By Neo Hui Min

EIGHT nature areas included in the 1993 Singapore Green Plan have been left out of the draft of a new plan which will outline the development of green areas in the next decade.

The Nature Society of Singapore wants the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) to reinstate the sites in the final version of the so-called Parks and Waterbodies Plan.

 This will in turn be incorporated into The Masterplan, which will be ready by the end of next year.

The society has also asked the URA to start work on a Blue Plan guiding marine conservation.

The URA released the draft in July and is now soliciting feedback.

Dr Ho Hua Chew, chairman of the Nature Society's Conservation Committee, said of the draft: 'We found it extremely disturbing that some places which were once identified as important nature areas were left out. If they are not in the plan, does it mean that they will cease to exist in the next decade?'

He explained that the Pulau Hantu, Pulau Sudong, Pulau Semakau and St John's Island sites had been included in the previous plan because they are marine sites rich in biodiversity.

They are also popular sites for divers.

Compared to larger countries in the region, Singapore has a high proportion of hard corals. There are about 150 species of hard corals found on reefs here, compared to 200 in Malaysia and 300 in the Philippines and Indonesia.

But, to date, Singapore has already lost 60 per cent of its coral reef from reclamation.

Said Dr Ho: 'Marine parks should be established so that our marine natural heritage can be properly protected and facilitated for the enjoyment of all people.

'About 60 per cent of coral reefs have been lost. It is high time that a Blue Plan be established as soon as possible.'

While the Ministry of the Environment had released its Singapore Green Plan 2012 in August, the blueprint focused mainly on environmental pollution and did not include these sites.

Land usage planning was left to the URA.

So, the society has sent in a 12-page feedback paper early this month to the URA, in the hope that the missing sites be reinstated.

The society noted that five terrestrial areas that are rich in mangrove vegetation, namely, Pulau Tekong, Western Catchment, Khatib Bongsu, Sungei Mandai and Pulau Semakau were also omitted.

Mangroves are important because out of about 50-60 species of mangrove trees known, some 27 species are recorded in Singapore.

The mangrove habitat also supports about 2,000 species of flora and fauna here.

Khatib Bongsu alone is an important habitat with about 10,000 birds, including two species on the internationally endangered list.

And the Western Catchment area is one of two places left in Singapore where large patches of freshwater marshes can be found.

The society also suggests that some of these places be linked to existing parks, to widen the existing green network.

Sungei Mandai, for example, could be linked to Woodlands Park and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.

The feedback had been collected during a forum organised by the society last month. About 100 people, including the society's members and the public, turned up to offer their views.

The URA draft is exhibited at the URA Centre in Maxwell Road until next Tuesday.

REINSTATE THESE SITES

MORE nature areas should be included in the Parks and Waterbodies Plan, says the Nature Society of Singapore.

For the 'Blue Plan':

• Pulau Hantu
   
• Pulau Sudong
   
• Pulau Semakau
   
• St John's Island sites

Five terrestrial areas rich in mangrove vegetation: