Pasir Ris forest may soon disappear

Eunice Toh The New Paper 31 May 12;

It may just be the size of two football fields.

But for some time now, this small sliver of land has been home to jungle chickens, wild boars, sea eagles and other wildlife.

For how much longer, though?

That is the question some residents are asking about the forested area behind Pasir Ris Heights.

The area is understood to be earmarked for development.

It is sandwiched by two other plots of land, which are also forested.

All three have been gazetted for residential use.

On April 12, The New Paper reported that the plot of land, at the intersection of Elias Road and Pasir Ris Drive 3, had been sold to Elitist Development.

Four days later, URA issued a press release, saying that the land parcel, at the intersection of Pasir Ris Drive 3 and 10, was up for tender.

It is the sliver of land in between whose fate is still unknown.

According to URA's Master Plan 2008, the woodland has been labelled as "subject to detailed planning".

A Pasir Ris grassroots leader said there has been talk of the area being turned into an international school, but no plans have been finalised.

Said grassroots senior for Pasir Ris West Division, Mr Ng Cher Pheng, 58: "All we know is that the area is reserved for (the school)."

To the residents who live in the terraced houses beside it, the area is a welcome jungle in their backyard, providing some relief from the concrete all around.

Naturally, they are sad to hear that this may disappear.

Fresh air

Said a retiree in her 60s, who wanted to be known only as Madam Lee: "I like the nature. It's great, especially in the morning. The air is very fresh."

Three months ago, she had a memorable encounter with a wild boar.

She was driving her car into her driveway when the animal appeared.

It banged into her side wheel and dropped unmoving for several seconds.

Then, it shot up and went straight back into the woods.

Joked Madam Lee: "The first time I see a wild boar, and I almost run it over."

She has lived there for 30 years and remembers when there were still attap houses around.

She said: "Chickens and pigs roamed everywhere. It was like a kampung."

The houses are long gone, but some of the wildlife remain.

Madam Lee's neighbour, businessman Sydney Ong, who is in his 50s, has also had his fair share of wildlife encounters.

Five years ago,when fruits in his garden were in season and ripe, monkeys would come and steal their mangoes.

He said: "It's always been a quiet estate. If what they're saying is true, there'll be construction work, and it'll be a lot noisier. I would rather things stay the same."

Another long-time Pasir Ris resident, who wanted to be known only as Mr Pang, 62, was just as disappointed to hear that the wooded area might be gone.

The retiree, who has visited the place four times in the last couple of weeks, enjoys taking photos of the wildlife there.

He said: "There is a family of white-bellied sea eagles nesting in the woodland. The only other place in the east I've seen this species is at Changi.

"The trees here are one of the oldest in Pasir Ris and the area of this place is so small. I don't understand why they are considering selling it."

But the residents do not have any plans of their own to save the area.

Said Mr Pang: "I don't think writing petitions or having campaigns will help."

His sentiment was shared by Mr Lim Khay Teg, 63 the chairman of the Pasir Ris Beach Park Neighbourhood Committee (NC).

He said: "It's a pity, but sometimes, people's interests will be infringed."

For wildlife consultant Subaraj Rajathurai, 49, the news is not something that surprises him.

He said: "That land has a good variety of birds, but it has never been a reserve or a park. It has always been temporary."

A member of the Nature Society (Singapore), MrRajathurai is afraid that if they were to push hard to conserve this area, another area with greater bio-diversity might be taken away.

He said: "I would like to see this area being kept. But land is scarce and development is unavoidable. Unfortunately, we cannot save everything."

But, he added, it is important to retain some of the agriculture of the area.

He said: "A green corridor would be a good compromise, as it ensures that bio-diversity will continue to exist in the area."

This article was first published in The New Paper.