NATURE NEWS JUL-AUG 2009 Jul-Aug 2009 Jan-Feb 2009

Activities & Trips 2 10th Mid-Year Bird Census Jul 11 & 12 Butterfly Walk at MacRitchie Trail Jul 12 NSS Roundup: News 5 from Exco & Council Rifle Range to Ramble Jul 19 2nd Animal 5 Horseshoe Crab Rescue & Research Jul 25 Welfare Symposium Birdwatching at the Botanic Gardens Jul 25 Birding the Green Way 6 NSS Kids’ Fun with Colourful Crabs at Jul 26 Thoughts from the NSS 7 The Joys of Dipterocarps Part IV Jul 26 President Horseshoe Crab Rescue & Research Aug 22 Why Eat Shark’s Fin? 8 Ramble Aug 22 I Love Shark’s Fin Soup 8 Plant Walk at Park Aug 22 Invitation: Debate & 9 Birdwatching at Bukit Brown Aug 23 Public Forum on Sharks Debate and Public Forum on Sharks and Shark’s Fin Aug 28 and Shark’s Fin International Coastal Clean-up Singapore 2009 Sep 5 Fun with Plants that 10 Grow on Other Plants 6th Fall Migration Bird Census Sep 6 AGM Minutes 11

A G M F i n a n c i a l 18 TRIPS ABROAD Statement 2D/1N Sedili Kechil Nature Trip Jul 18 to 19 AGM Subgroup Reports 19 3D/2N Kuala Selangor Nature Trip Aug 14 to 16 Announcements 26 N S S D i r e c t o r y / 27 Subgroups Sharks Special All Purpose Form 28

• Why Eat Shark’s Fin? Pg 8 • I Love Shark’s Fin Soup Pg 8 • Invitation: Debate & Public Forum on Sharks & Shark’s Fin Pg 9 Photo courtesy of Rob Stewart

1 NATURE NEWS JUL-AUG 2009 Activities July the nameless track that starts beside Leong Soon Pte eekend W 11 & 12 Ltd (251 Kranji Road). We recommend that you bring a 10th Mid-Year Bird Census cap, shoes/booties, sun block, repellent, cutter (for HSC This census of Singapore’s wild bird population will rescue) and camera. Washing facilities available. be held over two days to allow birdwatchers to Saturday 25 cover their backyards, neighbourhood parks or home patches. We would like to invite all birders, especially Birdwatching at the Botanic Gardens newcomers to the Society, to join in this census. Don’t Meet Chung Cheong at the Visitor Centre of the worry about being unable to identify some birds Botanic Gardens at 4 pm. We will take a late afternoon as each site will be led by an expert. Such censuses walk (2 to 3 hours) through one of the best botanical have helped us formulate conservation proposals to gardens in the region. Many species of birds make this government agencies by providing us hard data to place their home and we might spot colourful ones substantiate our proposals. If you can help from 7.30 like the Long-tailed Parakeet, Crimson Sunbird, Banded am to 10.30 am on Saturday and/or Sunday, please Woodpecker, Common Iora, Pink-necked Green Pigeon email coordinator Lim Kim Seng at ibisbill@yahoo. and Stork-billed Kingfisher. We might even see some com before 4 July. Let us know which day(s) you are early bird migrants. available. Sunday 26 Sunday 12 NSS Kids’ Fun with Colourful Crabs at Chek Jawa Butterfly Walk at MacRitchie Trail Colourful pincers waving in the air, feeding crabs are Members will notice the greater brilliance in colours everywhere. Plenty of multi-coloured fiddler crabs of forest butterflies found at the MacRitchie Trail colonise the mangroves and beaches of Chek Jawa compared to urban ones found in parks and gardens. (Pulau Ubin), clothed in electrifying colours if you care Species we might encounter here include the regal to look closely. Help Tan Hang Chong and Timothy Royal Assyrian, the rare Dark Blue Jungle Glory, the big, Pwee spot these tiny crustaceans and learn fascinating strong and fast flying Great Helen and many more deep facts like how their burrowing promotes nutrient forest dwellers. Meet Simon Chan (HP: 9748-5465) cycling. We will also get to observe the much talked at 10am at the main carpark entrance of MacRitchie about marine life of Chek Jawa which will be exposed Reservoir Park. This walk will last about three hours. during the low tides. Meet at 8 am at the Changi Point Ferry Terminal. You will need to bring $9 per person

Sunday 19 to cover the return ferry fares to Pulau Ubin ($5) Rifle Range to Zhenghua Park Ramble and the return van ride to Chek Jawa ($4), excluding Led by Ho Wah Loong of The Nature Ramblers, we registration fees. Please register your kids (4 to 12 will stroll through kampong trails where local fruits years old) at [email protected], stating their like the durian, rambai, chempedak, jackfruit and mango names and ages, if you are a NSS member or not, grow wild. If we are lucky, we might even pick and taste your mobile number, and if you need us to provide some of these. The second part will see us ambling binoculars or not (to see the tiny crabs). A fee of $5 through the countryside on the way to Zhenghua Park. per child (member) or $10 per child (non-member) Bring along your binoculars and camera for a spot of will be collected on the spot. Parents are encouraged birdwatching and wildflower photography. Meet at 7.30 to come along at no charge. Details will be emailed to am at the carpark of Bukit Timah Hawker Centre. This those who sign up. 8km/4hour ramble ends at Zhenghua HDB estate. Sunday 26 Saturday 25 The Joys of Dipterocarps Part IV Horseshoe Crab Rescue & Research Enjoy a view from Singapore's culminating point with Please register with Dr Hsu at hsu_chia_chi @hotmail. Shawn Lum. We will see and learn more about our com, stating your name, if you are a NSS member tallest and most distinctive primary forest trees at or not, affiliations (eg. school/company), experience Bukit Timah Nature Reserve (BTNR). The dipterocarps (if any) and contact details for this monthly mission in hill forests such as BTNR differ somewhat from to rescue and study the Mangrove Horseshoe Crab lowland ones such as the forest we saw at MacRitchie (HSC). We have also started an ongoing HSC Training in June. We have one of Singapore's oldest trees, a 360 & Accreditation Programme for anyone keen to be a year old Seraya (Shorea curtisii), growing at Bt Timah. qualified HSC R&Rer. Meet at the extension of Kranji This time we hope to get twirling helicopter seeds Road, at the junction with Kranji Loop at 8 am. Take bus floating down to greet us! Meet at 3 pm at the Visitor 925 from Kranji MRT station and alight at the Chinese Centre of BTNR. temple along Kranji Loop, cross the road and look for 2 NATURE NEWS JUL-AUG 2009 Activities August bulbuls, doves, flowerpeckers, parakeets, sunbirds and Saturday 22 woodpeckers.

Horseshoe Crab Rescue & Research Friday 28 Please register with Dr Hsu at hsu_chia_chi @hotmail. com, stating your name, if you are a NSS member Debate and Public Forum on Sharks and or not, affiliations (eg. school/company), experience Shark’s Fin (if any) and contact details for this monthly mission Are sharks killed mainly for their fins, their meat or to rescue and study the Mangrove Horseshoe Crab both? Some believe that it is western propaganda that (HSC). We have also started an ongoing HSC Training sharks are killed mainly for their fins, saying instead & Accreditation Programme for anyone keen to be a that they are slaughtered chiefly for their meat. qualified HSC R&Rer. Meet at the extension of Kranji However, the majority viewpoint is that the demand Road, at the junction with Kranji Loop at 7.30 am. for shark’s fin is the key factor driving sharks towards Take bus 925 from Kranji MRT station and alight at the extinction. Hear both sides of the story and watch the Chinese temple along Kranji Loop, cross the road and exciting debate between proponents of the two camps. look for the nameless track that starts beside Leong The debaters include Dr Giam Choo Hoo, an Asian Soon Pte Ltd (251 Kranji Road). We recommend that representative at CITES (Convention on International you bring a cap, shoes/booties, sun block, repellent, Trade in Endangered Species) meetings, and Louis cutter (for HSC rescue) and camera. Washing facilities Ng, Executive Director of ACRES (Animal Concerns available. Research and Education Society). This debate and public forum will be chaired by Dr Shawn Lum, President Saturday 22 of NSS, and is open to all including NSS members, Pulau Ubin Ramble the public and the media. Time: 7.30 pm. Venue: to be Led by Dr Ho Hua Chew of The Nature Ramblers, announced on the NSS website and various email loops we will visit less-frequented trails to savour the rustic one week before the date of the debate. The venue can charms of Malay kampongs and their surrounding fish also be checked by calling the NSS office. ponds, coconut groves and fruit trees. The highlight of this 8km/4hour ramble is a visit to Chek Jawa Saturday 5 September where we can admire its marine treasures from the International Coastal Clean-up Singapore boardwalk, and climb its tower for a bird’s eye view of 2009 the surrounding mangrove swamps. Meet at 8 am at the The International Coastal Clean-up, coordinated by Pulau Ubin Jetty. Participants will have to take the ferry The Ocean Conservancy, conducts the world’s largest from the Changi Point Ferry Terminal. Not suitable for effort to clean, categorize and record the manmade children below 12 years old. waste present at shores and water bodies around the world on one September day every year. Since 1992, S 22 aturday Singapore has shown solidarity with thousands of Plant Walk at Upper Seletar Reservoir Park individuals and organizations worldwide by participating See more dipterocarps and other distinctive forest in this massive litter picking and cataloging exercise. species at Upper Seletar Reservoir Park with Shawn Log onto http://coastalcleanup.nus.edu.sg for more Lum. We will come across examples of secondary information. forest, primary forest, and even a freshwater swamp forest. The edge of the Reservoir also affords a This year, NSS will support International Coastal panoramic view of a key part of the Central Catchment Clean-up Singapore (ICCS) by sprucing up the Nature Reserve. With luck, we might observe some Mandai mudflats, which is our regular horseshoe crab interesting insect and vertebrate life as well. Meet monitoring site. Time: 4 to 6 pm. If you can help, please at 9.30 am at the viewing tower of Upper Seletar register with Dr Hsu at hsu_chia_chi@ hotmail.com Reservoir. stating your name, if you are a NSS member or not, affiliations (eg. school/company), experience (if any), Sunday 23 contact details and if you need car pooling from the Birdwatching at Bukit Brown Kranji MRT station or if you can provide car pooling. Meet Wing Chong at the junction of Sime Road and Kheam Hock Road at 7.30 am, near the entrance to Meet at the extension of Kranji Road, at the junction the historical Bukit Brown Chinese cemetery. We will with Kranji Loop. Car parking is available at the hawker take a casual walk around this unique and quiet corner centre next to this junction. As for car pooling (both of Singapore. The area is well-covered with huge trees drivers and passengers), please meet at the Kranji MRT and other vegetation. Expect to see a mix of parkland, station’s taxi stand at 3.30 pm. Alternatively, take bus open country and forest birds such as babblers, 925 from Kranji MRT station and alight at the Chinese

3 NATURE NEWS JUL-AUG 2009 temple along Kranji Loop, cross the road and proceed covering the autumn migration period, something we down the nameless track that starts beside Leong Soon had not done before. Fifty-five people were involved in Pte Ltd located at 251 Kranji Rd. the island wide effort counting at 25 sites. This census yielded 8,035 birds from 135 species, approximately Please bring along drinking water, cap, covered shoes/ 35% of Singapore’s avifauna. Last year, we recorded booties, sun block, and plastic bread wrappers as 6,864 birds from 129 species. Will we see a decline makeshift gloves or heavy duty gloves. In addition, you or upsurge in 2009? Join us for this important census might want to take with you gardening cutters, a change and help determine the trends affecting our wild birds. of clothes and camera. Washing facilities available. All birdwatchers are welcome. The census will start at 7.30 am and finish at 10.30 am. If you can help, please Sunday 6 September email coordinator Lim Kim Seng at [email protected] 6th Fall Migration Bird Census before 31 August 2009. In September 2004, we conducted our first bird census

Trip Dates: 18 to 19 July 2009 Trips Abroad Cost: SGD$190 per pax (including insurance, guide, accommodation, meals and transport.) 2D/1N Minimum Group Size: 10 Sedili Kechil Nature Trip Closing Date: 11 July 2009

The Sedili Kechil river is flanked by lush mangrove forests with a distinct gradation of riverine vegetation and freshwater swamp forest. Its untouched beaches and idyllic kampung life are amongst some of its attractions. We can enjoy various activities here such as a leisurely river cruise, birdwatching, stargazing, firefly cruise and sampling of its local delicacies.

