Nature Reserves
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research. Nature reserves may be designated by government institutions in some countries, or by private landowners, such as charities and research institutions, regardless of nationality. Nature reserves fall into different IUCN categories depending on the level of protection afforded by local laws.
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
The Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is a small 1.64 square kilometer (400 acre) nature reserve near the geographic center of the city-state of Singapore, located on the slopes of Bukit Timah Hill, Singapore's highest hill standing at a height of 163.63 meters, and parts of the surrounding area. The nature reserve is about 12 kilometers from the Downtown Core, Singapore's central business district.
Despite its small size, it is considered one of the most productive pieces of nature, particularly by Alfred Russel Wallace. Together with the neighboring Central Catchment Nature Reserve, it houses over 840 species of flowering plants and over 500 species of fauna. Today, it is one of the largest patches of primary rain forest left in Singapore. The forest reserve was formally declared as an ASEAN Heritage Park on 18 October 2011.
The Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is a small 1.64 square kilometer (400 acre) nature reserve near the geographic center of the city-state of Singapore, located on the slopes of Bukit Timah Hill, Singapore's highest hill standing at a height of 163.63 meters, and parts of the surrounding area. The nature reserve is about 12 kilometers from the Downtown Core, Singapore's central business district.
Despite its small size, it is considered one of the most productive pieces of nature, particularly by Alfred Russel Wallace. Together with the neighboring Central Catchment Nature Reserve, it houses over 840 species of flowering plants and over 500 species of fauna. Today, it is one of the largest patches of primary rain forest left in Singapore. The forest reserve was formally declared as an ASEAN Heritage Park on 18 October 2011.
Labrador Nature Reserve
Labrador Nature Reserve also locally known as Labrador Park, is located in the southern part of the main island of Singapore. It contains the only rocky sea-cliff on the mainland that is accessible to the public. Since 2002, 10 hectares of coastal secondary vegetation and its rocky shore have been gazetted as a nature reserve.
Labrador Nature Reserve also locally known as Labrador Park, is located in the southern part of the main island of Singapore. It contains the only rocky sea-cliff on the mainland that is accessible to the public. Since 2002, 10 hectares of coastal secondary vegetation and its rocky shore have been gazetted as a nature reserve.
Central Catchment Nature Reserve
The Central Catchment Nature Reserve is the largest nature reserve in Singapore, occupying 2880 hectares, forming a large green lung in the geographical center 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 Tree Top Walk.
It is one of the four gazetted nature reserves in Singapore. The other three are the Labrador Nature Reserve which was gazetted since 1 January 2002, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. 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.
Most forests in Central Catchment Nature Reserve were cleared for logging and cultivation unlike Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, which remain relatively undisturbed. The Central Catchment Nature Reserve now consists of a mixture of young and mature secondary forests with virgin primary forest surrounding the reservoirs.
The Central Catchment Nature Reserve is the largest nature reserve in Singapore, occupying 2880 hectares, forming a large green lung in the geographical center 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 Tree Top Walk.
It is one of the four gazetted nature reserves in Singapore. The other three are the Labrador Nature Reserve which was gazetted since 1 January 2002, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. 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.
Most forests in Central Catchment Nature Reserve were cleared for logging and cultivation unlike Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, which remain relatively undisturbed. The Central Catchment Nature Reserve now consists of a mixture of young and mature secondary forests with virgin primary forest surrounding the reservoirs.
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
The Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is a nature reserve in the northwest area of Singapore. It is the first wetlands reserve to be gazetted in Singapore (2002), and its global importance as a stop-over point for migratory birds was recognized by the Wetlands International's inclusion of the reserve into the East Asian Australasian Shorebird Site Network. The reserve, with an area of 130 hectares, was listed as an ASEAN Heritage Park in 2003.
The Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve is a nature reserve in the northwest area of Singapore. It is the first wetlands reserve to be gazetted in Singapore (2002), and its global importance as a stop-over point for migratory birds was recognized by the Wetlands International's inclusion of the reserve into the East Asian Australasian Shorebird Site Network. The reserve, with an area of 130 hectares, was listed as an ASEAN Heritage Park in 2003.