More protection for marine habitats with new conservation plan
Relocation of Corals in Semakau Landfill Lagoon Sisters island on Jan 20, 2015. TODAY file photo
SINGAPORE – A new Marine Conservation Action Plan to better protect Singapore’s marine habitats was launched yesterday (June 27).
The first of its kind, the plan will see other conservation projects including, restoring and enhancing marine habitats islandwide and setting up a coral nursery at Sisters’ Islands Marine Park.
A S$500,000 turtle hatchery, sponsored by HSBC bank, will also be built there to conserve the Green and Hawksbill turtles, the first such sea turtle conservation project.
NParks is also encouraging Singaporeans to play an active part in protecting marine life. In September, it will launch Singapore’s first dive trail off Sisters’ Islands.
The Marine Conservation Action Plan is part of the larger Nature Conservation Masterplan, a framework which consolidates NParks’ conservation efforts on both land and sea.
Minister of State for National Development Desmond Lee announced this yesterday at the launch of this year’s Festival of Biodiversity.
“This consolidates what NParks has been doing, and integrates its various programmes and projects into a holistic master plan,” said Mr Lee. “It will chart the direction of our conservation efforts for the next five years, and help to bring us closer to our vision of being a City in a Garden.”
An educational resource package for pre-preschoolers was also launched. It includes a picture book which focuses on Singapore’s flora and fauna.
“The book contains a lot of animals, as well as flora that I have seen on my walks, and I hope that it will bring authenticity and interest to the children,” said author Hui-Ling Chua. “I hope that parents will also recognise that all this greening of Singapore should not go to waste because nature is really the best teacher for children.”
The public can learn about nature conservation at the festival, which is on at VivoCity this weekend. CHANNEL NEWSASIA
