, but you should also
play your part.
The
Authorities can
Protect
saplings—not with concrete boxes or by spraying weedkillers
(toxic to woods and humans)—but with some simple barriers
(like a bamboo fence).
Put up sign boards to notify people and interest them
about the trees.
Brief sweepers and cleaners about saving precious seeds.
Erect warning signs—camping and barbecues should
not be sited top near saplings or oven trees.
Grass cutters must be briefed to take special care around
sapling trees. |
The
Individual's Part
Yes,
go up to seedlings to admire/photograph but take care not to
trample on any struggling seedlings.
Do not camp, play or have a barbecue near these young trees.
Joggers, look where you run. Joggers have unknowingly trampled
on teh propagules of the endangered Bruguiera. |
<<Back to Issue contents |
Mangroves of
St. John's Island
Photo by J Yong
Baboon's Head
Hydnophytum formicarum
An epiphyte found on
mangrove trees in
Pulau Sibu, Johor
Photo by J Yong
Spiny Seashore Pandan
Pandanus odoratissimus
Tree habit and fruits
Photo by J Yong
White flowers of
Lumnitzera racemosa
Photo by J Yong
Red
flowers of
Lumnitzera littorea
A potential plant for our beach
and mangrove parkland
Photo by Alan Ernst
Crinum lilies
Crinum asiaticum
in an undisturbed mangrove
of Pulau Tinggi, Johor
Photo by J Yong
Grassland along the
banks of Sungei Api Api.
Why not allow 'back mangrove'
plants, like mangrove trumpet
tree Dolichandrone spathacea
or crinum lilies, to grow naturally instead of maintaining a
'manicured' patch of grass.
We can save money on grass
cutting and conserve our
priceless natural heritage.
Photo by J Yong
Saplings on granite breakwater
on St. John's Island.
Good or bad thing?
Will the authorities order the
removal of the saplings or
allow them to flourish,
appreciating the added
protection the mangrove
saplings will give to the
artificial breakwater in the future. Photo
by J Yong
Growing up among litter
Young Bruguiera parviflora
plants on the east bank
of Sungei Api Api
Photo by J Yong
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