MEDIA FACTSHEET C Factsheet on Biodiversity Week The United Nations has designated 22 May as the International Day for Biological Diversity (IBD) to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. Based on the overall IBD theme of sustainable tourism, NParks has developed a local theme, “Encountering and Exploring ’s Biodiversity”, to encourage the community to not only explore and embrace our rich biodiversity, but also take ownership of our shared natural heritage by caring for our flora and fauna. The theme has two key objectives:

 To encourage people in Singapore to take notice of the urban biodiversity around them  To take specific actions to care for our flora and fauna, so that everyone can enjoy our parks and nature areas for a long time to come To commemorate IBD, NParks has organised a suite of events and activities during Biodiversity Week (20 to 28 May) to encourage the community to explore and encounter nature in Singapore. These programmes are taking place in schools, and our parks, gardens and nature areas, and involves 330 partners from schools, research institutions, and nature- interest groups. Biodiversity Week for the Community

 Nationwide BioBlitz: 84 sites across Singapore consisting of parks, gardens, nature areas, Community in Bloom gardens, and schools  Butterfly Watch: 45 parks and nature areas  Habitat enhancement programme in 15 parks and gardens  Nature education programmes: guided walks, talks and workshops across various parks, gardens and nature areas Biodiversity Week for Schools

 Green Wave  Playtime with Hershie the Hermit Crab  Schools BioBlitz  20,000 students participated Nationwide BioBlitz, a part of the NParks-Community in Nature Biodiversity Watch programme BioBlitz sessions took place in various locations across Singapore, including schools, parks and community gardens. Participants worked alongside naturalists and researchers to document the flora and fauna that can be found within a particular area. The data collected by citizen scientists will be used to formulate future park management strategies.

BioBlitz is a popular citizen science movement worldwide. The term “BioBlitz” was coined by Susan Rudy, a naturalist with the US National Park service, in 1996. BioBlitz refers to a concerted effort by scientists and the community to record as many species of flora and fauna Page 1 of 9 For more information, please contact Clarissa Sih (9636 4385) Information accurate as at 27 May 2017

as possible within a specific location and timeframe. BioBlitzes have been conducted around the world, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Hong Kong. There is a community involvement component to many of these BioBlitzes, and members of the public are invited to join scientists and naturalists in a concerted effort to inventory species that exist within a designated area, such as an urban park or nature reserve. NParks BioBlitz programmes have taken place across three locations – , , and . BioBlitz provides a unique opportunity for the community to interact with and learn from taxonomic experts during the surveys, and we hope that such programmes will encourage stewardship of biodiversity amongst Singaporeans.

Biodiversity Week for Schools

 Green Wave (all schools) Green Wave is a multi-year global campaign that enables children and youths to make a difference – one school, one project, and one step at a time. The programme brings together children and youths from around the world to raise awareness about biodiversity, and the need to reduce its loss. As part of the campaign, students from all around the world will plant locally important trees in their school compounds annually at 10am on 22 May, the International Day for Biological Diversity. In Singapore, this programme is organised by NParks as part of the Community in Nature (CIN) initiative. Find out more about the Green Wave at https://www.nparks.gov.sg/biodiversity/community-in-nature-initiative/biodiversity- week-for-schools Through the programme, students can learn about the importance of trees, as trees provide a range of goods and ecosystem services, such as producing oxygen, improving air quality, providing habitats for other wildlife, reducing soil erosion and serving as a carbon sink to mitigate the effects of climate change. As Singapore continues to urbanise, we should all strive to keep our City in a Garden green and vibrant.

 Playtime with Hershie the Hermit Crab (Pre-schools) Preschool students learn about our intertidal wildlife by watching a video about a hermit crab named Hershie and his journey in search of a new shell. An interactive sticker book accompanies the video. The video and sticker book are based on the book, “A crab, a Shell and a Little Help”, which was produced as part of an NParks-CIN project in collaboration with Raffles Institution.

 Schools BioBlitz (Primary and Secondary schools) As part of the Nationwide BioBlitz, junior citizen scientists (primary and secondary school students) conduct a wildlife survey in their own school grounds, or at a nearby park to document our urban biodiversity.

