A large part of Pulau Ubin has been designated as Nature Area under the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) Special and Detailed Controls Plan, with over 720 native plant species found here, including at least eight not found elsewhere in Singapore.
We are surrounded by lush greenery while on Pulau Ubin…but do we really know what is in our backyard? Learn more about the variety of flora and fauna in Ubin and ways to include it in your course-running.
A quick summary of common flora & fauna you will encounter!
See here for a compilation of photos of Ubin's flora & fauna!
A total of 30 native species of mammals, 219 species of birds, 40 species of reptiles, 7 species of amphibians, 177 species of butterflies and 54 species of dragonflies and damselflies have been recorded in Pulau Ubin.
Rare wildlife such as the Greater Mousedeer, Leopard Cat, Small-clawed Otter, Ashy Roundleaf Bat, Malayan False Vampire, Olive Tree Skink, Brown Wood-Owl, Barred Eagle-Owl and Great-billed Heron have also been spotted here.
Storytelling
Storytelling of flora & fauna ecosystem drawing parallels to pax context
Show & tell
Show & tell observable flora & fauna to understand their function in nature, drawing parallels to pax context
Flower value symbolism
As flowers have their own characteristics, it can be used as part of Life Run/final debrief where participants can reflect and relate back on how they have portrayed themselves during the course
Perspective taking & metaphorical
Find a plant that best represents you and draw it out with as much details as possible. Then explain why you resonate with the plant. This can be a tool to demonstrate the uniqueness of each individual in a watch
Chek Jawa is an intertidal flat on Pulau Ubin, an island just off Changi Point. It is the largest natural intertidal flat in northern Singapore and is located on the eastern tip of Pulau Ubin. Previously a virtual unknown, Chek Jawa came into national prominence and focus in the early 2000s when the area's rich biodiversity was discovered almost by chance during a nature outing at low tide.
News on the impending land reclamation works planned by the government on the area sparked a rare show of public-led and coordinated effort to reverse the reclamation plans. The Singapore Government acceded to these requests in December 2001. The biodiversity of Chek Jawa covers different ecosystems such as coastal forests, mangroves, coral rubbles etc.
Mangrove can be found in the central part of Pulau Ubin along the major water way. While much has been reclaimed as aqua-cultural pond in the past, they have been rehabilitated recently as primary industry declined in recent years. Mangrove is a fragile yet important eco-system and plays a huge part in protecting inland systems, filtering pollution and functions as a carbon sink.
1. Mangroves – by coming together and holding each other up with interconnected roots, the mangroves can stand against the weather and waves. They rely on each other to be stable and grounded – just like a solid Watch.
2. Mousedeer – a well-known figure in Malay folklore is Sang Kancil the mousedeer, known for his cunning and intelligence, as well as for his ingenuity. One famous legend involves him using the backs of crocodiles to cross a river. This can be a chance to encourage the pax to think out of the box to solve problems, or see their issues from a different angle!