 wetlandsa publication of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve |
|
||||
| Vol
10 No 3 VIP Guests Community Involvement Programme by Jurong West Secondary School Photographing Nature Workshop forCommonwealth Secondary School Experiencing Life in the Mangroves with the Canadian International School (Singapore) Doing what they do best for a good cause: Hillgrove Secondary School Volunteers Conduct Heron Counts at Sungei Buloh 13th International Coastal Cleanup Wild Boar Sightings An ASEAN Experience: Conference on ASEAN Heritage Parks Volunteer Outing to Pulau Kukup and Yong Peng Heronry Young Hearts for Nature: Young Naturalist Passport Camp |
 On
18 Dec 2003, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve (SBWR) joined 26 other protected
areas of high conservation value across ASEAN to become Singapore’s first
ASEAN Heritage Park. ASEAN Heritage Parks are protected areas of high conservation importance that together, preserves a complete spectrum of ecosystems representative of the ASEAN Region. Each site is nominated by its government and evaluated by other member countries and experts. The ASEAN Heritage Parks were established with two aims: “to generate greater awareness, pride, appreciation, enjoyment and conservation of ASEAN’s rich natural heritage through the creation and support for a regional network of representative protected areas” and “to generate greater collaboration between ASEAN member countries in preserving their shared natural heritage” (Guidelines for the Nomination and Management of ASEAN Heritage Parks, 2003). In the selection of SBWR for this prestigious programme, NParks accepted both the honour and the responsibility of managing SBWR as a showcase example for the protection of the ecosystem it represents. A year after the ASEAN Declaration on Heritage Parks was signed, the inaugural Conference on ASEAN Heritage Parks convened at Khao Yai National Park, Thailand, on 20th to 24th September 2004. It was a conference that brought together representatives from a full spectrum of environmental conservation backgrounds, from the ASEAN Secretariat, to international experts, to ASEAN Heritage Park managers. His Excellency Mr Ong Keng Yong, ASEAN Secretary General, was the Guest of Honour. I attended the Conference as the park manager of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, together with Mr Wong Tuan Wah, Director for Conservation, NParks. It was an invigorating experience. The Conference was held at Khao Yai National Park, Thailand’s oldest National Park and an ASEAN Heritage Park. Covering an area of 2,165 km, the Park is about three times the size of Singapore. It is part of the Phanom Dongrak mountain range that separates Thailand’s northeast plateau from the central plain, and the source of five main rivers in Thailand. Not surprisingly, it enjoys a cool climate and has numerous spectacular waterfalls. Vegetation also ranges from tropical rain forests to hill evergreen forests, dry evergreen forests and mixed deciduous forests. The Conference delegates were housed at the Park’s headquarters, in comfortable chalets and bungalows, with light and (very cold) running water and within close proximity of the Park’s Cafeteria. Surrounded by nature, it was an ideal setting to consider the beauty and value of an ASEAN Heritage Park, and to discuss conservation concerns with like-minded folks. While the days were filled with important presentations and country reports indoors, the early mornings and nights were spent quite differently. In the early mornings, I woke up to the calls of gibbons and monkeys, swinging their way through the green forest canopy just outside my chalet. I was not alone in my curiosity, for I spotted Dr John MacKinnon, trusty camera and tripod in hand, heading down the path following movements in the tree canopy. Sambar deer, the males magnificent with their antlers, were everywhere. In the evenings after dinner, our amiable host Mr Prawat Wohandee, park manager of Khao Yai, arranged for ‘spot-lighting’ sessions for delegates eager to sample the night life of the Park. As their children held up powerful spot lights from the windows, Park Rangers transported delegates in buses around the park to watch startled porcupines ambling away into the shadows, civet cats skulking in the grass, deer placidly feeding and owls staring from the trees. The Park had a 9:00 pm curfew, when visitors were told to stay indoors so as not to be in the way of the elephants and tigers that wander the park grounds at night. Those of us waiting for the thrill of seeing a tiger were disappointed, but on the final night of our stay, some of the lucky delegates saw a herd of elephants. This first Conference set the tone for future exchanges between the ASEAN Heritage Parks. The meeting-together of political minds, international conservation experts and the park managers involved in the day-to-day work of managing these valuable ASEAN heritage sites formed a dynamic environment which stimulated the cross-exchanges of ideas and best practices. It also fostered a greater understanding and appreciation of our shared natural heritage among the representatives of the 10 member countries of ASEAN. |
|||
|
© Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve |