| EART-H
Geographic Sentosa's Destroyed Habitats |
22
May 2007
International Day for Biological Diversity |
| Presented
here are four overlapping quadrants of Blakang
Mati showing in detail the location and extent of the various
habitats such as mangroves, tidal creeks, coral platforms and rocky
shoals. The resource map (from which these quadrants were derived)
was drawn from aerial photographs made by the British Air Squadron
prior to World War II. Starting from Siloso in the west, see: 8 to 12 o'clock view 12 to 3 o'clock view 3 to 6 o'clock view 6 to 8 o'clock view Mangroves and tidal creeks are shown in blue. These low-lying habitats, including most of the coral platforms and rocky shoals, have long since been buried by land reclamations. Not much that was virgin has remained, and |
 |
The Integrated Resort (IR) Development in Sentosa will be ashering a new round of land reclamation north of the island. For the survivng coral platforms there (recently uncovered by Wildfilms), they are doomed; the corals themselves standing a mere tens of metres from the Underwater World where ironically, for a few dollars, marine conservation messages ring louder than the cash register every day.
The majestic coastal forest occupying the lower northern slope of Mt Imbiah is also in danger of being fragmented by garden landscaping headed by designer Henry Steed. Public appeals have been made, and the National Parks Board has submitted that Mt Serapong and Mt Imbiah (in part - above Siloso Road) are the only two recognised 'nature areas' currently admitted within the framework of Masterplan 2003's Special and Detailed Control Plan.
Whatever is worthed its weight in words spelt out by such a plan, it comes as no comfort since two of the most pristine and biologically-diversed nature areas in Sentosa (namely, the coastal forest at the northern foot of Mt Imbiah and the awe-inspiring Siloso Cliff Forest) have been left out in the cold. The recent discovery of an extinct epiphyte at Siloso scored an illuminating sore point in this regard.
It is Year 2007 and today - 22nd May - has been proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly as the International Day for Biological Diversity (IBD). With impending habitat destructions lost amidst all the noisy talks and politically-correct chest-beatings and back-pattings, one might venture to ask whether today is Bio-D Day or Bio D-Day (doomsday).
To future generations, I avail you recourse to judge us within this page. Today, it rained.