PM Lee joins residents in reforestation efforts at the Central Catchment Nature Reserve

By Amanda Lee, TODAY, 4 Nov 2013

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong joined some 1,000 residents of Ang Mo Kio and Sengkang West yesterday morning in their reforestation efforts at the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.

More than 300 native trees were planted at the old Seletar Range, which was once a live-firing range used by the Ministry of Defence. The 9-hectare area was returned to the National Parks Board (NParks) in 2009.

Mr Lee, who planted a Sindora wallichii plant, wrote on his Facebook page that the reforestation efforts will help reconnect the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve to the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.

Wildlife consultant Subaraj Rajathurai, who is also an NParks volunteer, said only 3 per cent of rainforest in Singapore remains today.

Through reforestation, there is a “bigger area for animals and plants in the forest to recolonise”. “You also provide a very ample buffer to the core areas of reserve behind to protect them,” he said. “There are so many rare animals in the rainforest. And as this area matures, some of them would come out here to feed and forage.”

This is the first and largest-scale tree planting in the nature reserve forest for residents and students.

Other Members of Parliament for Ang Mo Kio GRC such as Mr Inderjit Singh, Dr Intan Azura Mokhtar, Mr Seng Han Thong and Mr Yeo Guat Kwang also attended the event.