BOTANIC GARDENS LIBRARY SL~GAPORE The history of the Singapore National Parks Board will certainly 25 MAR 1997 Botanic Gardens spans nearly a thrive. Achievement of its mission to century and a half, and has been well make "our nation our garden" will be documented in the books facilitated by the loosening of "Singapore Green" and "Visions constraints that hampered the of Delight" by former staff Bonnie former government department. Tinsley. We now need new editions to these books, as the Gardens In the re-constituted National enters a new chapter in its history. Parks Board, the Singapore Botanic Gardens will retain its divisional In 1973, the Singapore Botanic status under the new Director, Dr. Gardens merged with the Parks and Chin See Chung. Its role and status Trees Branch of the Public Works will be underlined as the flagship of Department to form the Parks and the nation's fl eet of parks and ~ sage Recreation Division of that gardens. The Gardens will serve as department. The title of Director of the nerve centre for advancing the the Singapore Botanic Gardens was recreation, research, conservation from re-designated as "Deputy and education programmes of the Commissioner of the Parks and Board when the new headquarters of the Recreation Division". In 1976, the the National Parks Board move to Parks and Recreation Division was the Gateway core of the Gardens. accorded departmental status. By Increasingly, the Singapore Botanic CEO ... the early 1980 s, many of the Gardens will play a key part in functions of the Gardens had been defining the role and identity of new given over to different branches in generation botanic gardens. Its the Parks and Recreation unique value as an equatorial botanic Department, and the Gardens was and horticultural institution cannot reduced in status to that of a branch be understated at a time when global in the Research and Development biodiversity is under siege. The Division. directions and management C 0 N T E N T S initiatives developed at the Gardens Message from the CEO 2 The parent ministry of the can have a significant impact in the Parks and Recreation Department, region and beyond. These are From the Director 3 the Ministry for National exciting times for the The Role of Singapore Botanic Development, formed the National Botanic Garden:;; . · Gardens in a City Economy 4 Parks Board in 1990. The functions ''.""~r-·•:1'<~ of the Research and Development Mrican Yam 5 Division of the Parks and Recreation Pollination Mechanisms of Department were subsumed under Orchids 6 this Board, along with the administration and development of The Aroid House 8 the nature reserves and Fort Bromeliads 10 Canning Park. The original role and Annuals in Your Garden 14 functions of the Singapore Botanic Gardens were restored under the Jewels of the Water 15 Executive Director of the Board. Front Cover illustration: Mr Maulud bin Elin Holding In the six years since its A 16 KgDioscorea Tuber formation, the National Parks Board forged a strong identity with its fresh initiatives and management programmes. The Singapore Botanic Gardens drafted a new Masterplan to take it into the 21st century as a N~PARKS leading institution for tropical botany and horticulture. Implementation is Editors: Chin See Chung now under full steam. In July 1996, Foong Thai Wu the parent ministry decided to merge the Parks and Recreation Designer: Department with the National Parks Eng Siak Loy Board, with the former Executive Production Manager: Director at the helm as the Chief WongWeiHar Executive Officer. Given the synergy of the merger, the increase in critical NATIONAL PARKS BOARD Singapore Botanic Gardens mass, resources and expanded Cluny Road, Singapore 259569 portfolio, the newly re-constituted 2 We proudly present this flrst education. We will contribute issue of Gardenwise of the post towards ex-situ conservation to the merger period. It represents a From extent that our limited land tangible expression of the resources will permit, and we will commitment and effort of the the propagate and make available in Gardens' staff as they rally and large numbers, selected rare and adjust to the organisational changes. endangered species to relieve the Director... pressure on the wild. The Singapore Botanic areas for rest where food and Gardens enters its 138th year with beverages are served and an internal In formal horticultural the confidence, courage and transport system, it is anticipated education we aim to be a regional creativity to meet the new challenges that visits will also lengthen. centre offering quality teaching and ahead as Singapore's premier park Needless to say the quality of our training to meet increasing demands and as an institution of international horticultural displays and landscapes for practitioners in this fi eld. To help standing. must match that of the facilities fulfil our roles and responsibilities in planned. nurturing interests in