Page 2 of 9 For more information, please contact Clarissa Sih (9636 4385) Information accurate as at 27 May 2017

List of other Biodiversity Week activities Festival of Biodiversity

Date/Time Programme Venue

27 - 28 May Festival of Biodiversity NEX shopping mall 10.30AM - Organised in collaboration with the Biodiversity 10.30PM Roundtable, the community-led Festival of Biodiversity celebrates Singapore’s biodiversity. Through games, crafts, interactive booths and exhibitions, the Festival aims to enthuse the general public about conserving our natural heritage. More details at: http://bit.ly/2qVt5SP 27 May - Festival of Biodiversity Speakers Series Programme Zone, 28 May Serangoon Public Despite being a small and urbanised island nation, a Library, NEX surprising variety of biodiversity can be found living in shopping mall Singapore. This Festival of Biodiversity, join our panel of guest speakers from the local biodiversity conservation scene, as they share fascinating insights gleaned from their journey to learn more about Singapore’s rich natural heritage.

Session 1: 27 May (Sat), 2pm to 3.30pm Featuring Ms Helen Nash (Singapore Pangolin Working Group), Mr Philemon Foo (Fuchun Secondary School), Ms Heng Pei Yan (Sister’s Islands Marine Park Volunteer), Ms Joleen Chan (International Coastal Clean-up Singapore)

Session 2: 28 May (Sun), 11.30am to 1pm Featuring Mr Sean Yap (Entomological Network of Singapore), Ms Gwendolyn Chow (Intertidal Watch), Ms Isabelle Lee (Nature Society (Singapore)), Mr Sankar Ananthanarayanan (Herpetological Society of Singapore)

Session 3: 28 May (Sun), 2pm to 3.30pm Featuring Ms. Fung Tze Kwan (Common Palm Civet research), Dr. Neo Mei Lin (St John’s Island National Marine Laboratory), Dr. Andie Ang (Raffles' Banded Langur Working Group), Mr Jeffery Teo (Otter Working Group). More details at: http://bit.ly/2axa3cm

Page 3 of 9 For more information, please contact Clarissa Sih (9636 4385) Information accurate as at 27 May 2017

Citizen Science Programmes

Date/Time Programme Venue

20 - 26 May Nationwide BioBlitz 28 parks and 8.00AM - gardens across 11.30AM BioBlitz sessions will be taking place in various Singapore, 20 CIB locations across Singapore, including schools, parks gardens and 30 and community gardens. Participants will be working CIN schools alongside naturalists and researchers to document the flora and fauna that can be found within a particular area. This will aid in habitat enhancement for the various nature sites. More details at: http://bit.ly/2lfA4Uo

20 - 28 May Butterfly Watch Various sites 9.30AM - around Singapore 3.00PM The Butterfly Watch is a citizen science initiative organised as part of the NParks Community in Nature (CIN) Biodiversity Watch Series, to get Singaporeans involved in collecting valuable information about the butterflies in our parks, gardens and reserves. More details at: http://bit.ly/1VkpEOW

Guided Walks Date/Time Programme Venue

20 May and Learning Forest Tour Visitor Services 27 May Counter - Tyersall Join us to explore habitats ranging from a freshwater Gate, Singapore 9.00AM - forest to a lowland rainforest at the Learning Forest via Botanic Gardens 10.00AM a network of boardwalks and elevated walkways. 20 May Gardeners’ Day Out - Nature Walk with Bian HortPark 9.00AM - Get up close and personal with nature in this garden 10.30AM trail and enjoy the scenery and biodiversity around you. 21-28 May Tour of Native Garden @ HortPark HortPark

9.00AM - Join us for a guided tour of the Native Garden @ 10.00AM HortPark to find out more about native plants, their & habitats and uses. 10.00AM - 11.00AM 20 May Heritage & Nature Trail Southern Ridges - Telok Blangah Hill 9.30AM - Join us on a guided walk to discover the rich history of Park, Kent Ridge 11.00AM the Southern Ridges. The walk will begin from Telok Park Blangah Hill Park, pass through Henderson Waves and Page 4 of 9 For more information, please contact Clarissa Sih (9636 4385) Information accurate as at 27 May 2017