Sedili Kechil hosts a rich biodiversity such as the playful Smooth Otter, riverine prawn, varieties of freshwater fishes and many species of birds like the beautiful Mangrove Flycatcher, Mangrove Pitta, Mangrove Whistler and Malaysian Plover. Its mudflats are teeming with crabs, sea shells, snails and crustaceans. The "Pelaga" or the uncommon giant Malayan Fighting fish is also found here. Accommodation at Tg Sutera Resort.

For more details, please contact Sutari bin Supari at Tel: 6283-5069 or HP: 9770-0432, or email him at [email protected].

Trips Abroad 3D/2N Kuala Selangor Nature Trip

Kuala Selangor Nature Park boasts 800 acres of mangrove and Trip Dates: secondary forests situated at the mouth of the Selangor River, ideal for a quiet and relaxed getaway. The park is operated by the Malaysian 14 to 16 August 2009 Nature Society (MNS). Cost: In the day, there will be nature walks along the park trails, tower and SGD$290 per boardwalks where animals like the Silver Leaf Monkey and Smooth pax (including Otter are commonly encountered, as well as a visit to Bukit Melawati with its royal mausoleum and lighthouse. Come evening, we will drop insurance, guide, by the Kampung Kuantan Fireflies Sanctuary to witness a scintillating accommodation, and synchronized display of thousands of flashing fireflies. At nightfall, meals and transport.) we can enjoy views of the Milky Way in a stargazing session. We can also look forward to a seafood dinner at the famous fishing village of Minimum Group Pasir Penambang. If time permits, a visit to the Sekincan rice field for Size: 10 some birdwatching can be arranged. Accommodation will be at MNS Closing Date: operated dormitory and chalets. 8 August 2009 For more details, please contact Sutari bin Supari at Tel: 6283-5069 or HP: 9770-0432, or email him at [email protected]. 4 NATURE NEWS JUL-AUG 2009 NSS Exco and Council Roundup

By Margie Hall, Honorary Secretary

Whaleshark Advertisements and later with various public sector planning agencies, they were granted the go-ahead to re- e were all overjoyed in mid-May 2009 to site their water theme park, and subsequently Whear that there will be no whalesharks in changed their plans for the Coastal Forest area the aquarium at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) to one more compatible with forest elements. and are thankful that both RWS and the various Similarly, they were convinced and wished to government bodies involved came to this change the whaleshark plan long before this decision. recent announcement, but were not the only decision-makers involved. Not long before the announcement of the abandoning of the whaleshark plan, a petition When we were asked to put our Society’s against the keeping of whalesharks had been name to the most recent advertisements, we available for online signatures, supported by already knew what RWS were thinking and advertisements from a number of local groups. since the version of the advertisement shown NSS was not amongst those groups and some of to us seemed to target them rather strongly, our members have wondered why. we declined to be involved. For us, with our knowledge of RWS’s viewpoints, it seemed As many will recall, we were involved with unfair and unnecessary. This may have deprived ACRES and SPCA in raising the whaleshark the Society of some credit for the decision not issue and co-wrote two letters to the forum to have whalesharks at Sentosa, since the media page of The Straits Times highlighting the matter. connected the decision with the most recent In addition, as conservationists, we were also campaign. However, this is not really the issue. engaged in discussions with RWS about possible What is most important is that creatures that alternatives to using the Coastal Forest area as range widely and deeply in the oceans are not a water park as initially planned. We have found confined to tiny spaces to live out miserable RWS open and responsive all along. After various lives, and we are happy with the final outcome. consultations with concerned stakeholders 2nd Singapore Animal Welfare Symposium By Vinayagan Dharmarajah, Legal Advisor to NSS

SS participated in the 2nd Singapore the announcement by Resorts World that it NAnimal Welfare Symposium on 16 May was re-thinking its plan to exhibit whale sharks 2009 organized by ACRES (Animal Concerns at Sentosa. We noted that the whale shark Research and Education Society) and the NUS debate had provided an opportunity for both Students’ Animal Welfare Group. Our Legal conservation and animal welfare groups to Adviser Vinayagan Dharmarajah represented collaborate, and expressed hope that this would us in a panel discussion on the plight of wild bring us all closer together. animals in captivity and the use of these animals One discussion topic centered on the welfare for entertainment purposes. Besides ACRES, standards adopted by zoos and animal parks. A organizations like SPCA and AVA were also on delegate felt that it was essential for zoo-based the panel. countries like Singapore to adopt high animal The forum took place against the backdrop of welfare standards so that we could serve as

5 NATURE NEWS JUL-AUG 2009 examples for zoos in less-developed countries elephant shows caused a considerable amount to emulate. We added that whilst some zoos had of pain and suffering. Our representative argued taken positive strides, it was essential to draw that animal performances like elephant shows a distinction between zoos with aesthetically regrettably often emphasized the dominance appealing animal exhibits and those with exercised by humans over animals and that enclosures that actually met the physical and those who watch such shows should instead be psychological needs of individual animal species. encouraged to view animals as fellow creatures Delegates and members of the floor also worthy of dignity and respect. considered the plight of elephants and dolphins The session concluded with the various used in animal shows. Some argued that wild- delegates expressing their hopes for animal caught dolphins suffered because of the artificial welfare in Singapore. We felt that whilst it was environment in which they were forced to live important for us to tackle global issues like in and the cruel training methods employed climate change, we should not allow these in getting them to perform tricks, including challenges to distract us from issues that receive food deprivation. It was pointed out that the far less publicity, such as the cruelty inflicted on instruments used to prod elephants during wild animals by man.

Birdwatching the Green Way By Wing Chong

n t h e Yellow-vented Bulbul, but an Oriental White-eye Omorning of flew in to show us who its real owner was. 24 May 2009, An urbanized female Olive-backed Sunbird was 19 members seen prancing around the railings of a multi-story joined Willie carpark. She later drank from a fire sprinkler, an Foo in the first excellent demonstration of her resourcefulness, of the Green and members were thrilled to witness the true Bird Watching meaning behind the words “bird brain”. We then series where continued strolling along the narrow buffer p a r t i c i p a n t s stretch between the BKE and HDB flats. Regular are urged to go green by taking public transport garden birds such as the Common Iora, Zebra amongst other green gestures. The meeting point Dove, Black-naped Oriole and Asian Glossy at the Segar LRT station reflected this initiative. Starling were active here. For some members, it was their first ride on the We came across two male Asian Koels fighting LRT line and it proved to be a novel experience. on a huge rubber tree. At first, we thought that The initial walk along the canal was rather it was a territory fight but later at a nearby unexciting with common birds like the tree, we spotted a calling female Asian Koel. Eurasian Tree Sparrow and White-vented Myna We then realized that the female bird was the dominating the scene. A single Paddyfield Pipit probable reason behind the fight. She stayed on was spotted perched on a sign board in the to watch, fully exposed on the bare branches grassy field. despite us standing only about 10 meters away. Soon enough, we were greeted with birdlife Many photos were taken of this unusually bold, upon hitting the start of the Park attention-seeking bird. Connector. Birds here included the Yellow- Aside from the avian life, we observed three vented Bulbul and Pink-necked Green Pigeon. An types of lizards including the Changeable Lizard, Oriental White-eye was seen picking up nesting Common Flying Draco and Green Crested material. A half-completed nest on a Coral Tree Lizard. The walk ended at the junction of was initially thought to belong to that of the Zhenghua Park with Bukit Panjang Road.

6 NATURE NEWS JUL-AUG 2009

Thoughts from the NSS President…

A Natural Heritage Legacy that Lives On

Dear Fellow NSS Members, she passed away on 14 June 2009 after a long illness, and will be greatly missed. Sian, as she It is the time of the year when I feel that the year was fondly known, had a patient, enlightened, and has barely begun and simultaneously realise to my beatific air about her. She was an avid birdwatcher, horror that it will soon be talented photographer and over. I hope that whatever nature videographer, and I resolutions you may have will never forget her love fulfilled or not, you have for nature, her spiritual at least managed to visit a connection with natural number of your favourite habitats and wildlife, her nature spots with some quiet enthusiasm, and regularity. her gentle manner that endeared her to so many. The Nature Society’s calendar, at least from an Presidents and Excos administrative point of view, come and go. Yes, if they starts at midyear following wo r k h a r d , d o t h e i r the Annual General Meeting homework, and are true that is traditionally held in to the interests and hopes late May and for which the of their members, they minutes and Subgroup reports can make a substantial are included in this issue of difference in the standing “Nature News”. I want to thank the membership of their organisation. However, at the core of any for allowing us to continue for another year as group, especially one so member-driven such as your Exco. I also want to thank Angie Ng for her NSS, are people like Ong Kiem Sian, who through many contributions as an elected Exco member their actions show the world what wonderful last year; fortunately we retain her wisdom and things people are capable of doing on behalf of our expertise in the NSS Council, as she is the new natural heritage. Sian’s legacy will live on in her Chairperson of the Plant Group. I would also like books, her exquisite nature photographs, and in to welcome Dr Hsu Chia Chi as a newly-elected the many lives she has influenced, but unlike Excos, Exco member. people like Sian do not come along all that often.

I hope that as the months go by, we will have Thank you Sian for all your contributions to nature opportunities to meet as many members as we and the Nature Society. can to fine tune our outreach, conservation, and policy-related plans. The Nature Society can be as exciting and as meaningful an organisation as we want it to be; the dreams and visions of our many enthusiastic members give us a strong foundation Best wishes, on which to make a major contribution to society at large and, of course, to nature in Singapore.

One of our most inspiring visionaries was Ong Dr Shawn Lum Kiem Sian, as committed, gifted, and generous a [email protected] nature enthusiast as one could ever meet. Sadly, 7 NATURE NEWS JUL-AUG 2009 Why Eat Shark’s Fin? By Dr Lesley Cartwright-Taylor

ACRES (Animal Concerns Research and Education stock instead. So Society) organised a gathering of animal lovers on 18 why do people April 2009 at Speaker’s Corner to speak out against want it on their Photo courtesy of Rob Stewart the killing of sharks. They constructed a tower of menus? I was told that it is to show their wedding building blocks, each block representing a fish or group guests how wealthy they are. Do we really have to kill of sea creatures in hierarchical order. Sharks were wild animals to show how rich we are? Do we kill a placed at the bottom of this tower to show that as a herd of elephants or a pride of lions to serve up at a top predator and keystone species, the balance of the feast as a display of our wealth? When can we learn not marine ecosystem depends heavily on their presence. to eat animal species that we can barely replace? Let’s A bride and groom then marched up and removed the not massage our egos at the expense of the sharks. carton representing sharks from the bottom of this tower. Inevitably, the whole structure came tumbling I asked about the role of hotels and restaurants in down. This demonstration vividly depicted the impact this awful practice. I was told that although many of shark’s fin soup on wedding menus to the marine enlightened and concerned establishments have ecosystem – the loss of sharks ultimately collapses the stopped offering this dish, there is still a reluctance to entire marine food web. do so as approximately 60% of the bill for a banquet comes from shark’s fin soup alone. That is a lot of For example, in Tasmania (Australia), the disappearance money to pay for so little flavour! There are plenty of of sharks has led to the collapse of the spiny lobster tasty alternatives that we can choose instead. industry. In Chesapeake Bay (USA), shark hunting has resulted in massive declines to populations of clams Now when I go to a restaurant, I ask if they serve and scallops such that clam chowder can no longer shark’s fin soup. Many will eagerly reply “Oh yes!” I be found on any menu. All over the world, sharks are will then say “Oh no!”, and explain why I would not also killed for their meat. In Europe and Australia, they eat there. As NSS members and concerned global are served with fanciful names in fish and chip shops citizens, we should start spreading the word about the to disguise the fact that people are eating shark. As a plight of sharks and do our part to conserve them. result, many consumers do not even know that they For a start, we could boycott shark’s fin soup and tell are contributing to the decimation of these awesome establishments why we are doing so. If they begin to predators. lose business, they too might act. In his talk, ACRES founder Louis Ng gave us some Brides and grooms, can you look for alternatives to put shocking figures. Losses of some shark species were on your wedding menus? Each couple can save between huge, with over a million of them killed each year for 40 to 50 sharks, all by themselves! And we have not their fins alone. For every Chinese wedding banquet in even started to mention the gruesome and inhumane Singapore that serves shark’s fin soup, we lose 40 to 50 aspects of the finning industry. Can Singapore be the sharks. How can we carry on at this rate? first country in Southeast Asia to take shark’s fin soup off the menu simply because of a loss in demand? What Shark’s fin has absolutely no nutritional value and hardly a triumph that would be! any taste – the soup has to be flavoured with chicken

