Connected and Not

BBNP was a vastly different walk than the other walks in terms of how much luck we had spotting colugos and in terms of the understanding we brought away due to Uncle Tony’s insightful talks about connectivity, Singapore and the larger picture.

BBNP was not a very accessible park by any means. Every method to get there would include at least one transfer and there is no direct MRT to the area unless one is willing to walk for a bit. I, for one, definitely underestimated the distance and connectivity to BBNP and thought I would be late but the truth of the matter is that everyone must have done the same thing since I was relatively early 🙂

While waiting for one of the last members of our troupe, we were introduced to the idea of scarcity but in terms of Singapore’s conservation efforts and to the importance of the placement of BBNP.

BBNP’s position was integral due to the connectivity to the South-East and the North-West with parks or forests like Tengah, Bukit-Timah, Clementi and Maju. These line of forests allow for green connectivity for various wildlife that otherwise may not be able to traverse between the green spots. Birds, not too much; colugos, definitely. Losing the connectivity would mean that each park/green area would hold its own group with barely any mixing and travelling leading to essentially pockets of extinction with extra steps if there are any diseases or other issues.

However, we cannot just assume that since it is integral that we should therefore keep everything in land-scarce Singapore. We have to prioritise and save the necessary and give up the others. We joked that if left to us, we would keep everything but we were shot down by Uncle Tony with the very valid reason of having to compromise. Compromising with the other necessary sectors and trying to preserve what we need to, developing areas appropriately and ensuring the public, the government(with the appropriate statutory boards) and the nature groups understand each other via regular engagements, were brought up by Uncle Tony.

This was further emphasised when we discussed about the importance of the 4 national taps and the 30% food self-reliance and the importance of it. Similar to these developments and their importance, there are many demands for every square inch in SG. Those competing calls include and are not limited to water security, water supply, food security, housing, industry development, commercial development, power, sewerage, waste management (Pulau Semakau) and transport. Thus, as conservation activists, we need to be mindful of the fact that we cannot save every green area. If we try too hard and try to get out voices heard for every single thing, we will be pushed aside and ignored, leading to even more detrimental effects. We need to take this into account when we engage with the gahmen. Our ministrations need to be well founded on science, logic and demonstrable facts. We need to find conservation solutions that allow other needs to be addressed.

We can’t be a dog tied to every tree

Uncle Tony

So by nuancing our approach to target and prioritise connectivity as well as refugia amongst the development, we get listened to and our concerns addressed.

Even before we had started the walk, Uncle Tony started with a brief description about torchlight etiquette, noise and clothing; all things we internalised but wished we knew earlier since some of us were not dressed as well as we could be.

The walk itself was very eye-opening in the sense that we were exposed and told about the various different trees and plants that grew in BBNP and how their existence was intertwined with certain species like the slow loris and certain ‘sappy’ trees that have leaves that have bulbs at the bottom that provide easy access for sap. Tree identification via leaves such as the durian tree leaves with its distinctive golden hue underside and the Artocarpus Trees with their lobed leaves at the lower section and large ‘sandpaperish’ leaves at the top while being edible and in a similar group to figs.

The sheer variety of plants and their adaptations was also jarring in the sense that even a small park like BBNP had such variety and the importance of the park was further underlined. Certain plants with their hollow stems to accommodate thrips and ants while others have reddish young leaves with high levels of anthocyanins.

We spotted a large number of colugos which I was not expecting, largely due to keen eyesight and their eyeshine that gives them away when a flashlight is pointed at them. One of the more interesting titbits we got from Uncle Tony was the presence of the red-cheeked squirrel which he identified from their distinctive sound and how they are generally playful and curious, citing an experience he knew about where they followed people to watch them.

Overall the experience was a welcome one, where we understood conservation, connectivity and the bigger picture while not forgetting about the microcosm of the park itself and the various trees and wildlife it is home to.