September 2016 – Plantiful Bounty

The Cracks in Conservation #2 – Exposure

Posted on September 25, 2016

Hello there!

In this post, I will continue to discuss about this journal by Dr Liow (2000).

Mangrove conservation in Singapore: A physical or a psychological impossibility?
http://folk.uio.no/leehl/uploads/liow_2000_biodiv__con.pdf

Before I begin, let me ask you:

What is nature to you?

“In a recent study, it was found that in young people, nature conjured up an image of either manicured surroundings as we have in man-made parks and tree-lined avenues, or one of distant, exotic and accessible places (Kong et al. 1999).”
Extract taken from the journal (Liow, 2000)

I can’t be mad at this. It is entirely understandable, considering how we spent most of our lives in an urban environment. We are so used to seeing greenery in the form of parks and urban trees that we sub-consciously link them together with nature. In fact, I used to be a victim of this, growing up seeing just parks and gardens. This reflects the severity and authenticity of the problem. Perhaps, this confusion between artificial greenery and nature could be why it is so challenging to connect the public with regards to conservation.

The point of this post is not to oppose artificial green spaces. Being surrounded by high-rise buildings, I cannot imagine how ‘grey’ our lives would be without these green areas. However, it seems really unfair that these valuable nature sites are not well-known by many Singaporeans.

Fortunately, we can change this.

“many fear nature because of the lack of understanding’’ (Liow, 2000)

Something comforting to know is that people still do have a slight interest nature, but the fear of the unknown as mentioned by Liow (2000) results in the hesitation to interact with it.

Exposure is the key.

One way to increase exposure is to create more opportunities in the form of learning journeys or field trips for the public to interact with nature. In nature sites, I always find it heart-warming to spot parents trekking together with their children. Perhaps, families can consider going to nature reserves. After all, these sites are good locations to be away from the hustle and bustle of city life and spend good quality time with the family. And if you guys are interested to learn more about our natural heritage, why not participate in free guided walks held by various interest groups like Toddycats or BES Drongos?

Tree-top Walk in MacRitchie Reservoir

In my own part, I am trying make up for the lost opportunities to interact with nature by training to be a guide in MacRitchie Reservoir. Through this journey, I hope I can learn much about Singapore’s biodiversity and impart my knowledge to the public. It would be amazing if I can be a source of influence for the public to gain a deeper appreciation for the wonderful flora and fauna in the reservoir.

It is time to start embracing nature by spending more time with it. Only then it would be more likely for conservation efforts to be effective. 🙂

Bonus Picture: Long-tailed Macaque under a really good lighting in MacRitchie Reservoir 😀

Cheers!
♣ Johanah

Reference:
Liow, L. H. (2000). Mangrove Conservation in Singapore: A Physical or a Psychological Impossibility. Retrieved September 21, 2016, from http://folk.uio.no/leehl/uploads/liow_2000_biodiv__con.pdf

The Cracks in Conservation #1 – ‘Psychological Refusal’

Posted on September 21, 2016

Hello there!

Today, I wanted to discuss about a scholar journal that I have read by Dr Liow.

Mangrove conservation in Singapore: A physical or a psychological impossibility?
http://folk.uio.no/leehl/uploads/liow_2000_biodiv__con.pdf

Although the journal was published back in 2000, I was really impressed by the journal as it provided me with fresh perspectives regarding mangrove loss in Singapore.

To be frank, the loss of mangroves is an issue I have never noticed or heard before entering this course. Perhaps, this is because mangrove loss is less publicized in news compared to more prominent problems like climate change. Yet, the declining trend of mangroves is just as important as any other environmental concerns, especially in Singapore where the mangroves could possibly go extinct at the rate we are damaging them.

Diagram Courtesy of Liow

From this diagram, the state of mangroves is indeed worrying. According to Liow (2000), one of the major reasons for cutting down mangroves is to make way for development like housing, industries and even recreation. However, is it worth it to sacrifice these precious mangroves for development?

Do we really have no other choice?

Here is an extract from the journal that attracted my attention:

“The puzzling matter is why ecologically valuable areas were sacrificed (e.g. Senoko) when less valuable sites (like artificial park land and golf courses) could have been ‘swapped’ with them so that the total green area can remain the same, not at the expense of housing development so needed in Singapore.”

This extract kept me thinking for a long time. For the past few decades, much resources have been placed to create artificial green spaces in our living environment. Yet nature sites which should be deemed more important and precious are at risk of being destroyed by development plans. While attractions such as the Mandai Rainforest Park are built, the Mandai Mangrove, a site that is ecologically rich, is still a ‘reserve site’ under the Urban Redevelopment Authority and is in danger of being cleared (Chua, 2013).

This doesn’t feel right to me.

Indeed, Singapore is land-scarce. However, it seems really sad that this problem of land scarcity has become an excuse to put in less conservation efforts. We have been so caught up with the notion that Singapore has little land area and natural resources such that we feel that there is less need to preserve our natural heritage.