By Howard Banwell

have a confession to make, I love shark’s fin soup. However fifteen years ago, with much regret, I IWhen I first came to live in Asia 36 years ago, I gave up eating it. Data were beginning to come quickly developed a taste for it and ate it at every in about overfishing, and divers were increasingly opportunity. In those days not many people could bringing back reports of shark decimation in the afford it as it was very expensive and served only world’s reefs. Increasing affluence across the region at upmarket Chinese restaurants. In China, only a and the spectre of 1.2 billion mainland Chinese handful of the political elite would ever get to taste being able to afford what was until then a delicacy it. primarily in the Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore 8 NATURE NEWS JUL-AUG 2009 markets, made me realise that in the long run, the chip" trade. In addition, Rotten Greenland shark’s consumption of shark’s fin and for that matter meat is traditionally eaten in Iceland. Sharks are shark’s meat was untenable. also featured in Spanish tapas and are growing Without sustainable, enforceable and science- in importance in South American fish markets. based fishing limits, shark species are particularly Worldwide, fishermen target more than 100 susceptible to extinction through over-exploitation. different species of sharks, and catch at least as They are the ocean’s top predators, vital to the many unintentionally. marine ecosystem, yet they attain sexual maturity Perhaps there is some light at the end of the only later in life and bear few young. tunnel. The USA has banned the wasteful practice Few fully-resourced studies had been made until of finning, and is strengthening controls on fishing recent years, but evidence of the threatened status various Atlantic and Pacific species. Some Asia- of sharks is rapidly mounting. The highly-respected Pacific countries have similar controls. Likewise, IUCN (International Union for Conservation of the European Commission recently released its Nature) reported the results of the first study European Community Plan of Action for Sharks in 3 to determine the global status of 21 species of February 2009 . However, all of these controls are oceanic pelagic sharks and rays in May 2008. difficult to police until global measures are put in Conducted by 15 scientists from 13 research place. institutes around the world, this study confirmed In the meantime, I choose not to consume shark’s that 11 of the 18 shark species with sufficient data fin soup, and will not eat shark’s meat (or “rock were threatened with extinction1. salmon” in an English fish and chip shop). This has In November 2008, IUCN then released the first- nothing to do with culture however, as claimed ever Red List of Threatened Species assessment in some quarters, nor is it an “east versus west” of northeast Atlantic sharks, rays and chimaeras. thing. I am not an animal rights activist and I do It revealed that 26 percent were threatened with not frankly care what people eat so long as it is extinction while another 20 percent fell into the not endangered. So, although I am a dog lover, and near-threatened category. The total number of have always had dogs as pets, they are not exactly threatened species may well be higher as there endangered, so if people want to eat dogs, that is was insufficient information to assess more than a up to them. In essence, I do not find it a hardship quarter of these species2. to give up eating something that is in danger of extinction and hope that many will follow suit as While the remarkably high value of shark’s fin well. is a driving force in most shark fisheries, it is by no means the only culprit as people eat a References: wide variety of shark’s meat too. Americans 1. http://www.iucn.org/media/materials/interv/index. have a taste for Blacktip and Mako shark steaks, cfm?uNewsID=979 Australians consume School and Gummy sharks, 2.http://www.iucn.org/about/work/programmes/species/ while Europeans import Spiny dogfish from all news_events/?2213/Quarter-of-northeast-Atlantic-sharks- corners of the globe primarily for the "fish and and-rays-threatened-with-extinction 3. http://www.sharkalliance.org/content.asp?did=32682 Invitation: Debate and Public Forum on Sharks & Shark’s Fin Date & Time: 28 August 2009 (Friday) at 7.30 pm. Venue: To be announced on the NSS website and various email loops one week before the date of the debate. The venue can also be checked by calling the NSS office. Are sharks killed mainly for their fins, their meat or both? Some believe that it is western propaganda that sharks are killed mainly for their fins, saying instead that they are slaughtered chiefly for their meat. However, the majority viewpoint is that the demand for shark’s fin is the key factor driving sharks towards extinction. Hear both sides of the story and watch the exciting debate between proponents of the two camps. The debaters include Dr Giam Choo Hoo, an Asian representative at CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) meetings, and Louis Ng, Executive Director of ACRES (Animal Concerns Research and Education Society). This debate and public forum will be chaired by Dr Shawn Lum, President of NSS, and is open to all including NSS members, the public and the media.

9 NATURE NEWS JUL-AUG 2009

NSS Kids’ Fun with Plants that Grow on Other Plants Margie explained the difference between epiphytes and parasites to kids and their parents. By Gloria Seow, Education Group Chairperson

argie Hall’s black-and-white connection of the mistletoe with the Mbungalow in Sembawang was the Wrightea). Lots of ants began to pour perfect place to view plants that grow out – apparently the spaces between on other plants (known as epiphytes the roots, haustorium and Wrightea and parasites) as they flourish at eye branches were also cosy ant houses! level in her lush garden. Kids had an We had various non-plant diversions, enjoyable morning touring this little like hearing the Eden on 6 June 2009 to gawk at the tantalizing song of the Straw- fascinating array of mistletoes, ferns, fungi, mosses, headed Bulbul, one of the kids lichens and orchids that festooned the branches finding the moult of a cicada, and trunks of various trees and shrubs. admiring pretty butterflies So what’s the difference between epiphytes and as they weaved in and out parasites? Epiphytes use the host plant as support of flowers, and best of all, only (to reach the sunlight), while observing the tree-hole nest parasites not only use the host of the Coppersmith Barbet plant as support, but take food and through the scope, thanks water from it as well. to the sharp eyes of Morten Kids saw how several types of Strange, author of numerous local mistletoes Dendropthoe, bird books, who was there Macrosolen and Viscum, considered with his son Mark. semi-parasites, almost snuffed Margie’s driveway then became a huge drawing out the life of their host plant the board when Wrightea in Margie’s garden, by k i d s we re stealing food, water and sunlight i nv i t e d t o from it. They learnt how the sketch their Scarlet-backed Flowerpecker played a part in this f a v o u r i t e process – this tiny bird eats the mistletoe berries e p i p h y t e s whole, but excrete the undigested seeds as sticky a n d dung on the Wrightea’s branches, which germinate p a r a s i t e s into more invasive mistletoes. The poor Wrightea w i t h was not only heavy laden with these plant semi- c o l o u r e d parasites, but even had mistletoes parasitizing on chalks. Soon other mistletoes growing on it! As a result, its leaves were much smaller than their usual size and the Wrightea was slowly dying. Margie then cut off some enough, the black bitumen was full of branches with mistletoes cutesy doodles. Kids being kids, they could on them, snipping through not help but play tic-tac-toe and draw stuff the roots and cross-section like a mile-long caterpillar too! of the haustorium (the 10 NATURE NEWS JUL-AUG 2009 Minutes of NSS 55TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

MEMBERS PRESENT: Soon Tze Chien Marcus Ng Geh Min Charles Letts Morten Strange Wing Chong Wong Yew Chuen Lee Chiu San Willie Foo Shawn Lum Jacqueline Lau Tan Boon Cheong Evelyn Ng Gan Cheong Weei Julian Lee Margie Hall Tan Ju Lin Rehan Yusof Lee Kee Seng Steven Chong Gloria Seow Jimmy Chew Tay Thye Sun Derek Potter Ho Hua Chew Leong Kwok Peng Tan Siew Kheng Lim Kim Keang John Spencer Goh Si Guim Soo Choon Kiat Cai YiXiong Ali Jaafar Alan Owyong Cyril Ng Winnie Chan Saerah Binte Yusof Wong Chung Cheong Gerald Tay Steve Early Vinayagan Dharmarajah Bernie Tan Anuj Jain Ching Chabo Chua Leng Sim Lim Kim Seng Yeo Teck Yang

The Annual General Meeting was held on Saturday, 23rd May 2009, at MOE Dairy Farm Adventure Centre. It started at 2.30 pm with 43 members present at that time. Apologies had been received from Richard Hale, Lye Lin Heng, Stephen Lau, Ben Lee and PN Avadhani.

1. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE every family subscription. The wording has been 2008 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING corrected in the 2008 Audited Accounts. The Minutes were read. Dr Geh Min noted that the words with regards to Dr Vilma D’Rozario 3. PRESIDENT’S REPORT in the President’s Report “with whom Dr Geh Before starting his report, Dr Shawn Lum referred had started in the Society” should be amended to to the Bird Group’s book launch which had just read “who had revived and chaired the Education preceded the AGM. He congratulated Lim Kim Group when Dr Geh became President”. With Seng and Lim Kim Chuah on their authorship this amendment, Gan Cheong Weei proposed of the two new bird books, an achievement that that the Minutes be approved and Charles Letts made the Society proud. seconded the proposal. As President, Shawn’s report reflected the 2. MATTERS ARISING work of outgoing Executive Committee (Exco) Margie Hall noted that membership figures members, Co-opted members of Council as well which the Meeting had discussed during the as Subgroup and Committee chairs, all of whom Treasurer’s Report, based on the wording of the he introduced by name. They had inherited a Audited Accounts for 2007, had actually not been great deal from the good work of Dr Geh Min’s membership figures but annual subscription figures. eight year presidency. This inheritance comprised Actual membership had been higher, as it included strong working relationships with Ministries life members and a second non-voting member for and Statutory Boards, the proceeds of a major 11 NATURE NEWS JUL-AUG 2009 fundraising event in May 2008 and a Society with Executive Committee Goals: The 2008-2009 many knowledgeable, enthusiastic and committed Executive Committee had set itself specific goals. members. The key questions both then and now Shawn reviewed the extent of the achievement remain three-fold: (1) With nature conservation of these goals within seven broad categories: now a part of general policy in Singapore, does Communication, Planning, Fund Raising, Outreach, NSS need to re-examine its role in the nature Government Agencies, Local NGOs and Regional conservation movement? (2) With new modes & International NGOs. of sending out information and ideas, to what extent do we have to change the way we reach A. Communication: out? (3) How do NSS members and the nature 1. Within Exco and Council, the goal of steady conservation movement engage with each other, contact and discussion had been achieved the private sector and government agencies and through regular monthly combined Exco/ ministries? Council Meetings and frequent extra Exco meetings for specific discussions and decisions. Past Year’s Achievements: Summarising NSS We also have an active virtual communications past year’s achievements, Shawn cited: loop keeping all Exco/Council members 1. Fund-Raising: Three major fundraising involved and up to date. contributions had led to a substantial financial 2. With other NSS members, the goal was to surplus for the year. These were the CDL- give regular updates wherever possible and organised Green Heart Gala Dinner, donations establish sufficient avenues for feedback. from the Ministry of Environment and Water This had been partly achieved through the Resources book “Clean, Green and Blue”, President’s Chat session in November 2008, and proceeds from the National Environment as well as regular columns such as “Thoughts Agency CEO Semakau Run. from the NSS President” and “NSS Roundup” 2. Feedback to developers and authorities: In by the Honorary Secretary in our newsletter relation to the proposed Mandai Tourism “Nature News”. However, Shawn felt that there Development,the proposed coastal forest and could be more President’s Chat sessions and whaleshark aquarium at Resorts World Sentosa other avenues for keeping in touch. He also (RWS),and the Lorong Halus ponds, amongst wondered if there could possibly be more many others. In terms of RWS, significant frequent email updates to members. breakthroughs include a decision to move the 3. Outside of NSS, the goal was to keep the water-slide out of the coastal forest area, and Society engaged with journalists and other a commitment not to exhibit whalesharks at NGOs, as well as maintain both formal and RWS aquariums. informal links with policy and regulatory 3. Conservation Projects: The adoption of Kranji authorities. In terms of achievements, we have Reservoir with a focus on its marshes, the had periodic calls from journalists and there involvement in habitat restoration activities was a specific article on the Society in August at Ulu Pandan canal where Borneo Motors had 2008. Since NSS was still publicly represented donated $100,000 for habitat restoration within by our Immediate Past President Dr Geh, as the Southwest CDC One Million Trees Project, well as by present officers, in effect we have and soon-to-be-commenced restoration had greater public representation than before. activities at Ang Mo Kio Town Garden West. The Society was also heavily involved in the 4. Publications: The production of the “Singapore Marine Roundtable with other marine groups. Red Data Book”, the two new Bird Group Exco had hosted an informal discussion with books, and more books in the planning stage. NParks staff at the NSS Office in late 2008. In 5. Vibrant Subgroup Activities: The Horseshoe February 2009, an evening barbecue gathering Crab Rescue and Research Programme, our between Exco/Council members and members participation in the International Coastal of various green groups had taken place at Cleanup Singapore, (Marsh) Margie Hall’s house with no particular agenda walks and surveys, the Singapore Blue Plan, the but pure socializing. In general, our goals had active outreach work of the Butterfly Interest been achieved in this aspect. Group, the continued popularity of the BESG, amongst many other subgroup activities.