end at Faber Peak (Cable Car Station). Enjoy the spectacular views from the vantage points and encounter the variety of flora and fauna along the way. 20 May Figs of the Fort Trail Fort Canning Park 4.00PM - Come explore the ancient wonder of Figs in Fort 5.30PM Canning Park. Learn about one of nature’s most interesting plant families, along with its usage in modern day healthcare. 20 May Nature Appreciation Walk at Bukit Timah Nature Bukit Timah Nature Reserve Reserve, 9.30AM - BTNR Visitor 10.30AM Experience nature in its pristine form at Bukit Timah Centre's Front Nature Reserve, which is a mere 12 km from the Courtyard bustling city centre. By virtue of Singapore’s location on the equatorial belt, the reserve has one of the richest and most diverse ecological systems. Join us for a Guided Nature Appreciation Walk to find out more about the flora & fauna that can be found in the reserve! 20 May What's in my mud? Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, 9.30AM - Join us for an interesting guided walk featuring our Wetland Centre. 11.00AM lesser known creatures of the mudflats in Sungei Buloh. Meet at Information Counter, Neo Tiew Entrance.

27 May What's In My Water? Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Wetland Centre 9.30AM - Join us for an interesting morning walk getting to know 11.00AM the creatures and plants that lives in and around the water edges of Sungei Buloh.

21 May Nature Appreciation Walk at Lower Peirce Lower Peirce Trail, Hevea Trail 9.30AM - Re-discover the wonders of Lower Peirce through this Entrance 11.00AM nature appreciation guided walk. Along the shady, cool boardwalk, discover and learn about the amazing plants & animals that can be found along the trails. Keep an eye out for pitcher plants, Macaranga (Ant-plant) and Nibong palms as well as macaques and on lucky days we might even get spot the Flying lemur (Colugo) in action. Gain a greater appreciation of Singapore’s rich natural heritage and the need to protect it for our future generations. 27 May Trees of the Fort Tour Fort Canning Park 4.00PM - The Trees of the Fort tour is a guided walk led by 5.30PM volunteer guides who will bring participants to find out more about the heritage trees and other beautiful trees

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like the towering Kapok, flaky Gelam and magnificent Madras Thorn at Fort Canning Park. 27 May Heritage Tour Visitor Service Counter - Tanglin, 9.00AM - For over 150 years, Singapore Botanic Gardens has Singapore Botanic 10.00AM been the birth place of South East Asia's rubber and Gardens orchid industries. A walk through Tanglin / Heritage Core of the Gardens will evoke memories of bygone days where ladies strolled through the Gardens with parasols and long skirts. Highlights of the tour include the Bandstand, sculptures in the Gardens, the Heritage Trees, the Main Gate and the Saraca Stream Walk. 27 May Race Against Time - Science Behind a Botanic Visitor Service Garden Tour Counter - Tanglin, 10.00AM - Singapore Botanic 10.45AM Be introduced to the research facilities at the Singapore Gardens Botanic Gardens such as the Library of Botany & Horticulture, Orchid & Micro-propagation laboratory and the Herbarium.

Learn about the orchid hybridisation programme, a process introduced back in 1930’s by the then Director, R.E Holttum. 27 May Ecolife @ BAMKP Bishan-Ang Mo Kio 9.00AM - Ecolife is a two-hour tour that introduces the Bishan- Park, 11.00AM Ang Mo Kio Park and the biodiversity found in the River Promenade Plains through the use of interactive exploration themes (Multipurpose and activities. The tour aims to encourage family Shelter) bonding between parents and children through the process of learning together. Join us as we take you through this tour with fun hands-on activities! 28 May Civic District Tree Trail Civic District 9.30AM - The Civic District Tree Trail takes you through 11.00AM Singapore's historic Civic District where you will marvel by the many majestic trees which have witnessed the transformation and progress of Singapore through the years. 20 May Bee Walk Eco Green 9.30AM - Bees are the world's most important pollinators, but 10.30AM they're often misunderstood. Amazingly, over 120 bee species are known from Singapore. Find out more about what's buzzing in our parks and gardens during this guided walk in !

Page 6 of 9 For more information, please contact Clarissa Sih (9636 4385) Information accurate as at 27 May 2017

28 May Intertidal Outreach @ Parks with Intertidal Watch Beach Park

7.00AM - As part of Intertidal Watch’s efforts to generate greater 9.00AM awareness on marine biodiversity in Singapore, volunteer guides will share with the public fun facts about intertidal animals found in our parks and the importance of conserving marine biodiversity.

Workshops and Talks Date/Time Programme Venue

20 May Smell the Herbs Lifestyle Corner, HortPark 9.00AM - Put your nose to the test in this fun game of herb 11.00AM identification!