recreational Today's botanic institutions horticulture, developing nature must not only be repositories of To lay flrm claim as a leading awareness and appreciation, our botanic collections and sanctuaries tropical botanic garden we will need activities in public education will be for botanic and horticultural to recapture the role of the expanded. research, but they must also be Singapore Botanic Gardens as a resources for recreation and centre of excellence for botanical Gardenwise is a supporting education. The Singapore Botanic and horticultural research and vehicle for education. It is also an Gardens, in particular, must embody publication. Tropical horticulture outlet for our staff to communicate these multiple roles because land is and botany, in particular the their horticultural and botanical such a scarce resource. The taxonomy, breeding and micro experiences in the less esoteric Masterplan that has been drawn up propagation of orchids are our themes to our friends here and for the Garden's development fully priority. To create a garden of overseas, and it will track major addresses these needs. Major greater botanical interest and value, happenings in the gardens. developments are being efforts to increase our plant diversity implemented to create a critical mass will be intensifled. As a responsible This 'new' Gardenwise, now of attrac~ion~ that will make the modern institution in an era when the Newsletter of the Singapore u"'r""'n" a mo.r~ important human impact on tne environment Botanic Gardens, will be published ' . ,... ~<>t.~~~:~l aJ1d:a majoJ·:Jo ~c~\iim~: ~t?:r >'#'~t f.~:««- ., a.l}d July. The With its strong emphasis on recreational retreat and acts as a breeding and cultivating commercial "green lung" only minutes away from tropical orchids, Singapore aims to the busy tourist belt downtown. A remain a key player in the world's stroll through the tranquil, shaded orchid trade. Today, the Singapore lawns and lush tropical plantings of Botanic Gardens' role in promoting the Gardens offers respite from the the country as a major source of city's hustle and bustle. orchids is to focus on developing new orchid hybrids, especially those with While the Gardens continues cut-flower potential, for the industry. to make its contribution to the country's economy, it also includes conservation as a major component Role Of Singapore Botanic Gardens of its mission. The Nature Conservation Unit co-ordinates all In A City Economy conservation programmes and the Another present day role of National Parks Board is the scientific the Gardens in relation to the authority on conservation matters in country's economy is in the Singapore. Singapore, with a total land promotion of Singapore's tourism 2 area of 641 km , is home to a trade. The Gardens received 2.4 The Gardens also contains a population of 3 million people, million visitors in 1995. Foreign small but precious remnant of the targeted to reach 4 million beyond visitors made up 66% or 1.58 million rain fo rests of the region. The the year 2000. With limited land and of the total. This represented Singapore Botanic Gardens' four­ natural resources, trade and tourism approximately 24% of Singapore's hectare rain forest is one of a few are key factors contributing to a total international tomist traffic, an remaining patches of primary forest robust economy. indication of the Gardens' popularity in Singapore. It offers tremendous as an attraction to our visitors. potential as a tangible, educational The Singapore Botanic resource for students and Gardens has a long history of Among the new attractions in researchers. contribution to the country's the Gardens is the National Orchid economy starting from its role in the Garden which was opened in October Although the findings of a development of the rubber industry. 1995. This is one of the most 1990 survey show that the forest has In 1877 seedlings of the Brazilian comprehensive permanent done surprisingly well after 130 years Para Rubber Tree, reputedly exposition of orchid culture in Asia. of isolation, it does appear that smuggled to Kew Botanic Gardens, The three-hectare display draws on remedial action is now necessary to were sent to Singapore. A the Singapore Botanic Gardens' maintain the primary forest subsequent Director of the Gardens, longstanding, pioneering tradition of character and its biodiversity. A Henry Ridley, successfully orchid breeding in creating a major problem is the invasion of propagated more from the seeds of memorable recreational and exotic species. We have in place a these first trees and later, devised a educational experience for visitors. programme of selective weeding and method of tapping the white latex reforestation involving public from matured trees. This eventually Another attraction, soon to be outreach and community support to led to the start of a massive growth completed in 1997, will further try to address these issues.