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B. Planning: NParks, PUB and other agencies had been 1. Here, the goal was to ensure that planning pursued through holding an informal gathering occurred at the Exco/Council level. To some for NParks senior conservation officers at the extent, we had achieved this with regular NSS office, and through close collaboration meetings as well as special meetings for specific with PUB officers at Kranji Marsh. purposes such as outreach and the Kranji Marsh project. F. Local NGOs: 2. With NSS members, the goal was to receive We had hoped that regular informal dialogues with feedback on proposals before finalizing plans. the local environmental NGO community could be This had been achieved with the President’s initiated and maintained. To this end, NSS worked Chat in November and the receiving of with SPCA and ACRES on the protest against feedback on staffing proposals. However, more whalesharks at Resorts World Sentosa; NSS also could still be done to seek feedback. held an informal gathering for the green NGO 3. The third goal was to involve the NSS Advisory community; and participated in Marine Roundtable Council wherever and whenever appropriate. III. However, in actual fact, there had been G. Regional & International NGOs: no communication with Advisory Council 1. MNS/NSS ties had been strengthened first by members all year. our legal advisor Vina visiting the MNS Office and then by a group visit comprising NSS Exco/ C. Fund Raising: Council and regular members to an MNS 1. The goal to put in place a mechanism for fund Council meeting followed by the Selangor raising had led to the identification of a need Branch Annual Dinner. This had resulted in an for dedicated fund raising staff and a systematic in principle agreement to work together on strategy. The process of hiring an Executive activities of mutual interest. It had been voiced Officer, with fund raising as one of his three that there could be interchangeability of MNS tasks, had been almost completed. and NSS memberships for purposes of access 2. The goal of setting fund raising targets had led to facilities or discounts on goods. to a close look at our expenses in order to 2. Within Singapore, links had been strengthened ascertain what level of funds would bring about with WWF, through working with WWF sustainability. Plans are needed to translate this Singapore Director Amy Ho on various events into action. and programmes. Our participation in Birdlife International continued in strong gear with Dr D. Outreach: Geh and Vina closely involved with them as well 1. The re-evaluation of outreach goals was the as with Burong Indonesia in relation to support target here, and the Exco is still in the process for the Harapan Project. of considering new activities for outreach to present to members for review. Overall, Shawn felt that, with just one exception, 2. The goal of planning at least one major all our goals had been addressed although perhaps outreach activity per year was achieved not to the level that had been hoped for. through our current work on developing at The year ahead: Plans for the year ahead were least three outreach activities: 1. Kranji Marsh, many. Staffing the NSS Secretariat was of high 2. Restoration activities with NParks at Ang Mo priority. To this end, the new Executive Officer Kio Town Garden West and 3. Teaching nature would begin work soon, and we also hope to observation skills in schools. have an additional staff member hired possibly for outreach work. Plans were afoot to put in place E. Government: a systematic blueprint for fund raising and to 1. The goal to maintain established ties with develop a membership drive. Exco would continue government agencies had been achieved to work on communication at all levels. Shawn was through NSS representation on the PUB Water cheered by the internet-based outreach activities Network and through regular consultations initiated by younger members such as Gloria and with NParks. Anuj with the Fun with Nature and Kranji Marsh 2. The aim of engaging in continued dialogue with blogs respectively, as well as the drive by longtime conservation and environment officers from members such as Gan Cheong Weei to expand and

13 NATURE NEWS JUL-AUG 2009 develop the NSS website. Exco intends to specify Tze Chien then presented the Subgroup and clear outreach priorities towards raising awareness Committee budgets and the overall Society for nature and nature conservation, both through budget for the financial year 2009. Budgeting the NSS website and through greater outreach to conservatively on income, the predictions for schools and community groups. There was a firm 2009 were for a deficit of over $112,031. To commitment to further strengthen collaboration explain this, he pointed out that we had not been with other groups, including government agencies, allowed by the auditors to make provisions for as well as local and international NGOs. project expenditures in 2009 against the large donations received in 2008. The deficit in 2009 Acknowledgements: Shawn thanked the Exco/ was a possibility as the Society, mainly through its Council, and other active members for their ideas Subgroups and Committees, would be spending on and energy in contributing to the Society’s work. various projects using the donations received in Although we had tried our best, he admitted 2008, but was unlikely to have the same very high that we could,of course,always do better. He donated income for 2009. particularly thanked outgoing Exco member Angie Ng for her strong contributions. Winnie Chan, referring to page 17 of the Financial Statements, noted that large amount of funds Dr Geh responded to the President’s address. were held as cash at the bank rather than in fixed She had no doubt, when she stepped down, deposits. She wondered if more could be placed that Shawn would do an excellent job. She was in fixed deposits. The treasurer replied that there thus very happy, not just from the point of view is not much difference in interest rates at the that Shawn had done great work, but for far moment. We had opened a DBS current account more than that. Shawn was a fresh leader and to facilitate the quick deposit of cash and cheques, he brought enormous enthusiasm to his role. As and our DBS account also had the advantage of Immediate Past President, she wished especially being interest paying. Joe Lim confirmed that he to congratulate him. She also made a correction had discussed this recently at the bank and that – whilst she appreciated the credit Shawn gave there was indeed little difference in interest rates to her for contacts made, she said that she had at the moment and thus no advantage in moving merely continued to maintain contacts developed our funds to fixed deposits. by Presidents before herself. Turning to the estimation of NSS receiving $100,000 in predicted donations for 2009, Winnie 4. TREASURER’S REPORT Chan wondered how accurate this might be. Our treasurer Soon Tze Chien presented the Tze Chien clarified that we already had $14,000 Audited Accounts (Financial Statements) which from a donor. We hope to again be recipients of had been produced for the financial and calendar funds raised at the CEO run this year, although year 2008 by our new auditors. These auditors, we cannot be sure. Winnie commented on the however, continued with the qualification (on page increases in employment costs and the Ubin three) which had been discussed at last year’s House rent. She asked if the five issues of our AGM. Tze Chien explained that this qualification magazine “Nature Watch” due to be produced is essentially technical, and is due to the fact that would be sponsored again by CDL. Margie Hall we only have one employee who both receives responded that we still had CDL funds for two and books cash. If we had more staff, we would be issues. A changeover of editors was on the cards, able to split the jobs of receiving and recording and as soon as this is done, and a schedule for cash in the accounts, which is what auditors prefer. 2009 issues outlined, she would be in touch with Tze Chien was happy to note that the accounts CDL. Given the amazing forbearance of CDL in showed a very large surplus of $373,723 for the the last two years over our delays in producing year 2008 compared to $76,814 for 2007. The “Nature Watch”, she did not feel that we should Society now has total assets of $1,488,817. Part presume their continued support in our budget. of our assets lay in the value of our property, but Nevertheless, Margie hoped that they would the rest is in cash amounting to $939,694. He continue to be generous. noted that as we now have Institution of Public Character (IPC) status, we would not have to pay The budgeted deficit of $112,000 was also income tax on the large surplus for 2008. commented on by Winnie. She queried on why there had been no provisions made in 2008 against 14 NATURE NEWS JUL-AUG 2009 projected expenditures in 2009, so that such Exco from drawing up a forward budget and then expenditures would not create possible deficits in fighting it out with the auditors. He suggested 2009. Tze Chien explained that the auditors had that internal resolutions could be passed to put strictly not allowed such provisions. Therefore we monies into various funds for different uses. If the were not able to make them, as we had similarly monies were needed later for general purposes, not been able to do so in the previous year. Margie then other resolutions could be passed to take confirmed this refusal by the auditors in both them out of the funds. He felt that the present years. Lee Chiu San suggested that the Society proposed budget deficit was not neat and tidy and should hang up its income in provisions before was effectively embarrassing. Margie responded the end of each year, and work with its auditors that there was nothing embarrassing in a situation to do so, so as to avoid tax. Joe Lim explained that had a simple explanation, whilst passing how in 2007, when Shell had donated $40,000 resolutions to move monies in and out of funds specifically for the “Red Data Book” towards was complicated and unnecessary. Shawn wound the end of the year, the auditors had refused to up the discussion with reference to the fact that allow it as a provision. Consequently, the Society he had already spoken to a few people about ended up paying tax as we were not a charity then. forming a Strategic Planning Committee and that Winnie considered that it might be a question of all the points just raised in the discussion were how our donors donated, whether for a specific good points that could be taken into account by project or not. She said that we should go back this Committee. to our donors and get them to write explicitly which projects the donations are for. Lee Chiu San Winnie Chan asked about the Plant Group’s suggested that it was a matter of getting invoices budget. It appeared that they intended to produce for our proposed expenditures so that we would a book without having acquired sponsorship for be able to make provisions and avoid tax. Joe Lim it. Shawn Lum replied that the publishers were of reminded all that as a charity, we no longer have the opinion that the book would break even over to pay tax. Winnie Chan commented that if the a two year period and that they were willing to Society did not have the expertise to deal with receive payment over time. Thus, there was no real these matters, we should look into getting some need for a sponsor. However, he said that the Plant help. Group is still open to offers of sponsorship for this book. Shawn raised the issue that locking money into specific projects such as Painted Wings, can create Winnie queried the Conservation Committee’s problems too. Dr Geh pointed out that the Society budget differences in Incoming Resources of does not always know how much it is going to $18,086 and Resources Expended of $28,255 in receive, and therefore cannot forsee what projects the table on page 21 of the Financial Statements. or expenditures a donation might cover, until Margie agreed that this table gave an erroneous the donation comes in. This was the case for the picture. She had wanted to annotate an CDL Gala Dinner donation. She said that it is best explanation, but it had been considered improper for us not to bring inconvenience to our donors to annotate the Financial Statements. She said that by going back to them and asking them to write this table referred to subgroup income from sales all sorts of specific intentions into the donation. of books and other items, as well as from fees These specifications would cut down flexibility for for courses, workshops, events etc. However, it the Society. She saw no advantage in being able did not include subgroup income from donations, to make these provisions, as we no longer have to which would be added in with other donations in pay tax as a charity anyway. the tables on page 5. It thus understated the Bird Group’s income by $24,000, the Conservation Winnie Chan said that it is up to Exco to work Committee’s income by $28,500 and the Education out how to use our donations and, if they are Group’s income by $9,000. Winnie suggested that large, to go back to our donors and thank them in future, the Exco should produce an explanatory for their donations towards specific projects, so cover sheet to go with the Financial Statements. that when the auditors come, the funds could be Winnie Chan asked about the difference between seen as tied to specific projects. Lee Chiu San, the Bird Group’s budget proposed last year, and accepting the point that the Society no longer the actual income and expenditure by the end paid tax, said that there was still nothing to stop 15 NATURE NEWS JUL-AUG 2009 of the year. Tze Chien produced the detailed list role - from 1991 to 2009 - making him the longest of the Bird Group’s expenditures for the year serving Chair. He had also substantially raised but could not immediately locate the budget the profile of the Society by chairing the Birdlife presented at last year’s AGM. Winnie, looking International Asia Council. When Shawn joined at the detailed list, queried if Willie Foo’s travel the Society in 1989, Kim Keang had been one of expenses to Taipei for the Bird Watching Fair had the people that he had looked up to. On behalf of been budgeted for. Margie recalled that, whether all Past Presidents, he wished to thank Kim Keang budgeted or not, it had been properly agreed and for his work in the Society and to say that it had minuted by the Exco, before the expenditure was been an honour working with him on Council. He made. As the previous year’s budgets were not suggested that, at a later date, perhaps this historic available, Margie said that from memory, there was moment could be celebrated with a picnic and probably less expenditure by the Bird Group than requested Willie Foo and Alan Owyong to help forecast, because the Avifauna book just produced organise this. in 2009 had been in the 2008 budget. She felt that most subgroups had likely budgeted for projects At the end of the Butterfly Interest Group that could not be completed by year end. Winnie (BIG) Report, Winnie Chan asked Gan Cheong suggested that at the end of the year, all budgets Weei if the proposed publication of a caterpillar made should be compared with actual income and guide or the collaboration with SingPost were expenditure. Shawn Lum considered that this was sponsored or would bring in funds. Gan replied straightforward enough and could be done. that the caterpillar guide would be paid for out of the Project Painted Wings funds, with further The acceptance of the overall Exco Report, from revenue generated from sales. He said that our the President and Treasurer, including the Financial collaboration with SingPost on butterfly stamps Statements/Audited Accounts was formally will achieve nature appreciation goals and there proposed by Evelyn Ng and seconded by Willie is a possibility of the NSS logo being displayed. Foo. Winnie suggested that BIG should push hard to ensure the display of the NSS logo and to consider 5. APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS charging for consultancy on these stamps. Once Leong Kwok Peng proposed that the Society the Executive Officer was in place, he could take reappoint Helmi Talib as Auditors and this was up the issue of consultancy charges. Alan Owyong seconded by Vinayagan Dharmarajah. agreed that the new Secretariat member could 6. SUB-GROUP AND COMMITTEE help in securing fair recompense for such services. He suggested a vending programme, using the REPORTS NSS logo to build a brand. Shawn noted that Gan Reports were made by Willie Foo for the Bird was already at the forefront of our initiatives for Group, Gan Cheong Weei for the Buttefly Interest NSS branding. He felt that, unfortunately, NSS Group, Dr Ho Hua Chew for the Conservation is expected to do things without charging, all Committee, Gloria Seow for the Education Group, for the greater good of nature. Once we have Leong Kwok Peng for the Marine Conservation an Executive Officer, NSS would be in a better Group, Rehan Yusoff for The Nature Ramblers and bargaining position. Gan also introduced his plans Dr Shawn Lum for the Plant Group. Gan Cheong for the NSS website, including the development of Weei also presented on behalf of the Vertebrate an integrated Forum to allow for data input and Study Group. These reports would be presented discussion on all aspects of nature. He would be separately. working with interested subgroups on this. At the end of the Bird Group Report, Shawn During the Conservation Committee Report welcomed Alan Owyong as its incoming Winnie Chan asked about the cost of the Chairperson. He commented that the Bird Group insurance policy which Dr Ho Hua Chew had would be running its 26th Bird Race in 2009, mentioned and whether the public walks charged which would probably make it Singapore’s longest- any fees to cover this cost. Margie Hall replied running annual nature-related event. This would be that the policy was a public liability insurance that a real achievement and highlight for the year. For would cover all NSS activities, not just the public much of the previous 25 years, Lim Kim Keang, the walks at Kranji, and would cost less than $1,000. outgoing Chairperson, had been in the leadership Shawn Lum commented that our legal adviser

