New nature park to open in 2022
Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat will be near Sungei Buloh reserve
Nature lovers and birdwatchers will have a new park to visit when the Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat opens in mid-2022.
Second Minister for National Development Desmond Lee announced yesterday that the mudflat, about 3km from the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, will be designated a nature park as part of efforts to strengthen the conservation of wetland biodiversity in Singapore.
The 72.8ha park will sit along two upcoming recreational routes; it will form the northernmost point of the Rail Corridor, and an eco-discovery corridor as part of the Park Connector Network's Round Island Route.
The National Parks Board (NParks), which took over the management of the mudflat this month, will provide a minimal level of amenities to minimise visitor impact to the mudflat.
These could include a nature trail, bicycle racks and bird hides that will give visitors a panoramic view of migratory birds feeding at the mudflat.
Speaking at the 25th anniversary celebration of the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve yesterday, Mr Lee, who is also Minister for Social and Family Development, said the reserve and mudflat serve as important resting and feeding stops for birds flying south for the winter.
Migratory shorebirds travel thousands of kilometres from as far north as the Arctic Circle to as far south as Australia and New Zealand, making stops along the way in countries such as China, Vietnam and Singapore to refuel.
But with many rest stops along their route lost or affected by developments overseas, Sungei Buloh, a major stopover, plays a "critical role for their survival", said Mr Lee.
"Despite our small size, Singapore can continue to serve as a safe haven for these shorebirds and an important player in the international biodiversity scene," he said.
Data collected by NParks shows the reserve and mudflat share an "intimate ecological connection", and the new nature park will provide more research and education opportunities, he said.
The move to conserve the mudflat was hailed as a vital step in preserving Singapore's natural heritage.
World Wide Fund for Nature Singapore chairman Joseph Koh said the nature community had lobbied for many years to have the area protected.
"I'm glad to see it finally happened... The place is special because it is species-rich and has a few mangrove trees that are found nowhere else in Singapore," he said.
NParks group director for conservation Adrian Loo said NParks can now take action against poaching and facilitate research in the Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat, home to rare plant and wildlife species.
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