Join Hands for a Real Greener Deal

This article is contributed by Trina Tan.

The word “green” probably has many meanings in different nations with different culture and religions. Green could mean envy, money, nature, health and life. Green is also the official religious colour in Islam. Recently, there seem to be a unifying meaning for green. The word green is now seen to convey the message of saving the environment.

In Singapore, the word “green” would imply energy saving light bulbs, biodegradable products, solar powered houses, green buildings and of course, not forgetting the 3Rs – reduce, reuse and recycle. But why is the word “green” not directly linked to protecting and conserving biodiversity? Is it because we humans are selfish?

We forget that we take actions to reduce our energy consumption not just to save our precious fossil fuels and reduce gas prices, or to reduce global warming and the resultant erratic weather patterns. We take actions ultimately to save the environment and its highly inter-linked and complex ecosystems and biodiversity.

Singaporeans has learnt about how to recycle, or take the public transport instead of driving but many are unequipped with the knowledge on the importance of ecosystems and biodiversity conservation. Once we understand these concepts, we will realize how our daily actions have such big impacts on the millions of species on Earth whom we share with.

Plants, animals and the natural world are fascinating, and we have spent centuries learning about them and from them. Many of our problems are solved by solutions from nature – using bacteria as medicine and discovering gravity from apples falling. While we try to change and adjust our bad human habits that lead to the destruction of Earth and the extinction of species, we ought to also put in more “greener” efforts to help the environment directly.

As a small nation with little natural resources, let us not forget that even the flora and fauna in Singapore are also defined as resources. These plants and animals are part of the ecosystem, which humans depend on. Singapore has already given up a large portion of its original tropical rainforest to build Singaporeans a better home, causing the extinction of many species that once used to live alongside with us. Now that you feel a tinge of guilt, you ought to do a part in protecting whatever nature spots we have left in the form of fragmented forestland, mangroves and swamps.

This remaining precious land is home to many species, some of which are unique only to Singapore. Going green is on one hand, like what we have been told, saving water, switching to fans instead of air conditioners, reducing the use of paper and plastic bags, and changing our light bulbs to energy saving ones, etc. On the other hand, it is also to do our part to protect and conserve the biodiversity that we have as a nation, because these plants and animals are born and bred here. They too, are “Singaporeans”.

There are many ways to care for our flora and fauna directly, like actively participating in mangrove and beach clean ups which are organized by environmental groups such as Toddycats, Nature Society, and the International Coastal Cleanup Singapore. Not littering in parks and rivers will also help. As the future lies in the hands of the children today, education and sparking interest among the young in areas of biology and biodiversity will shape Singapore towards a future of being a nature loving society.

Last but definitely not the least, one can also provide resources and support to the organizations that help to preserve and conserve our environment. Singapore is very lucky to have agencies like the National Environment Agency and the National Parks Board that do their part in protecting the environment and conserving nature in Singapore.

Even with the current nature enthusiasts, there are still many more “positions” that are open to help protect Singapore and the Earth. These positions have almost no criteria except to be passionate in preserving Nature’s creation. I hope you would send your resume in for this position soon.

Thoughts on the D’Kranji Farm Resort

The D’Kranji Farm Resort held its grand opening last Saturday. The farm resort is touted as Singapore’s first Agri-tainment Centre, located at the Kranji Countryside with a land size of 5 hectares. Visitors can stay in the villas, have food at the seafood restaurant and beer garden, visit the agri-retail kiosks, spa centre and herb garden, and explore the corn and rice plantation.

After visiting the D’Kranji Farm Resort, we think they blew the opportunity to be a green destination for Singaporeans and visitors. Being situated in the Kranji countryside and near to the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, there could be great scope to position itself as a green haven for Singaporeans and ecotourists. Instead, one would find the usual Singapore-style entertainment – artificial, meaningless and devoid of natural diversity. Read more

Encyclopedia of Life

The Encyclopedia of Life (EOL) is finally launched and the first 30,000 pages of this online resource for the biodiversity of life is available to the public. The EOL is the brainchild of renowned biologist, E. O. Wilson, and is the beginning of a 10-year effort between scientists and the public to document, identify and understand the world’s biodiversity. Professor Wilson says:

“The launch of the Encyclopedia of Life will have a profound and creative effect in science… It aims not only to summarize all that we know of Earth’s life forms, but also to accelerate the discovery of the vast array that remain unknown. This great effort promises to lay out new directions for research in every branch of biology.”

The EOL “will create ‘one-stop shopping’ for authoritative information, offering the world at large a better understanding of the planet and all its inhabitants. It is being assembled by a growing partnership of individual scientists, international organizations, technology leaders, and prestigious research institutions. But soon anyone will be able to provide information for consideration, too.” In the later part of this year, the public will also be able to contribute text, videos and images about a species.

Check out details and learn more about biodiversity at the EOL website.

Source: Encyclopedia of Life. Image attribution: Encyclopedia of Life press release; Encyclopedia of Life – Singapore parrotfish.

Once Upon a Tree – Tides and Coastlines

Once Upon a Tree was an eight-part television series shown by Arts Central about two years ago. The show was hosted by Dr Shawn Lum and he takes us on a journey to explore the trees in Singapore and how we interact with them. We loved the show for its well-crafted stories, insightful tips and the experienced Dr Shawn Lum (we think he has the voice and knowledge to be the local David Attenborough).

Season Two of Once Upon a Tree is back and this time the theme is on Tides and Coastlines. Dr Shawn Lum is back as the wonderful host who explores and shares with us the waters and marine life in Singapore. The show debuts today at Arts Central, 9:30pm. Remember to watch it tonight.