16 NATURE NEWS JUL-AUG 2009 Vinayagan Dharmarajah had pursued the issues of nature cause. the insurance policy assiduously and had achieved a bargain result for us with a lot less ambiguities 7. ELECTION OF THE 2009-2010 than originally worded. He welcomed interest in EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (EXCO) AND the policy which anyone could look at. Winnie FINANCE COMMITTEE MEMBERS Chan asked if any of the walks were done on a There had been a single nomination for each of chargeable basis. Dr Ho replied that a lecturer the Executive Committee positions, and so the from a particular institution had requested walks following would make up the Exco: which had been charged. Margie Hall said that President: they were at the standard NSS charge of $200 Dr Shawn Lum (Proposed by Chua Leng Sim, for a group of 20 people. Ching Chabo was of seconded by Khoo Kim Choo). the opinion that we should not charge for public Vice President: walks as they are a valuable part of the Society’s Leong Kwok Peng (Proposed by Dr Ho Hua Chew, work. Shawn Lum said that all subgroups should seconded by Sutari bin Supari) consider conducting free walks for the public as Treasurer: part of our outreach programme. He hoped to call Soon Tze Chien (Proposed by Chua Leng Sim, for a meeting with the various subgroup chairs and seconded by Khoo Kim Choo) other interested members to discuss this matter Honorary Secretary: soon. Alan Owyong added that typically, after each Margie Hall (Proposed by Chua Leng Sim, public walk, one or two people would join the seconded by Khoo Kim Choo) Society. Committee Members: At the end of the Conservation Committee Goh Si Guim (Proposed by Dr Ho Hua Chew, Report, during which Dr Ho announced that he seconded by Sutari bin Supari) would be stepping down from the Chairperson Dr Ho Hua Chew (Proposed by Willie Foo Yin position, Winnie Chan suggested that Dr Ho Kok, seconded by Cyril Ng) should write a book of his memoirs. She felt that Dr Hsu Chia Chi (Proposed by by Willie Foo Yin the Society should sponsor this so as to have a Kok, seconded by Cyril Ng) record of the last 20 years in which Dr Ho had fought for the cause of nature conservation. Margie Hall clarified that the Proposed Revised Constitution (PRC) passed at an EGM in August Shawn Lum opened his eulogy to Dr Ho by 2007 was still with the Registrar of Societies. referring to a symposium in 1990, soon after Therefore, this AGM had to be held under the he had arrived in Singapore, on the topic of the “old” constitution. Tan Hang Chong, who had Society’s Masterplan for the Conservation of been formally proposed by Dr Ho Hua Chew and Nature in Singapore. The two speakers had been seconded by Sutari bin Supari for the Honorary Prof Leo Tan, who later became Shawn’s boss, Assistant Secretary position under the PRC and Dr Ho, who became his mentor in NSS. He would therefore be co-opted into the Council to noted that Dr Ho’s dedication had been such that, help the Honorary Secretary. Leong Kwok Peng originally trained in Philosophy, he had gone to then introduced Soo Choon Kiat to members as the UK to pursue two Masters Degrees in order someone prepared to be co-opted to help the to give himself technical skills in conservation Honorary Treasurer. matters. He could have continued comfortably as a Philosophy professor at NUS, but instead The two Finance Committee members proposed had devoted himself to the conservation cause. and seconded from the floor were Ching Chabo, Dr Ho had nurtured a great many of Singapore’s proposed by Willie Foo and seconded by Vinayagan young naturalists who were now making large Dharmarajah, and Evelyn Ng, proposed by Willie contributions to nature. He has shown amazing Foo and seconded by Lim Kim Keang. personal courage and dedication. Shawn had seen him in briefings with various government officials 8. ANY OTHER BUSINESS where he stood up to roomfuls of up to 20 Concerns with cyberspace. Alan Owyong people all trying to contradict his points. Shawn prefaced his remarks with reference to the recent Lum expressed enormous admiration for Dr Ho’s AWARE take-over saga and the cyber attacks on tenacity and his shining example of devotion to the proposed Nominated Members of Parliament.

17 NATURE NEWS JUL-AUG 2009

He requested Exco and Council to re-examine at Park Connectors. the function of blogs run by the Society, as any 9. CLOSING OF MEETING BY PRESIDENT comment on these blogs goes immediately into The Meeting ended at 5.50 pm with Dr Shawn the public domain, which the Society is unable to Lum thanking everyone for attending and helping review in advance. He felt that we should carefully to create a vibrant Society. consider the consequences of this now, as we do not want to wait for a war of words, like the Minutes recorded by Honorary Secretary Margie AWARE saga, or even a police case. Hall, and reviewed by President Dr Shawn Lum.

Nature Society Clubhouse Wong Yew Chuen referred to the Society Clubhouse, which he clarified as a reference to our office at Geylang Nature Society (Singapore) (The Sunflower). He said that the original idea had Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2008 been for it to be open to members with a roster of volunteers on duty. It had been intended as 2008 2007 a place where members could meet each other. $ $ However, the Geylang area was not so pleasant ASSETS Non-current assets anymore due to parking woes and other factors.

Wong Yew Chuan suggested that the Society Property, plant should tender for a low-cost piece of land on the and equipment 548,713 563,575 outskirts of Singapore to build a real clubhouse so as to revitalise itself. In response, the Exco Current assets revealed that in fact, at the insistence of Stephen Other receivables 410 130 Lau, we have been reviewing various options to Cash and cash equivalents 939,694 554,814 move our office away from Geylang. Margie Hall 940,104 554,944 noted that the Exco had intended to let members 1,488,817 1,118,519 at the AGM know that there would be a trial attempt at putting the office on the market just to see what price it might fetch. This will help in LIABILITIES decision making. However, members should not be Current liabilities alarmed as we have not made a decision yet to sell the Sunflower Office. Other payables 22,193 15,087 Tax payable ---- 7,103 Park Connectors Wong Yew Chuen also asked Liability arising about Park Connectors and their usefulness in from fund held in trust 30,796 30,544 nature conservation. Shawn Lum replied that 52,989 52,734 there was a study done on Park Connectors by Clive Briffett, Lily Kong and Navroj Sodhi which UNRESTRICTED FUND showed that for nature conservation, they were General fund 1,404,095 1,030,372 not very effective as corridors from one area to another although they supported localised species. RESTRICTED FUND However, these Park Connectors varied greatly in width and their possibilities for nature. At Project Painted present, the Conservation Committee is working Wings Fund 31,733 35,413 in partnership with the Southwest CDC on TOTAL FUNDS 1,435,828 1,065,785 habitat restoration along the Pandan Canal, a Park Connector site, and one which has a great deal TOTAL LIABILITIES AND FUNDS 1,488,817 1,118,519 of potential for wildlife. The Bird Group is also involved in some collaborations relating to birdlife

18 NATURE NEWS JUL-AUG 2009 AGM Subgroup Reports

organizers, helpers and volunteers for your hard work Bird Group and support in our various activities; our apologies By Willie Foo, Secretary for not being able to publish your names due to space constraints. Response from members and the general uring the year, the Bird Group continued to run public has been inspiring and we will continue to strive Dits regular activities including monthly bird trips in towards providing activities that are both enjoyable and Singapore or to Malaysia, informal bird talks, the 25th educational. Singapore Bird Race 2008, four bird censuses (Asian Waterbird Count, Annual Bird Census, Midyear Bird Census as well as the Fall and Migratory Bird Census) Butterfly Interest Group and the Asian Migratory Raptor Survey from October By Gan Cheong Weei, 2008 to March 2009. Chairperson

We supported conservation proposals at The Keppel he Butterfly Interest Group (BIG) had a watershed Club with a birdlife survey and with participation at the Tyear marked by two significant events: club’s Earth Day in November 2008. The Bird Group 1. BIG assisted and advised CAAS in a feasibility study also collaborated with the National Environment and was involved in the setup of the world’s first Agency (NEA) in organizing regular birding trips to airport butterfly garden at Changi Airport Terminal Pulau Semakau Landfill between September 2008 and 3, which opened on 28 August 2008. April 2009, and in supporting the NEA CEO Run in 2. BIG was invited to give a talk at the Asian November 2008. We conducted bird walks for the Lepidoptera Conservation Symposium held in public and NSS members at Kranji Marsh, an area Penang from 24 to 28 November 2008. adopted by the Society. We conducted six butterfly walks in the year under The Bird Group recently launched two publications, “The review: State of Singapore’s Wild Birds and Bird Habitats” and “The 1. 25 May 2008 - Butterfly Walk at MacRitchie Trail Avifauna of Singapore”. Upcoming activities include the 2. 14 September 2008 - Butterfly Walk at Upper publication of the book “The Birds of South Johor” and a Seletar Reservoir Waders Workshop to be conducted in the last quarter of 3. 18 October 2008 - Butterfly Walk at Bukit Timah 2009. Cycling Track 4. 16 May 2009 - Butterfly Walk at Changi Airport T3 On the international front, Willie Foo represented the Butterfly Garden Society at the Birdlife International World Conference 5. 17 May 2009 - Butterfly Walk at Alexandra Hospital from 22 to 27 September 2008 in Argentina and Butterfly Garden visited the Taipei International Birdwatching Fair at the 6. 24 May 2009 - Butterfly Walk at Changi Airport T3 invitation of the Wildbird Group of Taiwan from 8 to 9 Butterfly Garden November 2008. In January 2009, Gan Cheong Weei took over the The Bird Group has embarked on a new initiative called chairmanship of BIG, while Simon Chan became its Vice the “Green Birdwatching Series”. These birding trips Chairman. involve going as green as possible including taking public transport to a meeting point, using recyclable water BIG's programmes for 2009 include our regular bottles, utilising ‘green’ rechargeable batteries and so butterfly walks and a few other initiatives aimed at on. This series is a run up towards a possible Green engaging our members and the web community, as well Bird Race in October 2009. The website www.gothere. as providing resources to help our members identify sg is a convenient tool to find out how to go anywhere butterflies. Our plans include: in Singapore using public transport. • Conducting butterfly walks and talks, with at least three walks at Changi Airport Terminal 3 Butterfly The Bird Group is proud to introduce our new Garden. Chairperson Alan Owyong, a longtime member who • Enhancing our E-presence : takes over from Lim Kim Keang. The committee whole- o Redesigning the BIG website to align with the heartedly thanks Kim Keang for his long and dedicated look and feel of the NSS website. service and Alan for stepping up to the chairperson o Setting up a web forum as part of NSS's position. We would also like to thank trip leaders, event e-initiative to engage the internet generation

