Central Water Catchment

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File:Central Catchment Nature Reserve locator map.png
Central Catchment Nature Reserve

The Central Water Catchment (Chinese: 中央集水区自然保护区; Malay: Hutan Simpanan Kawasan Tadahan Air Tengah; Tamil: மத்திய நீர்ப்பிடிப்பு இயற்கை ரிசர்வ்) is the largest nature reserve in Singapore, occupying 2880 hectares[1] Forming a large green lung in the geographical centre of the city, it houses several recreational sites, including the Singapore Zoo, the Night Safari and the River Safari, as well as several newer facilities built to encourage public appreciation of the reserve, such as the HSBC TreeTop Walk.

It is one of the four gazetted nature reserves in Singapore. The other three are the Labrador Nature Reserve[2] which was gazetted since 1 January 2002, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve[3] and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.[4] All four nature reserves along with the parks are protected under the Parks & Trees Act 2005.

The nature reserve acts as a catchment area for the surrounding reservoirs. The country's main reservoirs – MacRitchie, Upper Seletar, Upper Peirce and Lower Peirce – are in the central catchment area.[5]

Most forests in the Central Water Catchment were cleared for logging and cultivation unlike Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, which remain relatively undisturbed. The Central Water Catchment now consists of a mixture of young and mature secondary forests with virgin primary forest surrounding the reservoirs.[6]

Attractions

Bordering MacRitchie reservoir are remnants of rubber plantations from the 19th century. Walkways and boardwalks in the reserve, which range from 3 to 11 kilometres long, allow visitors to enjoy a closer feel to nature. The reserve is also visited by hikers and trekkers due to its terrain and scenery. A hike can lead to the nearby Bukit Timah Nature Reserve.

Biodiversity

The nature reserve boasts a rich biodiversity with over 500 animal species including crab-eating macaque, flying lemur, common treeshrew and even the Sunda pangolin. The critically endangered species of Raffles' banded langur (banded leaf monkeys) can only be found in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.[7] Wild birds such as crimson sunbird, greater racket-tailed drongo and kingfishers are found in the reserve, too. Some species of critically endangered bats have been spotted in the Central Water Catchment. The reserve has many species of butterflies. It is home to some 1,600 species of flora.[8] The reserve, along with the adjacent Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, has been identified by BirdLife International as the Central Forest Important Bird Area (IBA) because it supports populations of vulnerable straw-headed bulbuls and brown-chested jungle flycatchers.[9]

HSBC TreeTop Walk

The nature reserve contains a 250-metre suspension bridge. The HSBC TreeTop Walk opened to public on 5 November 2004. It connects the two highest points in MacRitchie – Bukit Pierce and Bukit Kalang. At the highest point, the bridge hangs 25 metres from the forest floor. The difficulty level of the trail ranges from moderate to difficult. The suspension bridge serves an important role in forest canopy research, giving researchers access to areas well off the ground. To preserve the tranquility of the environment and for safety reasons, the number of people allowed on the walkway is capped at 30. Visitors will only be able to travel along the narrow walkway in one direction, by entering from the Bukit Pierce entrance and exiting through the Petaling Trail. Rangers are deployed along the 10.3-kilometre trail to ensure safety.[10]

Nature education

The Central Water Catchment provides free guided tours to schools and the general public. This is part of National Parks Board's efforts to educate people about the conservation of nature areas in Singapore.[11]

Banded leaf monkey conservation

The Central Water Catchment is the only location in Singapore where the nationally critically endangered banded leaf monkeys can be found. Due to rapid urbanisation and habitat loss, the population at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve had been exterminated. The banded leaf monkey is one of four primate species native to Singapore. Today, they are restricted to a small area within the Central Water Catchment with a population of about 40 individuals.[12]

The National Biodiversity Centre, in partnership with the Evolution Lab of the National University of Singapore, initiated an ecological study of banded leaf monkeys (Presbytis femoralis) to propose conservation management recommendations and maintain a viable population in the long term.[13] Comprehensive surveys were conducted to determine the population number, demography, home range, behaviour and communication, food choices, habitat and anthropogenic interferences on the monkeys.

See also

External links

References

  1. ↑ 'Nature Reserves', National Parks Board, retrieved 5 June 2009.
  2. ↑ Labrador Nature Reserve, National Parks Board Website, retrieved 4 June 2009.
  3. ↑ Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, National Parks Board Website, retrieved 4 June 2009.
  4. ↑ Protecting Our Natural Heritage: Gazette of Nature Reserves, Convention on Biological Diversity, retrieved 4 June 2009.
  5. ↑ Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, National Parks Board, retrieved 4 June 2009.
  6. ↑ Singapore Parks, Wild Life Asia, retrieved 4 June 2009.
  7. ↑ Raffles’ banded langur (Banded leaf monkey), Infopedia, National Library Board, retrieved 5 June 2009.
  8. ↑ ‘’ Top of the trees‘’, CyberPioneer, retrieved 4 June 2009.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ 'TreeTop Walk too tough?' The Straits Times, 30 Jan 2005, retrieved 8 June 2009.
  11. ↑ Learning Journeys, Ministry of Education, retrieved 5 June 2009.
  12. ↑ Ang Hui Fang’s Banded Leaf Monkey work in The Straits Times
  13. ↑ http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=172&Itemid=129#2

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