Yet contrary to what many believe, Singapore, being a tropical country, has rich flora and fauna that is in need of protection and the very fact is, we do have a choice in saving these nature sites. It is the ‘psychological refusal’ ingrained in us as mentioned by Liow (2000) that creates this perception that there is nothing much we can do.

We need to change this.

Change involving mindsets can be challenging but it all starts with the acceptance of this ‘psychological refusal’ which I believe is the key to conservation. 🙂

Heart Shaped Mangrove in Puerto Rico – Photo Courtesy of Verdiales
Because Mangroves need our love 🙂

Cheers!
♣ Johanah

References:
Liow, L. H. (2000). Mangrove Conservation in Singapore: A Physical or a Psychological Impossibility. Retrieved September 21, 2016, from http://folk.uio.no/leehl/uploads/liow_2000_biodiv__con.pdf

Chua, G. (2013, October 7). Calls to save Mandai site that’s rich in biodiversity. The Straits Times. Retrieved September 21, 2016, from http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/calls-to-save-mandai-site-thats-rich-in-biodiversity-0

Verdiales, T. (2011, September 1). Heart shaped mangrove. Retrieved September 21, 2016, from Flickr, https://www.flickr.com/photos/121680534@N05/13478189173/

Tree Falls – Is There Anyone to Blame?

Posted on September 17, 2016

Hey there!

Recently I came across this news online which made me decide to discuss this topic about tree falls.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/heritage-tree-falls-on-chinatown-s-pearl-bank-apartments/3120422.html (CNA, 2016)

Sadly, tree falls are pretty common in Singapore since we are surrounded by trees. A few months ago, I took this photo from the window of my room.

Seems like a bad day for the car owner

At times, situations such as the one above is considered mild. If the very target of the tree or branch fall is shifted to a person, I believe that the matter will escalate to become more serious. Just recently on July 2016, a motorcyclist was in coma after being hit by a falling tree at Admiralty Road West (Laiu, 2016). The impact was severe, leaving the motorcyclist, at best, paralysed from the waist and a blind eye (Laiu, 2016). With such devastating consequences, should there be a party responsible for such incidents? Who exactly is at fault?

Is it an act of nature or an act of negligence?

Thinking about the question above, there are endless uncertainties in my mind. With regards to determining negligence, how do we measure the amount of care given to a tree? How do we know if the tree is well taken care of? If it is an act of nature, can we do anything about it?

Unfortunately, it is impossible to ensure that there will be no such incidents occurring since strong winds and storms can even affect the healthiest trees (Nparks, 2014). While it is true that these trees are under the care of Nparks and the blame of such incidents might be shifted to them, there is really nothing that can be done if a healthy tree or branch falls due to bad weather conditions. The unpredictability of these incidents emphasizes the hardships of having greenery in our urban environment and we should not take them for granted. While incorporating greenery into our environment may be widely encouraged, we should also note that placing trees into our living environment is a long-term commitment and efforts do not just end at the very action of planting trees.

At the end of the day, whose fault is it? Nparks? The weather? Truthfully, the answer is not clear as the factors behind these falls are too wide and it would be unfair to pin point a party to blame. Instead of spending time to figure out who is at fault, the best action that can be done is to minimize such occurrences by conducting regular checks on the trees and to trim the trees frequently.

Tree and branch falls can happen at any place and any time. Perhaps, what we can do is to be more aware of our surroundings. This may not sound satisfying as a recommendation but this is something we can do at the very least, since the responsibility of our own safety comes from us as well. 🙂

Cheers!
♣ Johanah

References:

Channel News Asia, (2016 September 12), Heritage Tree Falls on Chinatown’s Pearl Bank Apartments, Retrieved on 16 September 2016, from: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/heritage-tree-falls-on-chinatown-s-pearl-bank-apartments/3120422.html

Laiu, D. (2016 July 28), Motorcyclist in Coma After Tree Falls on Him, Retrieved on 16 September 2016, from: http://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore-news/motorcyclist-coma-after-tree-falls-him

Nparks, (2014 November 20), Nparks’ Tree Management Programme, Retrieved on 16 September 2016, from: https://www.nparks.gov.sg/news/2013/1/nparks-tree-management-programme

Vertical farming – What are the problems?

Posted on September 10, 2016

Hey there!

This post will be a continuation of my previous post about vertical farming. Today I will be focusing on the problems associated with the rise of vertical farming.

Here is the link to my previous post:

Vertical Farming – Vegetables from the Sky

Singapore is very reliant on the exports of other countries for food. Over 90% of the food consumed in Singapore is imported (AVA, 2015). This emphasizes the importance in increasing the production of local food through farming so that we are less susceptible to external factors and food security can be ensured. However, the problem of land scarcity is causing farming, which usually requires a substantial amount of land, to be at stake. Innovative methods like vertical farms can be the solution in reviving the farming industry and ensuring stable local food production but this is not as easy as it sounds. Innovative methods usually involve the use of high technology which can have a high start-up cost. Moreover, there is a problem of attracting younger Singaporeans to this industry. This can be due to the fact that the farming industry is not well-known considering that most of the younger generation grew up living in an urban environment with little exposure to farms.