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and establish an online NSS community. various stakeholders (NParks and RMBR) in November o We have set up the BIG blog to facilitate the 2008. Our stand against the siting of the project at the sharing of knowledge and information. selected site was reiterated, and we again proposed o We have set up the 'Ask the Butterfly Guys' an alternative site at Lorong Asrama located at the segment on the BIG website which serves as a northern end of Mandai Road. The STB has responded channel to receive questions from the public. to our feedback and insisted that it will not budge • Producing 'A Field Guide to the Common from the original site. However some of our proposals Caterpillars of Singapore'. were accepted like the need to mark out all trees • Collaborating with SingPost to launch a series of 4 1-metre and above in girth at 1-metre above ground- stamps featuring the Butterflies of Singapore. level and to consider carefully the possibility of their • Collaborating with government agencies, NGOs preservation in the final plan. It has also assured us and private corporations to develop a Butterfly that it will focus on coming out with a plan for safe Trail. wildlife crossing along the Mandai Lake Road. Special thanks to Margie Hall and Leong Kwok Peng for their detailed feedback. Conservation Committee By Dr Ho Hua Chew, D) The Singapore Red Data Book (RDB) former Chairperson This book, a collaboration with NParks and NUS, sponsored by Shell, was launched at NUS on 29 A) URA Jurong Lake Master Plan November 2008 with Professor Tommy Koh as the report was submitted to the URA on 17 Guest-of-Honour. Among the VIPs present was Lee Tzu AOctober 2008 focusing on the birdlife of the Yang, Chairman of the Shell Companies in Singapore. area. In collaboration with birdwatchers and bird The launch was successful with a good turnout of over photographers (both members and non-members), 200 guests. Some follow-ups to this book include: a) 120 species of birds were recorded, both resident and A series of posters highlighting a selection from the migratory, amongst which were rarities and species various taxa: birds, mammals, snakes, frogs, fishes listed in “The Singapore Red Data Book” (2008) such etc, and b) A conference to disseminate a greater as the Crested Serpent Eagle, Crested Goshawk, Grey- awareness towards RDB wildlife and strategies for headed Fish eagle, Spotted Wood Owl, Great-billed their protection and long term survival. Special thanks Heron and Ruddy Kingfisher. The report identified eight to Angie Ng for helping to organize the launch. key birding sites and proposed that the lake’s shoreline should be kept marshy while the big open water area E) The Inter-Ministerial Committee Project on the northern end should not be dredged so as to on Sustainable Singapore preserve and attract more wetland species such as An 18-page feedback report on NSS’ views and herons, egrets and bitterns. The URA is studying our recommendations on this subject was submitted on 3 feedback and has yet to respond. April 2009 to the four ministers from MND, MEWR, MOT & MTI in charge of the Committee. Our report B) Kranji Reservoir (Marsh) Adoption focused mainly on green issues and the terrestrial The Adoption was launched on 22 November 2008 conservation domain, which were not getting adequate at the D’Kranji Farm Resort by PUB Assistant CEO coverage in the Committee’s draft plan. An expansion Chan Yoon Kum, attended by over 50 people from of this document into a book length report, similar to both PUB and NSS. An inaugural walk took place on 31 our 1990 “Master Plan for the Conservation of Nature January 2009, attended by PUB CEO Khoo Teng Chye in Singapore”, covering more issues and more nature and Director of the 3Ps Yap Kheng Guan. Subsequently, sites is being planned. Special thanks to Margie Hall nature walks were initiated for the public, corporate for providing invaluable and meticulous comments and bodies as well as for our members. Public response ideas. has been encouraging with three public walks and two corporate trips (SLA and LKY School of Public Policy) F) Horseshoe Crab Research & Rescue (HSC conducted so far. Each outing had an average of 25 R&R) participants. A Working Committee with an Advisory HSC R&R and Training & Accreditation Program (TAP) Panel has been formed to implement the Adoption activities were held almost monthly at the Mandai Programme spelt out earlier to PUB. mudflats with good response from members and volunteers from schools, organizations and the public. C) The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) To date we have about 40 Qualified HSC R&Rers Mandai Master Plan some of whom received their certificate, official cap A feedback report was submitted to STB, URA and and “Singapore Waters” book at a ceremony held NParks on 23 December 2008. This second report during NSS Get-Together on 1 Nov 2008. We are dealt with the Master Plan that STB had presented to proud of Lesley Cartwright-Taylor, who has been 20 NATURE NEWS JUL-AUG 2009 leading our research efforts, for receiving a MSc. a large flock of Lesser Whistling Ducks and a pair of (Distinction) for her dissertation from material from Cotton Pygmy Goose, both endangered species present this project. Our first island-wide HSC Population & at the Marsh. ENV then decided to fill up the two Distribution Survey, to establish an estimate of the marshy ponds on the grounds that they were breeding numbers and distribution of the 2 species of HSC in mosquitoes. Being apprised of the mosquito problem, Singapore, was held on 8 March 2009. This involved 110 we reasoned with ENV that since the reclaimed volunteers participating in search, rescue and quadrat land was not going to be developed in the long term search, where appropriate, for HSC and conducting a future, the ducks should be allowed to use the ponds questionnaire cum awareness exercise of professional until another nearby pond in a Public Park was made and recreational fisherman over 8 selected sites in suitable for them (NSS letter to ENV dated 20 May Singapore. 1992). Our request was denied and consequently, the site for the largest concentration of Lesser Whistling G) International Coastal Clean-up Ducks in Singapore became lost forever. Singapore 2008 Our 140 strong NSS ’08 contingent, including The second loss was at Senoko, another major site for volunteers from collaborating organizations and migratory shore and wetland birds similar to Sungei schools, participated in this annual event, which is part Buloh. A detailed Conservation Proposal was submitted of the world’s largest volunteer effort for the marine in 1990 to the relevant authorities. At first, the URA environment, with a clean-up of the beaches of Chek agreed to set aside 23 hectares for conservation. We Jawa, Pulau Ubin on 20 Sep 2008. In the 2 hours of then wrote in to MND to request for the management suitable tide conditions we collected, categorized and of this site (NSS letter dated 13 July 1992). MND recorded 150 bags of trash weighing 1,200 kg. replied to say that the site boundary was not fixed as yet, and that when done, they would revert to Summing Up: Conservation Efforts Since us. However, to our utter consternation, MND had the 1980s a change of heart, deciding instead to use the site I would like to announce that I am stepping down for 17,000 HDB flats. The then Minister for MND amicably as Chairman of the Conservation Committee. challenged the Society in Parliament to get 17,000 I have been at it for far too long. The new Exco is, signatures in order for him to retain the site for birds. at press time, still looking for my replacement and A signature campaign led by the Friends of Senoko to help them, I have recommended several names. It ensued, and 25,000 signatures subsequently collected. has been a great honour to carry out this voluntary Sad to say despite this effort, the government went work for almost two decades. I would like to take ahead with the HDB development and Senoko’s bird this opportunity to present a brief summing up of the sanctuary vanished quickly. Society’s conservation efforts since the late 1980s and the direction we should take for the future. Other Gains We also achieved several gains. These gains did not Past Achievements come overnight but were the result of prolonged I started off as the conservation coordinator for and sustained efforts advocating or contesting sites the NSS Bird Group. Sungei Buloh, a project of the for conservation. In two of these gains, namely Pulau NSS Bird Group, was a historic milestone success Ubin and Park, we played a pioneering in Singapore’s nature conservation history. This was contribution towards their conservation through our followed by the “Master Plan for the Conservation of cumulative campaign and efforts. Nature in Singapore” (1990). It was around this time that the Conservation Committee was formed with When the URA Master Plan came out in 1991, Pulau me as its Chairman or “coordinator”. Then in 1992, Ubin was earmarked for industrial and residential there was the thwarting of the Golf Course Project development with an MRT link. We submitted a detailed at Lower Peirce Forest, another great success for the Conservation Proposal (1992) followed by a Nature Society. I would like to thank the following people for Watch special issue on Ubin, and produced a Nature their great nature conservation efforts during these Guide to its birdlife. We also made our views known via difficult times: Andrew Tay, Clive Briffett, Evelyn Lim-Eng, the mass media. Thereafter, the island was designated Lim Kim Keang, Lim Kim Seng, Richard Hale, R Subaraj as a Nature Area in the first Singapore Green Plan and Sutari Supari. (SGP) in 1993. At a time when the island was almost an unknown entity in terms of its rich biodiversity, we had Past Losses contributed significantly in publicizing and raising its biodiversity profile. Subsequently, Mr Goh Chok Tong We had two big irreplaceable losses. The first was at visited Ubin and declared it an “Adventure Island”, and Marina South Marsh. A detailed Conservation Proposal NParks was assigned to manage a large part of it. was submitted to the relevant authority in 1991 to save

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As for the Kranji Marshes Park, a detailed Conservation Cartwright-Taylor, Lim Poh Bee, Alessandra Nardin, Proposal (1990) was submitted to MND highlighting Yap Von Bing, Marian Tay, Eric Gibert, Mark Goh, the little-known biodiversity at the marshes north and Serene Tang, Vicente Jr. Chua Reyes, Vina Dharmarajah, south of the BBC Station. These marshes were also Claire Oei, Jimmy Phoo, Julian Lee, Leow Yoonli, Engku designated as a Nature Area in the SGP in 1993. When Muhammad Iqbal B. Engku Ahmad, Ren Jianxin, Jing Lei, SAFRA was given the marsh north of the BBC Station Robina Ang, Roger Konopaseu, Xavier German, Lou to develop into a golf course, we contested this (2002) Sieu Tee, Almie Mazlan, Muhammad Haniff, Vanitha J, and raised the issue in the media. Although we failed to Steph, Zachary Gan, Julienne Kee, Mabel Choi, Angie stop the golf project, we did gain a wider marshy buffer Ng, Veron Goh, Cheryl Lao, Moira Khaw, Anne Chong for the affected area. In 2005, we scored a victory – the and Chiam Sher-Yi. URA designated the marshes south of the BBC Station as well as the remaining marshes north of it as the Last but not least, thanks to the following who helped “Kranji Marshes Park”. Its new “Nature Park” status out in the International Coastal Clean-Up 2008: Tan compared to its previous “Nature Area” tag highlighted Hang Chong, Yap Von Bing, Angie Ng, Lim Poh Bee, Goh the URA’s commitment to its long-term conservation. Si Guim, Anuj Jain, Anne Chong, Lena Chow, Jeannie Sim, We believe that it was due to our efforts, surveying Gloria Seow, KC Au Yeong, Sukyo Mahikari Singapore, the area’s birdlife and contesting the golf course Bedok View Sec. School, Singapore Expat Meet-up, Eco- project, that these marshes have been given the proper Singapore, CHIJ St. Nicholas Sec. School and Bloomberg recognition by the authorities. Singapore.