Image credit: Arts Central.

Singapore Nature Map

We tried looking for a Google map showing the different nature areas in Singapore but could not find one, so we decided to do one ourselves. Since wildsingapore is the best source of information on nature areas and also to save time, we shamelessly copied description of 18 nature areas from wildsingapore into the map (Thanks Ria for the permission). Images of the nature areas are also shown in the map (Thanks to wildsingapore and various people who shared their photos on Flickr). We hope that more people can learn about the biodiversity in Singapore and explore the nature areas. 

A larger view of the map is shown here.

View Larger Map

Stephen M. Meyer said in The End of the Wild, “Of course, the end of the wild does not mean a barren world. There will continue to be plenty of life covering the globe. … Life will just be different; much less diverse, much less exotic, much more predictable, and much less able to capture the awe and wonder of the human spirit.” So, treasure and be amazed by the wild nature that is around you or they may give way to development and urbanisation soon. Unless you stop it.

There’s something wrong with our culture

There’s something wrong with our culture. Our actions based on our culture more or less forces us to destroy the planet in order to live. We know that’s not right but we can’t seem to stop it. What’s wrong with our culture?

One, we see ourselves as separate from nature. In fact, we think we are above and superior to nature. We control nature and nature provides us with resources. We take what we want and we change nature to suit us. The crucial point is that we forgot that we belong to nature. We are nature. We are but one species out of millions of species that inhabit this planet.

Two, we don’t follow the rules of nature. Because we think we are separate from nature, we conclude that we are not subject to the rules of nature and we don’t have to follow the rules. The rules of nature evolved over millions of years and more or less suit the biodiversity of life on this planet. The rules are what works and are correct because they have survived the test of time. The rules of nature are:

• Resources instead of waste. There is no waste in nature and by-products produced become resources for others or are assimilated harmlessly back to the surroundings.
• Competition but no extermination. Nature hunts, kills and eats to live and survive, and not to destroy or cause the extinction of others for the sake of power and control.
• Diversity and no one best way to live or to do things. There are different ways to live and do things in nature, and those that worked continue while those that don’t worked disappear. Nature does not force others to live one way of life or allow only one species to rule. There is always diversity of life in nature.
• Adaptation but no exploitation. Nature adapts to the surroundings and uses what is available and existing. Nature does not use more than it needs and does not force others to produce more for its own use.

Three, we created our own game and rules. Because we don’t follow the rules of nature, we invented our own rules for our own game. It goes something like this: This game is called Economic Growth, which is played by Buyers and Sellers, and with Money and Stuff as the medium. The aim of the game is to accumulate as many Stuff and Money as possible. Buyers need Stuff and buy them from Sellers using Money. Sellers sell Stuff to Buyers and collect Money. Buyers work for Sellers to produce Stuff in return for Money to buy more Stuff.

The game got more complicated as time went by. Some Buyers have insufficient Money to buy Stuff and Sellers pay little Money to Buyers who made Stuff. Some Sellers and Buyers accumulated more Money and Stuff than others. Some Buyers bought Stuff which they thought they needed. Some Sellers produced Stuff that is bad for the environment.

One problem was that there was no end to the Economic Growth game. Once we played the game, we could not stop and have to continue to play to accumulate more Stuff and Money. Even if we want to stop, we are influenced by other Buyers and Sellers to keep on playing. The other problem is that we did not know how to play the game as it got more complicated. We just follow what the Sellers say and tell us to do. We play along with the game while complaining about those Sellers.

Some rules of the Economic Growth game are:

• More is better. We win by having more money, and more or bigger stuff. If we want more stuff, we work harder to make more money.
• Win or lose. We wanted the best for ourselves and became selfish. We started to adopt a win or lose mentality. Me vs You. Us vs Them. Business A vs Business B. Country A vs Country B. North vs South. Man vs Nature.
• Focus on means and not meaning. Our focus is on getting more money and stuff (means) and not on what we want to achieve with money and stuff (meaning) such as happiness, health, relationship, etc.
• Shortsightedness. We tend to do things without considering the future consequences and impacts on nature and future generations. We choose to ignore problems that do not happen in the near future or if we do not see the immediate impact on us. We keep doing more of what does not work and keep repeating the same mistakes.

To sum it up, there’s something wrong with our culture because our minds believe this: Since we are separate from and above nature, there is no need to abide by the rules of nature or learn from nature, and we do what’s best for us according to our game and rules. As long as our culture believes in that, we will keep on destroying the world in order to live.

To stop our destruction and save ourselves, we got to first change what we believe in our culture. Our changed minds must accept this: Learn what works in nature and do what’s good for nature because we are nature. By changing our minds, a new culture appears and our actions will then change for the better.

Image attribution: What What.

TED Talk: 12 sustainable design ideas from nature

This video shows a talk presented at the annual TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) conference by Janine Benyus, the author of the influential book, Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired by Nature. The book explains how we can learn from nature’s successes and develop products, materials and processes that are less harmful to the environment. Her talk shares various examples of learning from nature. Learn what nature can teach us and how we can mimic the wonders of nature.

You can watch the video or download it at the TED website. Learn more about Janine Benyus and biomimicry at the Biomimicry Institute.

Source: TED. Photo credit: jurvetson.

Nature Trekker (Singapore)

Nature Trekker (Singapore) is a non-profit organisation specially dedicated to all nature lovers and adventure seekers to share and explore. Nature Trekker (Singapore) was established with a mission to cultivate outdoor adventure lovers to learn and appreciate nature, thereby giving our beautiful yet fragile environment the due respect it deserves. Read more