People and nature in neighbourhoods
1. Relationship between people and nature
a) local communities and nearby nature areas are dependent upon each other
b) local communities and nearby nature areas mutually affect each other
People are dependent on nature for many things. For instance, humans are dependent on nature areas for our survival as it provides us with essentials like air and water. People also depend on living organisms like bees to help pollinate crops and produce a continuous supply of food.
Biophillic is the human tendency to interact or be closely associated with other forms of life in nature. The biophilic tendency recognizes how much human physical and mental well-being relies on the quality of our relationships to the natural world.
Why is reclamation needed?
How will it affect our physical environment?
What can be done to maintain a balance between human activities and conserving nature?
2. Benefits enjoyed by people and nature
a) nature areas lower air temperatures, remove pollutants and provide space for recreation
b) community activities promote the importance of environmental protection
Recall what you have learnt in Sec 1 on the Punggol waterway. Remember how the trees along the waterway and aquatic plants in the waterway help to lower air temperatures, remove pollutants and provide a better place which residents can enjoy the space along the waterway.
Nature provides a place for recreation as well as removing pollutants. The following photographs are taken by my friend, Mdm Ng Yuet Ling, during her visit to the newly opened Rifle Range Nature Park.
More about the addition of the Rifle Range Nature Park
Do you know there is a rainforest in the Singapore Botanic Gardens?
It is the habitat for a diversity of flora and fauna and a nice place to take a hike.
Watch the 360 videos of the rainforest in the Singapore Botanic Garden below. Drag the screen for a 360 view. Listen to the sounds in the forest. Do you enjoy the nature in it?
From a rustic farming village to an urbanised waterfront town in Punggol. Watch the video on the change and how people still have access to nature now in Punggol.
Volunteers help to observe and photograph dragonflies and damselflies in Singapore's parks, gardens and nature reserves, and their pictures help in conservation efforts
Such activities help NParks monitor dragonfly population patterns and habitats
Dragonfly Watch is a biannual initiative, in which volunteers are trained to learn basic surveying techniques and to identify 23 species of dragonflies and damselflies.
3. Disadvantages to people and nature
a) wildlife from nearby nature areas may harm people and environmental protection limits development
b) visitors to nature cause soil erosion, damage vegetation, worsen pollution and disturb wildlife
Human-wildlife conflicts may increase due to an increase in human-wildlife encounters due to
wildlife venturing out of the nature areas in search of food and shelter as Singapore continues to urbanise and develop.
more people spending more time in nature areas as a form of outdoor recreation.
greening efforts by the government creating more green space in the city and promote human-wildlife encounters.
Look at my visit to Chek Jawa in Pulau Ubin and the visitors' encounter with the wild boars - do you think there will be conflicts? https://mangrovegeog.blogspot.com/2020/12/2020-chek-jawa.html
Wildlife might attack people in self-defence when provoked. Both wildlife and people may get injured.
Monkeys looking for food in the garbage bin in Punggol. They could pick up and eat food which can endanger them. The mess created would also cause more time needed to clean up for the cleaners.
A sambar deer was killed by passing motor vehicles when it aaccidentallyccidentally entered the road from the Mandai forest. The accident would cause disruption to traffic.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/sambar-deer-killed-accident-bke-2904356
The road kill of Raffles' banded langurs in 2022 is an example of how nature can be negatively impacted by human activities. Similarly, the accident could also impact on human such as traffic jam and being late for work or school.
How has development by people affected nature?
What are the positive and negative impacts of the interaction of people and nature?
Read the article and ponder on the following mentioned in the article.
"Community stewardship and engagement also play a key role in supporting NParks’ biodiversity management and monitoring efforts. Some of these ‘rare’ wildlife sightings were made known to NParks through feedback submitted by volunteers and the public," NParks' Mr Lee said.
Are the following nature lover or doing harm to nature?
Which of the following is considered nature?
Mushroom sprouting beside the pavement in Hougang.
A neighbourhood park in Hougang
A heritage corridor featuring plants in a learning green corner in Hougang.
Mangroves at Chek Jawa on Pulau Ubin. The hexagonal benzene pods are part of NUS life science students' research into planting mangroves, and a total of 390 pods are installed aloalongng Chek Jawa.
Local communities may depend on nature to maintain their physical and mental well-being. They can regularly visit nearby nature areas for recreation or leisure activities with their family and friends. You can see below how the people used the park connector by the canal for jogging, biking or even just a stroll along the canalw with many trees planted along the paths. The trees provide shade and prevent direct sunlight reaching the ground as well as cooling the surrounding air through evapotranspiration as the water that plants absorb through their roots is released into the air as water vapour. This also lower the air temperatures and also contributes to the water cycle as what you have learned in Sec 1,
Green spaces and urban wildlife in a neighbourhood can enhance the mental health and well-being of local communities. Residents can participate in recreational activities in urban spaces and also gain enjoyment from positive encounters with wild animals. Similarly, local communities can also bring about benefits to nature. For example, when more trees are planted in the neighbourhood, it provides more shelter and habitats for urban wildlife to thrive. This enhances the overall health of the natural environment.
Look at the wild fowl running across the grass- where does it come from?
The following are wildlife sightings posted in the Facebook group Singapore wildlife sightings. Have you encounter any of these in your neighbourhood ?
Singapore is a City in Nature. This means that nature is all around us and not just found in nature reserves or community parks. You would probably have encountered the above in your neighbourhood too.
Look at how the crabs are entangled by fishing lines at Changi Beach. An example of harm on nature by people.
Singapore Wildlife Sightings FB group
‘Nature benefits humans more than humans benefit nature’. To what extent do you agree with this statement?
Access the maps and find out more about sustainable development of Punggol eco-town https://www.hdb.gov.sg/about-us/our-role/smart-and-sustainable-living/punggol-ecotown
The construction of the BKE and the isolation of BTNR in 2019 made it difficult for the wildlife populations from other habitats to reach it. Wildlife which attempted to cross the expressway found themselves at a lethal crossroad. Between 1994 and 2014, there were two Sunda Pangolin deaths recorded each year on the major roads surrounding the nature reserves. The Eco-Link@BKE was launched in 2013. By April 2014, Sunda Pangolins and the Common Palm Civet were detected on the bridge by camera traps. Wildlife continue to be spotted crossing the BKE in recent times. Between 2018 and 2021 alone, 31 unique fauna species were sighted by camera traps. These includes, butterflies, birds and mammals, such as Dubios Bar Flitter, Red-crowned Barbet, Cream-vented Bulbul, Horsfield's Flying Squirrel, Malayan Colugo and Sunda Slow Loris. The Eco-Link@BKE is a good example of how habitat restoration has supported our native biodiversity,
The National Parks Board (NParks) announced that the critically-endangered Raffles' banded langur has been sighted on the Eco-Link@BKE for the first time ever in October 2023. Raffles' banded langurs are known to only reside in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve (CCNR), and the last one in the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve (BTNR) died in 1987. Thus, it is encouraging that the langur was spotted using the Eco-Link@BKE, which acts as a connection for wildlife to cross safely between the CCNR and BTNR. The sightings of the langur on the bridge could indicate that the species is expanding its range and habitat, which could ensure a higher chance of survival.
https://mothership.sg/2024/04/raffles-banded-langur-using-eco-link-bke/