The Future Education Group Moving forward, we should focus on pushing for marine conservation of our coral reefs, of which 60% have By Gloria Seow, Chairperson been wiped out. The Blue Plan, the result of the efforts of various green groups, including NSS, is a big step Fun with Nature for NSS Kids forward. We should also continue our conservation We held seven Fun with Nature (FWN) sessions from thrust in the terrestrial front as there are many July 2008 to April 2009: important areas that need to be conserved before it 1. Fun with Horseshoe Crabs at Mandai Mudflats is too late, areas such as Lorong Halus, Khatib Bongsu 2. Fun with Beverage Plants at Jacob Ballas Children’s and the Mandai Mangrove and Mudflats. We still have Garden reason to cheer – a collaborative study by CRISP, NUS 3. Fun with Asian Elephants at Orchidville and NParks revealed that green areas now constitute 4. Fun with Kampong Games during the NSS Get- nearly 47% of Singapore’s total land area, an increase Together at MOE Dairy Farm Adventure Center of 10% from the 1980s. As such, the mantra of land 5. Perfect 10 Ramble at in scarcity should be taken with a pinch of salt, and we collaboration with The Nature Ramblers, filmed by should be more bold in advocating more nature areas Eco-Planet Internet TV for conservation. 6. Fun with Eagles at Telok Blangah Hill 7. Fun at Lower Pierce Reservoir with 12-yr old guide Acknowledgement Leshon Lee The Conservation Committee would like to thank the following people for their assistance in conducting its We enjoyed hearty participation from NSS kids as well various activities and/or contribution to the formulating as from children who were non-members. Attendance of its reports by way of providing information, feedback ranged from 10 to 40 kids per session. Parents and and general comments, as well as by offering stimulating younger siblings typically joined in as well, effectively suggestions during meetings: Alan Owyong, Alfred Chia, doubling or tripling attendance levels. However, Angie Ng, C. H. Diong, Cheong Loong Fah, C Kim, Cyril fees of $5 (member) and $10 (non-member) per Phang, Cyril Ng, David Li, Ellen Tan, Gan Cheong Weei, participant were only collected from children between G Sreedharan, Gloria Seow, Goh Si Gium, Hsu Chia Chi, 4 to 12 years old. In short, FWN encourages family Joseph Lim, K P Teh, Leong Kwok Peng, Lim Kim Chuah, participation in nature programmes tailored to a child’s Lim Kim Seng, Lim Tian Soo, Margie Hall, Michelle Sim, learning pace. Stephen Lau, Sutari Supari, Tay Kheng Soon, Timothy Pwee, Tsang Kwok Choong, Shawn Lum, Simon Chan, We would like to say a big thank you to the following Vina Dharmarajah, Willie Foo, Wing Chong, Yap Von Bing FWN helpers: Timothy Pwee, Goh Si Guim, Lim Poh and Yeo Suay Hwee. Bee, Dr Hsu Chia Chi, Angie Ng, Ng Bee Choo, Lim Jin Pyn, Tan Geok Choo, Benjamin Ho, KC Tsang, Amy We also thank the following participants in the Tsang, Leshon Lee, Tan Hang Chong, Lena Chow, Horseshoe Crab Research & Rescue Project: Lesley Vinayagan Dharmarajah and Prithiba.

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Fun with Nature Blog plants. This extended Code will also provide the We started the FWN blog http://funwithnature. scientific rationale behind targeted etiquette standards. blogspot.com/ at the beginning of May 2009, with NSS will produce a draft Code, which will be circulated the horseshoe crab outing kicking off the slew of amongst all groups concerned for their comments. We postings. We have encouraged kids to write about hope to launch the finalized Code by end 2009. their experience at FWN sessions, but to date, only two have submitted their entries and photos. All other Equipment Enhancements postings were written by Gloria and various guides. We have purchased 42 pairs of Opticron 8x25 The blog is also used as a platform to advertise our binoculars using HSBC funds. These compact binoculars upcoming sessions, which has resulted in increased fit nicely into the small hands of children and their participation from members of the public. relatively good optics have greatly enhanced nature appreciation. We typically loan these out for free Fun with Nature for Schools during FWN sessions. In the same vein, we purchased This HSBC-sponsored initiative had just five schools an Opticron Mighty Midget Scope and a Manfrotto taking up the FWN for Schools package this year. tripod using the donated proceeds from the book ‘A HSBC subsidizes the fees for the three activities in this Passion for Birds’ by the late Ong Kiem Sian. This high- package, namely a two-week long Singapore Amazing magnification scope enables even tiny tots who have Wildlife mobile exhibition, an assembly talk of the same difficulty using the binoculars to enjoy close-up wildlife topic, and a nature workshop for a class of 40 children. views. Participating schools this year were Woodlands Ring Primary School, Northland Primary School, Upcoming Projects: Birdwatching Workshop Compassvale Primary School, Fengshan Primary School for Kids and Catholic High School. This workshop aims to impart birdwatching skills to kids age 7 to 12 years old and their parents. It is Revamp of Fun with Nature for Schools scheduled for the Nov/Dec 2009 school holidays over The Education Group has plans to modify FWN for two Saturday mornings for 3 hours each time. Possible Schools, subject to HSBC approval. The remaining venues: SBWR classrooms and wetlands, as well as HSBC funds of $44,131.20 as of 30 April 2009 would Kranji Marsh. be used, not for providing nature exhibitions, talks and workshops to just a few schools, but instead to Upcoming Projects: Bird Card Game develop a computer-based tutorial, distributed free We are currently producing the Bird Card Game, to all primary schools, to educate Primary 5 pupils similar to games marketed under the 'Top Trumps' on Singapore’s native birdlife and to encourage them brand, where players compare statistics/scores of to begin monitoring the birdlife around their schools. various parameters to win. Each pack will feature This tutorial can be reused yearly for new Primary 5 36 local birds, with statistics such as their size, beak cohorts and we believe that such reusable educational length, weight, number counted during local census (an resources are a more effective use of funds. The HSBC indication of their rarity) and the risk of habitat loss budget would also be channeled towards conducting printed on each card, together with bird photographs related teacher training as well as for inter-school and fun facts. We hope to launch this game costing quizzes and prizes. $9.90 each at the birdwatching workshop. We hope to stimulate interest in local birds and an awareness of the Developing a Code of Ethics for Nature importance of habitat conservation through this game. Appreciation & Photography The Education Group, together with NSS legal advisor Marine Conservation Group Vinayagan Dharmarajah, has begun discussions with various local nature appreciation and photography By Edzra Iskandar, Chairperson clubs and forums to develop a Code of Ethics for and Leong Kwok Peng, former Singapore that all groups can endorse and subsequently Chairperson encourage their members to follow. The Code will spell out the dos and don’ts of observing and photographing A younger new guard took over the Marine wildlife, and the rationale behind these nature etiquette Conservation Group (MCG) from January 2009 with standards. The meeting agreed that we should, in Edzra Iskandar as Chairperson, Kua Kay Yaw as Vice effect, have two Codes: 1) A general Code that is kept Chair, Ivan Choong as Secretary and Lim Chin Kheng short, dealing with general nature etiquette, and 2) as Treasurer. An extended Code that delves into the specifics of observing and photographing different wildlife namely The International Year of the Reef (IYOR) was launched birds, insects, butterflies, marine life, vertebrates and in August 2008 and this saw the coming together of 23 NATURE NEWS JUL-AUG 2009 various NGOs, individuals and organizations concerned summary of our walks are listed below: about marine conservation in Singapore. Participating NGOs included NSS, WWF Singapore, Planetary 1. Ubin Ramble on 29 Jun 2008 led by Dr Ho Hua Coral Reef Foundation and Singapore Environment Chew, 8 km / 4.5 hrs, 43 participants. Council, while participating organizations included 2. Rifle Range to Zhenghua Park Ramble on 20 Raffles Marina, Republic of Singapore Yacht Club and Jul 2008 led by Rehan Yusof, 8 km / 4.5 hrs, 45 Underwater World Sentosa. IYOR was chaired by participants. Francis Lee. 3. to Kent Ridge Ramble on 2 Aug 2008 A sum of $5,000 was donated to IYOR by TMX, led by Ben Ho, 9 km / 4 hrs, 40 participants. organiser of Asian Diving Expo (ADEX) 2008. Another 4. Kranji Twilight Ramble on 27 Sep 2008 led by Sutari, sum of over $1,000 was raised by Ria Tan from the 8 km / 4 hrs, 39 participants. Star of Cyrene project. Both sums are currently held in 5. Dairy Farm to Upper Seletar Ramble on 19 Oct trust by NSS. 2008 led by Ho Wah Loong, 8 km / 5 hrs, 30 participants. Several IYOR roadshows were held at various locations. 6. NSS Kids Perfect 10 Admiralty Park Ramble with An ambitious project championed by IYOR was the the Education Group on 22 Nov 2008 led by Ben Singapore Blue Plan 2009, a proposal by civil society for Ho, Gloria Seow and Timothy Pwee, 7 km / 3 hrs, an integrated and balanced conservation of Singapore’s 20 participants. Marine Heritage. This Blue Plan was launched in April 7. Nature Ramblers Year-end Get-Together at Batu 2009 as part of the opening of ADEX and BoatAsia Pahat, Mt Ophir from 27 to 28 Dec 2008 led by 2009. Sutari, 18 participants. 8. Venus Drive to MacRitchie Ramble on 18 Jan 2009 The Singapore Blue Plan 2009 contained three main led by Rehan, 8 km / 4.5 hrs, 27 participants. recommendations: 9. Mount Faber to Kent Ridge Ramble on 22 Feb • An overall conservation strategy that aims to 2009, led by Ho Wah Leong, 9 km / 4.5 hrs, 27 conserve the most representative of our natural participants. coastal and marine ecosystems. 10. Ulu Pandan Ramble on Apr 09, led by Ben Ho, 7 km • That the Government, working together with / 4 hrs, 26 participants. civil and research institutions, can establish comprehensive and integrated policies for A change of chairperson is on the cards this year, and mitigation of reclamation and development works. we continue to welcome new trip leaders. • To establish “Marine Biodiversity Areas”.

Over the year, we conducted talks at schools on the Plant Group topic ‘Singapore Waters’. MCG also held closed door By Dr Shawn Lum, meetings with the Maritime and Port Authority of former Chairperson Singapore with regards to the Pasir Panjang phase 3 and 4 developments, as well as talks with Resorts he Plant Group recently celebrated our 10th World to protest the keeping of whale sharks in their birthday with healthy numbers of regular and oceanarium. T new participants at our walks and a fabulous group of volunteers. Activities this year include regular walks, Future activities planned include scuba diving courses and a plant identification course running over four and diving trips to Malaysia and even Christmas Island. weeks from February to March 2009. Achievements Underwater photography is a growing hobby and we this year include the setting up of a website to monitor might conduct courses on this. We will also continue flowering phenology and successful negotiations with conducting inter-tidal walks for schools. NParks for a restoration study area at Ang Mo Kio Town Garden Park. The Nature Ramblers By Rehan Yusof, Chairperson Plans for the coming year include two publications, one on plant identification and another on spice plants; and The Nature Ramblers led an average of one nature for restoration activities at Ang Mo Kio to get into full ramble almost every month last year. A new initiative swing. We also hope to play a greater role in outreach was the Fun with Nature Kids’ ramble at Admiralty – getting people to observe, appreciate and care for Park, a joint activity with the Education Group. We plants and their habitats. were joined by a group of passing Danish Ramblers for the Mount Faber to Kent Ridge walk in February. A To sum up the ten years of our existence, we have conducted more than one hundred walks in all, several

24 NATURE NEWS JUL-AUG 2009 plant appreciation and identification courses, heritage In the course of his 6-month survey, Marcus recorded tree bus tours, a Plant Day, cooking demonstrations, about 100 Greater Mousedeer sightings in all. a Hopea sangal symposium; setup booths at various events and exhibitions, as well as established the Plant The Bird Ecology Study Group's report was not made in the Appreciation Group’s email loop. I am happy to step AGM, but only for "Nature News". down and hand the future into the hands of Angie Ng, Bird Ecology Study Group whom I’m sure will bring much more to the group. By Richard Hale, R Subaraj I would like to thank the following for their help in the and Dr Wee Yeow Chin past years: Angie Ng, Tan Foong Heng, Tan Beng Chiak, Tan Geok Choo, Tan Kok Wai, Yap Von Bing, Yap May Li, ird Ecology Study Group’s (BESG) aim has Yap Kim Fatt, Ed Lim, Juggi Ramakrishnan, Goh Si Guim, Balways been to introduce more science back Vilma D’Rozario, Evelyn Tan and Joseph Lai. to birdwatching. Our weblog at http://besgroup. talfrynature.com/ has been a major tool in making nature enthusiasts in general, and birdwatchers in Vertebrate Study Group particular, aware of the need to observe bird behaviour By Celine Low, Secretary in the field.

