Tree conservation areas in Singapore
Encyclopedia
Tree Conservation Areas are large urban areas in Singapore
in which no tree with a girth above 1 metre when measured 50 centimetres from the ground may be felled without permission from the National Parks Board
. There are currently two such areas, namely:
See: Map of area
See: Map of area
, or Chengal pasir tree, a rare tree reputed to have given Changi
its name. In addition, the tree was standing in a tree conservation area, which forbids any unauthorised felling of a tree with a girth above 1 metre. The tree in question had a girth of 3.4 metres.
Public sentiment against the felling was high, and the courts imposed a S$8,000 fine on the company for the offence, which has a maximum fine of S$10,000. The company was also ordered to pay S$76,035 to the state in compensation for the felling.
Nature groups and concerned citizens were determined to ensure that this episode became a lesson to be learnt for others. In September 2003, the logs which has been cut down were recovered and transformed into sculptures. A major educational drive, called "The Hopea sangal Tree: Sculpture Symposium", was organised by The Sculpture Society (Singapore) in partnership with the National Parks Board
and the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
, and with the support of the Nature Society (Singapore)
and the Urban Redevelopment Authority
, representing a government-NGO combined effort to raise awareness towards the conservation of trees.
Seeds recovered in September 2002 were grown in National Parks Board's Pasir Panjang Nursery. On 7 November 2004, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew
planted a sapling in Hendersonville (between blocks 103 and 104), Henderson Crescent.
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
in which no tree with a girth above 1 metre when measured 50 centimetres from the ground may be felled without permission from the National Parks Board
National Parks Board
The National Parks Board is a statutory board of the Singapore Government.The National Parks Board is responsible for providing and enhancing the greenery of Singapore. NParks manages around 300 parks, the park connector network and the roadside greenery in Singapore...
. There are currently two such areas, namely:
- The area bounded by the Pan Island ExpresswayPan Island ExpresswayThe Pan Island Expressway is the oldest and longest of Singapore's expressways. Currently, it is also Singapore's longest road. It extends along the length of the island, connecting Tuas in the west to Singapore Changi Airport in the east. Its length is .-Construction:Construction of the PIE...
, Clementi RoadClementi RoadClementi Road is a road in Singapore. It starts at the Bukit Timah Avenue and ends at West Coast Road. Its landmarks include maju circus, the SIM University, Ngee Ann Polytechnic and National University of Singapore.-References:*...
, Pasir Panjang Road, Telok Blangah Road, Kampung Bahru Road, Lower Delta Road, the Ayer Rajah ExpresswayAyer Rajah ExpresswayThe Ayer Rajah Expressway extends from the western end of the East Coast Parkway in the south of Singapore to Tuas in the west near the Tuas Second Link to Malaysia...
, Alexander Road, River Valley Road, Clemenceau Road, Fort Canning Road, Orchard RoadOrchard RoadOrchard Road is a road in Singapore that is the retail and entertainment hub of the city-state. It is regularly frequented by the local population as well as being a major tourist attraction...
, Prinsep Street, Selegie Road, Dunearn Road, Whitley Road, Mount Pleasant RoadMount Pleasant RoadMount Pleasant Road is a major arterial thoroughfare in the Canadian city of Toronto, Ontario that travels from Jarvis Street south of Bloor Street north to Glen Echo Drive. The road is unique as one of the few arterial roads in Toronto to be created after the development of the suburbs which it...
, Thomson RoadThomson Road, SingaporeThomson Road is a major trunk road linking Singapore's central business district with the northern suburban areas. Taking its name from John Turnbull Thomson, a Scotsman who was the Government Surveyor and Chief Engineer of the Straits Settlements from 1841 to 1853 and who helped build many roads...
, and Lornie Road.
See: Map of area
- The area bounded by Netheravon Road, Cranwell Road, Loyang Avenue, Loyang Way, Upper Changi Road North and Changi Village Road.
See: Map of area
Illegal felling of a Hopea sangal tree
On 20 November 2002, a large tree was chopped down by a property management company, DTZ Debenham Tie Leung. The tree in question was a Hopea sangalHopea sangal
Hopea sangal is a species of plant in the Dipterocarpaceae family. It is found in Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand. This tree is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN and is threatened by ongoing timber harvesting.-Source:...
, or Chengal pasir tree, a rare tree reputed to have given Changi
Changi
Changi is an area at the eastern end of Singapore. It is now the site of Singapore Changi Airport/Changi Air Base, Changi Naval Base and is also home to Changi Prison, site of the former Japanese Prisoner of War Camp during World War II which held Allied prisoners captured in Singapore and Malaysia...
its name. In addition, the tree was standing in a tree conservation area, which forbids any unauthorised felling of a tree with a girth above 1 metre. The tree in question had a girth of 3.4 metres.
Public sentiment against the felling was high, and the courts imposed a S$8,000 fine on the company for the offence, which has a maximum fine of S$10,000. The company was also ordered to pay S$76,035 to the state in compensation for the felling.
Nature groups and concerned citizens were determined to ensure that this episode became a lesson to be learnt for others. In September 2003, the logs which has been cut down were recovered and transformed into sculptures. A major educational drive, called "The Hopea sangal Tree: Sculpture Symposium", was organised by The Sculpture Society (Singapore) in partnership with the National Parks Board
National Parks Board
The National Parks Board is a statutory board of the Singapore Government.The National Parks Board is responsible for providing and enhancing the greenery of Singapore. NParks manages around 300 parks, the park connector network and the roadside greenery in Singapore...
and the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts is one of the oldest and most established tertiary arts institution in Singapore....
, and with the support of the Nature Society (Singapore)
Nature Society (Singapore)
The Nature Society is a non-government, non-profit organisation centered towards the preservation and appreciation of Singapore's natural heritage, as well as that of the surrounding region...
and the Urban Redevelopment Authority
Urban Redevelopment Authority
The Urban Redevelopment Authority is the national urban planning authority of Singapore, and a statutory board under the Ministry of National Development of the Singapore Government.-Mission:The authority was established on 1 April 1974, and is of especially critical importance to the city-state,...
, representing a government-NGO combined effort to raise awareness towards the conservation of trees.
Seeds recovered in September 2002 were grown in National Parks Board's Pasir Panjang Nursery. On 7 November 2004, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew
Lee Kuan Yew
Lee Kuan Yew, GCMG, CH is a Singaporean statesman. He was the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, governing for three decades...
planted a sapling in Hendersonville (between blocks 103 and 104), Henderson Crescent.