20 May Butterflies: How they enhance garden biodiversity Programme Zone, Queenstown Public 5.45PM - In this talk, the speaker will share about the need for Library 6.30PM butterflies as pollinators and as an indispensable part of the food chain. In addition, he will also share tips on how to care for butterflies and caterpillars in your garden!

Concerts Date/Time Programme Venue

21 May Temasek Junior College Chinese Orchestra Shaw Foundation Presents 《松声竹韵 – 水谢听香》 Symphony Stage, 5.00PM - Singapore Botanic 6.00PM Join the Temasek Junior College Chinese Orchestra Gardens for a relaxing soiree amidst the greenery and tranquillity. Led by conductor Mr Ng Seng Hong, the orchestra will present pieces such as Night in the Woods《林中夜会》and Alishan《阿里山》 as well as other melodious pieces.

27 May Poland Sounds Good Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage, 6.30PM - Come and join us with your families and friends for this Singapore, Botanic 7.30PM one-night only performance by four phenomenal Polish Gardens musicians: Arkadiusz Bielak (piano), Hanna Krasnodebska (violin), Jacek Mirucki (bass), Waclaw Turek (accordion) who will enchant us with the finest music from Poland and across the world. Page 7 of 9 For more information, please contact Clarissa Sih (9636 4385) Information accurate as at 27 May 2017

With truly versatile tunes, the concert by the Embassy of the Republic of Poland promises to be an unforgettable feast for the ears for all music lovers.

28 May Thomson Jazz presents Big Band Bash Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage, 5.30PM - Thomson Jazz Club, Singapore’s only Jazz Club has Singapore Botanic 7.00PM been established since 1993. Under the Club are Gardens Thomson Big Band and Thomson Swing Band. The traditional jazz big bands consist of saxophones, trumpets, trombones and supported by a rhythm section. At their annual Big Band Bash at SBG this year, you will hear jazz standards from the 1930's and 40's which were then "top of the pops", along with jazz tunes from the repertoire of present day composers. Do bring along a picnic basket and dine al fresco in lush, green surroundings while the bands delight you with tunes designed to brighten up your weekend.

Volunteering Opportunities Date/Time Programme Venue

24 May & Volunteer @ Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park Bishan-Ang Mo Kio 27 May Park 9.00AM - Horticulture volunteers will get to work closely with 11.00AM the park horticulturists to manage and beautify the landscape in Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park . They will get the opportunity to carry out a variety of tasks like planting, pruning, weeding, fertilising and composting.

27 May Volunteer @ Park 9.00AM - The volunteer programme at Yishun Park seeks to 10.30AM engage public who are interested in having a hand in revitalising and maintaining the park. Volunteers are given the opportunity to carry out horticultural works such as pruning/planting new shrubs and saplings.

20 – 22 May Helping Hands for our Forest Pulau Ubin Join us to contribute to Pulau Ubin’s habitat enhancement efforts through a reforestation activity 8AM – held during this year’s Biodiversity Week. 1.00PM

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Enhancing such wildlife habitats provides homes for our native flora and fauna such as the White- rumped Shama and Greater Mousedeer.

Others Date/Time Programme Venue

20 May Gardeners' Day Out HortPark 9.00AM - HortPark’s signature event promises an entire day of 3.00PM gardening and lifestyle activities for everyone. More details at: http://bit.ly/1EZ2Qq1

20 May Storytelling Time Lifestyle Corner, HortPark 10.00AM - In this interactive session suitable for pre-schoolers, 11.00AM librarians from the National Library Board will present two stories, “Little Rooster’s Diamond Button” and “Interrupting Chicken”, and conduct a simple craft activity. More details at: http://bit.ly/2r3YlMJ

22 - 25 May SUNshine Wetlands Exhibition @ Woodlands MINDS Woodlands Gardens School 10.00AM - In conjunction with Biodiversity Week, MINDS Woodlands 4.00PM students are putting up an exhibition on Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve as an extension of their learning experience from SUN CLUB.

22 - 26 May Biodiversity Week for Schools Various schools across Throughout the week, a variety of activities targeting Singapore students of different age groups will be carried out including Green Wave, Playtime with Hershie the Hermit Crab, and BioBlitz for Schools. More details at: http://bit.ly/2r27aWo

Details about Biodiversity Week can also be found on our website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/biodiversityweek.

Page 9 of 9 For more information, please contact Clarissa Sih (9636 4385) Information accurate as at 27 May 2017