Funds In this regard, we have been hugely successful with The Vertebrate Study Group (VSG) has sold 486 copies hits currently reaching beyond 800,000 after only of our book “Wild Animals of Singapore” to date, since about four years. This works out to more than twice its launch in March 2008. Total income from book sales the number of readers who visited the site this year amounted to $11,700 while expenses incurred during compared to the same period last year. Our postings its launch came up to $1,109. have similarly increased, with over 1,200 entries this year alone, a rise of nearly 500 postings from last VSG purchased a harp trap from Vision Scientific for year. As before, most of our contributors are bird $1,805. Our accumulated funds as at 30 April 2009 photographers who are currently leading the field in stand at $15,772.41. sightings and behavioural observations

Rediscovery of the Greater Mousedeer in BESG is fast becoming an international phenomenon. Currently, visitors to our site come from more than Pulau Ubin 150 countries worldwide. Although Singaporeans A few VSG members namely Vilma D’Rozario, Chan make up 40% of visitor numbers, readership from Kwok Wai and Celine Low assisted in the Ubin Mammal the US, UK, Australia and Malaysia are at a high 37%. Survey conducted by NUS student Marcus Chua for his Our contributors are similarly coming from outside honours project. This night survey ran from September Singapore, mainly from Malaysia and a few from further 2008 to March 2009. On 22 November 2008, Marcus, afield. Obviously, there is an urgent need for regional Vilma, Celine and Andrew Tay had their first sighting of information on bird behaviour. a mousedeer on Pulau Ubin. This was a significant find as mousedeer were previously thought to be extinct Based on documentation by Nature Blog Network, on the island. This also became the first confirmed BESG hovers around the 30th most popular of the 926 mousedeer sighting with photographic evidence. nature blogs from around the world. And of the 241 However, we could not give a definite identification bird blogs worldwide, BESG has been on the top four as to the exact mousedeer species (either Greater or list for some time now. Lesser Mousedeer) as photos taken were too dark and somewhat blocked by vegetation. The spin-off from our contributors has been very satisfying. For the year under review, we managed to In a subsequent survey on 17 December 2008, publish a total of 19 papers on bird behaviour in mainly photographs snapped of the Ubin mousedeer were peer-reviewed scientific journals. Indeed, our website clear enough to identify it positively as the Greater has become a major database on the behaviour of Mousedeer (Tragulus napu). This was a tremendously local/regional birds. By making available all our data exciting occasion as the last record of the Greater in the public domain, we are actively contributing to Mousedeer in Singapore was in the 1920s. All sightings ornithology. We list below the scientific publications for of mousedeer on the mainland had thus far been that the year under review: of the Lesser Mousedeer (Tragulus kanchil). 1. Wee, Y.C., K. C. Tsang, M. Chan, Y. M. Chan & Angie Ng, This momentous rediscovery was reported in the 2008. Oriental Pied Hornbill: two recent failed nesting Straits Times and Lianhe Wanbao on 26 March 2009. attempts on mainland Singapore. BirdingASIA 9:72-77.

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2. Wee, Y.C., 2008. Anting in Singapore birds. Nature in Singapore, 1:23-25. Announcements 3. Chan, Y. M., M. Chan & Y. C. Wee, 2008. Aberrant NSS Welcomes Tax-Exempt Donations behaviour of a female Great Hornbill and a female Rhinoceros Hornbill. Nature in Singapore 1:31-34. If you believe in the importance of nature appreciation 4. Wee, Y.C. & R. Hale, 2008. The Nature Society (Singapore) and conservation in Singapore, help us keep our work and the struggle to conserve Singapore’s nature areas. going with a donation to NSS. All donations are tax- Nature in Singapore 1: 41-49. exempt. Please make out your cheques to “Nature 5. Cheah, J. W. K. & A. Ng, 2008. Breeding ecology of the Society (Singapore)”. For individual donors, do write little tern, Sterna albifrons Pallas, 1764 in Singapore. your full name, contact number and NRIC/FIN number Nature in Singapore. 1: 69-73. at the back of your cheque. Giving us your NRIC/ 6. Wee, Y. C. & L. K. Wang, 2008. Breeding behaviour of the FIN means that tax deduction claims are automatically zebra dove, Geopelia striata (Linnaeus, 1766). Nature in Singapore 1: 75-80. reflected in your tax assessment. We look forward to 7. Wee, Y. C. & K. C. Tsang, 2008. The changing face of birding your financial support! in Singapore. Nature in Singapore 1: 97-102. Wanted: Volunteer NSS Webmaster 8. Wee, Y. C. & A. Ng, 2008. Life history of the painted We are looking for a volunteer webmaster to maintain jezebel, Delias hyparete Linnaeus, 1758 (Order Lepidoptera). Nature in Singapore 1: 103-108. and update the NSS website and forums, and be 9. Deng, S. H., T. K. Lee & Y. C. Wee, 2008. Black-naped terns involved in the exciting changes planned for it. If (Sterna sumatrana Raffles, 1822) mobbing a grey interested, please email Gan at [email protected]. heron (Ardea cinerea Linnaeus, 1758). Nature in Wanted: Volunteer Library Assistants Singapore 1: 117-127. NSS needs several volunteer library assistants to help 10. Tsang, K. C., L. K. Wang & Y. C. Wee, 2008. The olive- backed sunbird, Cinnyris jugularis Linnaeus, 1766 and our librarian classify and label our numerous nature its pectoral tufts. Nature in Singapore 1: 207-210. books by topic, and administer to the borrowing and 11. Lok, A. F. S. L. & R. Subaraj, 2008. Porphyrio porphyrio returning of books. If you can help, please contact Joe viridis Begbie, 1834 (Purple swamphen), gem of at Tel: 6741-2036. Singapore’s marshes. Nature in Singapore 1: 219-224. Wanted: Volunteers to Help at NSS Booths 12. Wee, Y. C. & R. Subaraj, 2009. Citizen science and the gathering of ornithological data in Singapore. Nature NSS increasingly receives requests to set-up our in Singapore 2: 27-30. booth at various nature and environmental events in 13. Lok, A. F. S. L., B. S. Tey & R. Subaraj, 2009. Barbets Singapore. These exhibitions happen on an ad-hoc basis. of Singapore Part 1: Megalaima lineata hodgsoni Typically, we need people to help set-up the booth, as Bonaparte, the lineated barbet, Singapore’s only exotic well as be there helping to sell NSS merchandise and species. Nature in Singapore 2: 39-45. to interest the public in becoming NSS members. If you 14. Wang, L. K., M. Chan, Y. M. Chan, G. C. Tan & Y. C. can help, please volunteer yourself by emailing Joe at Wee, 2009. Pellet casting by non-raptorial birds of [email protected]. We will keep you informed via email of Singapore. Nature in Singapore 2: 97-106. upcoming exhibitions that will have a NSS booth, to see 15. Subaraj, R. & A. F. S. L. Lok, 2009. Status of the Lesser Adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus) in Singapore. Nature if you are available to volunteer. in Singapore 2: 107-113. New Members: Do Join Us in Our Various 16. Lok, A. F. S. L. & R. Subaraj, 2009. Lapwings (Charadriidae: Subgroup Activities Vanellinae) of Singapore. Nature in Singapore 2: 125- New Members, and indeed all members, are welcome 134. to join any of our listed activities, no matter which 17. Lok, A. F. S. L., K. T. N. Khor, K. C. Lim & R. Subaraj, 2009. Pittas (Pittidae) of Singapore. Nature in Singapore 2: subgroup, project or person is the organizer. Most 155-165. activities do not require prior registration – simply 18. Tsang, K. C., R. Subaraj & Y. C. Wee. 2009. The role of turn up at the appointed place and time. Don’t be the camera in birdwatching in Singapore. Nature in nervous about your lack of nature knowledge as we Singapore 2: 183-191. are all there to learn from each other. Just let your trip 19. Wee, Y. C. & L. K. Wang, 2009. Observations on the in- leader(s) know if you are “new” and they will gladly captivity development of a rescued chick of the guide you. Some subgroups have email forums, their striated heron, Butorides striatus (Linnaeus). Nature own websites or blogs, where there is sharing of up- in Singapore 2: 193-202. to-date sightings and postings. Check these out on Acknowledgements the NSS website which collates the various subgroup We thank Jacqueline Lau who continues to host links etc. Subgroups do not have clear boundaries as BESG’s weblog and all bird photographers who have to who is or is not a subgroup member. Each arose generously allowed us to make use of their images and when individuals with similar interests got together to observations. We also thank all supporters, members propose to Exco to form a new subgroup. Subgroups of NSS as well as non-members who have contributed have their own committees with chairpersons who to the success of our website in terms of leads, represent them on the NSS Council. observations and images. 26 NATURE NEWS JUL-AUG 2009 Announcements NSS DIRECTORY Patron Report Your Recent Wildlife Sightings! PROF TOMMY KOH The following sub-groups and organisations would love President to know what uncommon local wildlife (dead or alive) DR SHAWN LUM – Office: 6790-3835 you saw recently, as this would help them understand Vice President what and where animals are found in Singapore, and MR LEONG KWOK PENG – Mobile: 9766-7047 determines the habitats that need conservation. Do Treasurer include these information in your email: Observer(s) MR SOON TZE CHIEN name, species, size & length of animal(s) seen, date, time, Honorary Secretary location, behaviour, habitat and photograph(s) if any. MS MARGIE HALL – Mobile: 9730-5562 These groups are: Executive Committee Members MR GOH SI GUIM, DR HO HUA CHEW, DR HSU CHIA CHI 1. Vertebrate Study Group – Email sightings of unusual Finance Committee Members vertebrates (mammals, reptiles, amphibians and MS CHING CHABO, MS EVELYN NG freshwater fishes) to [email protected]. Immediate Past President 2. Horseshoe Crab Rescue & Research Team (HSC DR GEH MIN R&R) – Email sightings of both Mangrove and Coastal Co-opted Council Members Horseshoe Crabs (cross-section of tail is round for ASSOC PROF PN AVADHANI, MR STEPHEN LAU, MR TAN HANG CHONG (ASST SECRETARY), Mangrove HSC and triangular for Coastal HSC) to hsu_ MR SOO CHOON KIAT (ASST TREASURER) [email protected]. Do include additional details Honorary Legal Advisor like tide levels (low, mid or high), numbers seen, and MR VINAYAGAN DHARMARAJAH HSC size (width at widest part of carapace in cm). NSS Advisory Council Members 3. Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research (RMBR) – MR IAIN EWING, MR WARREN KHOO PROF KOH KHENG LIAN, MR KWEK LENG JOO, Roadkills of snakes, birds and other animal specimens MR LIM JIM KHOON, MR LIU THAI KER, are welcome. Please inform RMBR by filling out a PROF NG SOON CHYE, MR SIM WONG HOO, Roadkill Report Form at http://rmbr.nus.edu.sg/contact/ MR MASON TAN, MR RICHARD HALE roadkillreportform.php. If you are brave enough, help Birdlife International Coordinator RMBR collect the dead specimen by sealing it in a MR WILLIE FOO – Mobile: 9675-1089 plastic bag, freezing it, and dropping it off at its NUS NSS SUBGROUPS (in alphabetical order) facility. However, please understand that RMBR reserves Bird Ecology Study Group the right to decline your specimen with regrets due to Chairperson DR WEE YEOW CHIN Home: 6466-0736 space and manpower constraints. Bird Group Chairperson MR ALAN OWYONG Upcoming Green Birdwatching Trips Secretary MR WILLIE FOO Mobile: 9675-1089 The Bird Group is contemplating running a Green Bird Butterfly Interest Group Race this year. In line with this, we will conduct several Chairperson MR GAN CHEONG WEEI Green Bird Watching Trips from May 2009. Participants Vice Chairperson MR SIMON CHAN are encouraged to Go Green in these outings. Take Conservation Committee Chairperson public transport, use reusable water bottles, utilise Education Group ‘Green’ batteries and more! Do join us in our upcoming Chairperson MS GLORIA SEOW Green Birdwatching Trips, see Activities list for more Marine Conservation Group details. Chairperson MR EDZRA ISKANDAR Wanted: Used Stamps for the NSS Stamp Fund Plant Group Chairperson MS CHUA LENG SIM (ANGIE NG) The Stamp Fund is boosted by members and friends The Nature Ramblers who collect and send us used postage stamps that are Chairperson MR REHAN YUSOF Mobile: 9674-8283 then sold to an overseas collector once or twice a Vertebrate Study Group year. There is no need to soak and separate the stamps Chairperson MR R SUBARAJ Mobile: 9650-5183 from the envelopes, simply cut the stamps off without Secretary MS CELINE LOW Mobile: 9693-2554 damaging them. Keep sending your stamps to the Nature News Editorial Committee NSS office in an envelope marked “Stamp Fund”! Our MS GLORIA SEOW - [email protected] MR TIMOTHY PWEE - Mobile: 9791-8300 grateful thanks to everyone who has contributed. The MR GOH SI GUIM - Mobile: 9758-9125 Stamp Fund now stands at $15,535.01. Executive Officer Contributions for Nature News MR JUSTIN WONG - Tel: 6741-2036 Please send in your contributions for the Sep/Oct 2009 Accounts & Membership Officer issue by 5 Aug 2009. Email them to gloria_seow@ MR JOSEPH LIM - Tel: 6741-2036 yahoo.com. All emailed photos should be of an original NSS SECRETARIAT minimum size of 1 MB. The Editorial Committee 510 Geylang Road #02-05 The Sunflower Singapore 389466 reserves the right to select and edit appropriate Tel: 6741-2036 Fax: 6741-0871 Email: [email protected] contributions for use. 27 NATURE NEWS JUL-AUG 2009

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