What is our relationship with nature (Part III)

When I first moved to Singapore a little over a year ago, I was pleasantly surprised by the number of green spaces in this city-state. Sure, some of it is a little curated but the amount of effort put in is laudable and it feels like Singapore is doing its best to maintain the green spaces left in the country.

However, I have learned this year that nature in Singapore is equally threatened by age-old development. Earlier this year, I came upon Green Circle Eco Farm and Fireflies Health Farm, both organic and regenerative farms in Kranji that had their land taken back by the government for military training purposes. Both farms put in a valiant fight, one appeal after another, demonstrating that healthy soil, cared for over decades with love and labor and teeming with biodiversity, is worth keeping. Unfortunately, both farms had to vacate their land in August this year after close to thirty years of working with and for the land. A separate post to come on the amazing stewards of the land where these farms were located.

Today, I went on a guided walk by Chua Chin Tat at Dover Forest East which is scheduled to be cleared later this month for residential development. A secondary forest that has been growing wild since the 1970s after the original kampung residents left, this forest has become the home of many native species such as the changeable hawk-eagle and the oriental pied hornbill. Both were once extinct in Singapore but have now made a comeback including in Dover Forest East where both species returned year after year to the same albizia trees to nest. Interestingly, albizia trees are an invasive species, considered a storm-vulnerable tree due to the shallow roots and exotic-dominated secondary forest like this is deemed to be of lower ecological value…

Chin Tat and his wife showing a regular resident of Dover Forest East, the oriental pied hornbill

Following an Environmental Impact Assessment and countless appeals from Chin Tat and others, the Housing Development Board (HDB) decided to clear Dover Forest East (11 ha). The adjacent vegetation, Dover Forest West (15 ha) would be maintained as is until 2030.

The HDB explained that when they first acquired the land, it was earmarked for residential development. Chin Tat tried to explain that the growth of the secondary forest in the last 40 years has provided a suite of ecosystem services to the residents of Singapore (humans, plants, and animals alike) and that is worth taking into land planning considerations. In today’s resource-constrained world, a negotiation ensued — yes, we will go ahead but we will allocate a larger-than-usual green space to preserve the stream and the trees around it but the show must go on.

Perhaps what will be left once the forest is cleared

I asked Chin Tat how he has gotten to know the forest so intimately. Is he a biologist, or a naturalist? And he said no. To my surprise, he first ventured into Dover Forest East in February of 2021 when he heard that it will be cleared soon. Chin Tat led us to the entry of the forest from the Dover MRT and jokingly said, hey this is the Amazon of Singapore with the forest being extra lush from the heavy rain last night.

We were swept away by the sounds, sights, touches, and scents of the forest. Our knowledgeable guide pointed out the original fruit trees planted by the residents of the former kampung, the exotic tree species and the bird species that have taken their liking to, the different types of native fig trees, and the ones which host bio-luminescent fungi that takes center stage at night, the native fishtail palms that provide civet cats with their favorite food. An entire ecosystem thrives in this forest…

Aerial view of Dover Forest — the part from the bottom up to the MRT station will be cleared in the coming months

We ended the walk by going up the existing HDB housing blocks that face Dover Forest to get an aerial view. A deep, deep sadness overcame me at the prospect of the disappearance of these large swathes of wild, green spaces. I kept thinking nature has a right to exist on its own. I stood there for as long as I could to take it all in.

As I entered the lift to go back to the ground floor, an uncle asked what I was doing there. I said, “To say goodbye to the forest”. He said with a hint of sadness in his eyes, “Yes, that forest will be gone soon.” We both stared at the ground before parting ways.

We cannot protect something we do not love, we cannot love what we do not know, and we cannot know what we do not see. And touch. And hear.” – Richard Louv.

Today, I’ve had the opportunity to see, touch, and hear Dover Forest East thanks to Chin Tat. Since February 2021, Chin Tat has led 50 walks like this for over a thousand people who had the opportunity to see, touch, and hear Dover Forest East too. Sometimes, I feel so dejected by losses like this, but then I meet people like Chin Tat. He said well we have 10 years now to protect Dover Forest West. The show must go on indeed…

The liana vine is so deeply entwined with the Malayan banyan tree that they look like one. Interestingly, there is contrasting info about whether lianas are parasites or since they are rooted, they take nothing from the host tree except support. Where do humans stand in our relationship with nature? Are we invasive species, or parasites or could we form a symbiotic relationship one day with nature?

PS: Thanks to the guys at LepakinSG, they have put together a map showcasing about 2,700 ha of forest areas similar to Dover Forest that are slated for development. Another 3,700 ha are marked as reserves meaning their land use status has not been determined…