Let us start this post with a fun fact, About 15 billion trees are lost each year due to deforestation, forest management, and changes in land use. 

So for this post, I will be blogging about the trees in Singapore, how it decreases since the development of Singapore began, my views on the matter, and measures in places to control the number of trees from decreasing further.

So based on the reading When Tigers Used to Roam: Nature & Environment in Singapore it provides an overview on when how the trees decline. It all started in 1819 when Singapore begins to turn into a port city. Lands were cleared for the incoming migrants, area for trading, and agriculture. Back then the agriculture causes the soil to be infertile within 20 years and fields were left barren and more trees have to be felled to do more agricultural activity as that was one of the main sources of product for trading back then.

In the early 1900s, deforestation still continues even after some attempted measures on conserving it for natural reserves, it was still unsuccessful with areas deforested in the conserved natural reserves to build railways, water catchment areas & military camps.

When World War 2 happened it made matters worst due to the destruction of wars destroying the forests & nature reserves inclusive. After the war in January 1951, there was legislation gazetting Bukit Timah, Kranji, Pandan, Labrador, and the Central Catchment area as nature reserves making this a measure that is still in place till today.

According to the article, Singapore have lost 73% of its greeneries due to its activities for the past 200 years. However, there is good news as according to NParks, an authority that takes charge of the conservation & protection of Singapore nature reserves, a restoration plan is in place. Launched in 2015, the plan will take 10 years to create secondary forests in the nature reserves area.

In my opinion. I feel that trees are important for the maintain of us humans & the environment. We both need it. Even some may rebut that there’s always air filter. But I feel that the natural way is always the better option. Air filters need the energy to run and source of energy may cause pollutants, therefore the net improvement may be zero. With more trees, it can help to convert the carbon dioxide in the air into more fresh oxygen for us and cleaner air for the environment. It can also reduce the greenhouse effect and combat global warming.

In conclusion, I am glad that we are having a restoration plan but I hope that more can be done in the urban areas. I feel that there should also be more attempt on educating the public on the importance of
greeneries and more collaborative efforts with residence in the housing flats then just the estate management trying to plant some trees.

Thank you for reading till here and see you on my next post!

 

Reference:

Bolton, Doug. “There are 3 Trillion Trees on Earth – but They’re Disappearing Fast.” Independent. September 2, 2015. Accessed: January 22, 2020.

https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/how-many-trees-are-there-on-earth-10483553.html

When Tigers Used to Roam: Nature & Environment in Singapore

A write up on the deforestation in Singapore

http://www.nlb.gov.sg/biblioasia/2018/01/10/when-tigers-used-to-roam-nature-environment-in-singapore/

NParks unveils Forest Restoration Action Plan for nature areas

25th Jan 2019

https://www.nparks.gov.sg/news/2019/1/nparks-unveils-forest-restoration-action-plan-for-nature-areas