“The sector needs young talent to find new and creative ways of farming, so that we can make a difference to people’s lives and the environment”
Benjamin Swan, vertical farmer and co-founder of Sustenir Agriculture

Here lies another problem: What will happen to the traditional farmers? With the rise of methods like vertical farms, making a living will be more difficult for these farmers. There are already signs of these farmers diminishing. In June 2017, 62 farms in Kranji will be relocated to make way for the training grounds under Ministry of Defense (MINDEF) (Ong, 2016). It can be a little problematic for the farmers as shifting land for agriculture can result in inevitable damage for crops. Furthermore, Proposed actions such as the restriction of non-staple food farms and the short 10 to 20 year lease for new sites have left many farmers with no choice but to consider leaving the industry (Ong, 2016). I wonder what can be done regarding this knotty issue.

The farming industry now is very different compared to the past, and I hope that more people can be attracted to think of creative ways for farming to coexist with our urban living. To end off the post, here is a video about an agricultural hub which was shown during the talk at Sky Greens. Even though the hub is only a vision, it can give you a whole new perspective about the possible agriculture scene of Singapore in the future. Enjoy!

Video Courtesy of Sky Greens and Audax Visuals

Cheers!
♣ Johanah

References:

Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore, (2015, December 21), The Food We Eat, Retrieved on 7 September 2016 from: http://www.ava.gov.sg/explore-by-sections/food/singapore-food-supply/the-food-we-eat

Singh, B. (2016, July 6), Vertical Farms on the Rise in Land Scarce Singapore, Retrieved on 7 September 2016, from: http://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/vertical-farms-on-the-rise-in-land-scarce-singapore

Audax Visuals, (2015, November 3), Sky Greens, Retrieved on 7 September 2016, from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VdL3iWE-rw

Ong, J, (2016 May 28), Unanswered Questions, Uncertain Future for Krani Farmers, Retrieved on 2 September 2016 from: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/unanswered-questions/2823076.html

Vertical Farming – Vegetables from the Sky

Posted on September 3, 2016

Hey there!

If horizontal does not work, go vertical. A simple idea yet it is the main concept behind vertical farming which has become increasingly popular due to the lack of land space.

Last Wednesday, our batch (Environmental Studies Year 1 Students) went to Sky Greens as part of our learning journey. Sky greens is the ‘world’s first low carbon, hydraulic driven vertical farm’ which promotes farming with green methods (Sky Greens, 2014). The farm consists of rows of tall greenhouses. In each greenhouse, there are about 16 towers as high as 9 metres, each with 38 tiers of rotating growing toughs filled with vegetables.

Row of Greenhouses (Photo taken by Johanah Seow)

Photo Courtesy of Sky Greens (Growing troughs of vegetables)

It is really fascinating how they maximise the use of resources. One example is water. According to Sky Greens, only 12 litres of water is used per kilogram of vegetables. This is because rainwater is collected and used for watering through the water pipes. The excess water that is not absorbed by the vegetables is returned back to the pipes where it can be reused to water the vegetables again for up to 3-5 cycles. Water pressure is also used as hydraulic energy to rotate the toughs, reducing a significant amount of electricity.

Cai Xin harvested at the end of the tour which is purplish compared to the cai xin we usually see

Only 0.5% of Singapore’s land is allocated for agricultural purposes (Commonwealth network, 2013). With such limited land available, vertical farms is indeed an ingenious idea. Such feature not only maximises the use of space, the incorporation of these farms into our urban environment can also make farming more accessible which can make the industry more prominent. It is interesting that farming is no longer limited to land with soil. Sky greens has plans to place these greenhouses in rooftops or even integrate vertical farms into building facades or interior walls. These greenhouses can even be placed afloat on water (just like the Marina Bay Floating Platform), reflecting that the location of the greenhouses can be extended beyond solid ground. It has come to a point where farming can be done everywhere, even within the concrete walls where we work and live.

“It’s sad when you ask children where vegetables come from, and they say NTUC, or when you ask them where chickens come from and they say the fridge.”
Ms Chai Sheau Shi of organic vegetable farm Fire Flies

I feel that the quote above is something that we can all think about. I believe that the inclusion of farms into our urban living can allow us to gain a better understanding of our food sources. Farming may not be an major contributor to our economy but according to a quail farmer William Ho, farms can prove to be helpful in times of emergencies like SARS and bird flu (Ong, 2016). Therefore, I hope that more local farms can be promoted and treasured. In my next post, I will be discussing about the problems associated with vertical farming. Stay tuned!

Cheers!
♣ Johanah

References:
Sky Greens, (2014), About Sky Greens, Retrieved on 1 September 2016 from: http://www.skygreens.com/about-skygreens/

Commonwealth of Nations, (n.d), Find Agriculture Expertise in Singapore, Retrieved on 1 September 2016 from: http://www.commonwealthofnations.org/sectors-singapore/business/agriculture/

Ong, J, (2016 May 28), Unanswered Questions, Uncertain Future for Krani Farmers, Retrieved on 2 September 2016 from: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/unanswered-questions/2823076.html