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SINGAPORE: Singapore’s newest park connector, part of the Lornie Nature Corridor, opened on Saturday (November 21) as a “Rebuilding Plan” to introduce more naturalistic landscapes.
The 1.76 km natural corridor is part of a 10 km “rebuilding stretch” linking Kheam Hock Road with Upper Thomson Road, the National Parks Board (NParks) said in a press release.
It creates a “rustic environment” for recreation, while strengthening the ecological resilience of the adjacent Central Basin Nature Reserve and protecting it from the effects of climate change, the agency said.
Speaking at the opening of the natural corridor, National Development Minister Desmond Lee said it would enhance the experience along the coast-to-coast trail, which runs from Jurong Lake Gardens to Coney Island Park.
“Area residents, as well as trail users, can expect to use the corridor as a parkway between MacRitchie Reservoir Park and Adam Road,” he said.
Artist’s impression of the park connector in the Lornie Nature Corridor. (Image: NParks)
It will also connect with the Kheam Hock Nature Way to form an ecological corridor that will connect the Central Catchment Nature Reserve with the Singapore Botanic Gardens, he said.
“It will allow our native biodiversity to move easily between these key habitats and help strengthen their populations,” added Mr. Lee.
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The rebuilding efforts involve a “curated planting palette” of native trees, shrubs and wildflowers, as well as some common and naturalized wildflowers, NParks said.
Some native tree species planted in the Lornie Nature Corridor include Jelutong, Singapore Durian and Red Dhup, he said.
The Red Dhup grows in dryland forests and occasionally in peat swamps. (Photo: Adrian Loo)
“The edges of the plantation on both sides of the road and other foci of vegetation are planted with more than 100 species of trees and shrubs in a multi-tiered fashion that mimics a tropical rainforest,” the agency said.
“Over time, this will result in a forested corridor when the plantation matures, restoring nature to the highly urbanized area.”
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A REWILDING PLAN WILL MOVE IN 32 WAYS OF NATURE
Singapore’s “Reconstruction Plan” will be progressively implemented on 32 stretches of “nature trails” and along highways, as well as various habitats in parks and green spaces over the next three years, NParks said.
A key part of the country’s “City in Nature” vision is to introduce more naturalistic landscapes, which attract biodiversity, foster ecological connectivity and improve stability, the agency said.
The “rebuilding process” is one way to achieve this, he said.
NParks added that the recent COVID-19 “breaker” period provided a unique opportunity for their gardeners to see how these naturalistic landscapes fared.
“Along with the encouragement and support of members of the public who expressed their appreciation for those landscapes and the fauna that accompany them, such as butterflies, this reaffirmed NParks’ direction to introduce more naturalistic landscapes into selected areas of the island through a Reconstruction Plan, “the agency said. said.
Artist’s impression of the Lornie Nature Corridor with more mature vegetation. (Image: NParks)
Upcoming reconstruction sites include those along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1, Kheam Hock Road, Old Choa Chu Kang Road and Upper Thomson Road, and in parks such as Bedok Reservoir Park and Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, NParks said.
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“We will allow vegetation to grow naturally at these sites to support ecological connectivity. Native trees, shrubs and wildflowers will provide lush and beautiful greenery for the public to enjoy, ”said Mr. Lee.
“We will also selectively prune and remove undesirable plant species that are more prone to fire and storm hazards. This approach allows us to manage our landscapes in a more sustainable way that better supports biodiversity, while continuing to ensure public safety. “
TENSIONS BETWEEN DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION
Mr. Lee noted that the natural corridor was the result of the reclamation of part of the old Lornie Road, made possible by the completion of the Lornie Highway.
However, the construction of the Lornie Freeway also affected part of the Bukit Brown Cemetery, he said.
“As many of you will recall, this highlighted the tensions between development and conservation. We had to grapple with trade-offs between improving our transportation networks, serving Singaporeans, and conserving our heritage and biodiversity, ”he said.
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These difficult issues opened conversations and allowed stakeholders to “deepen the partnership” between the government and civil society groups, Lee said.
The result was that government agencies worked with heritage groups and volunteers to document and commemorate the Bukit Brown Cemetery, he added.
“We will continue this collaborative spirit through our greening efforts in the Lornie Nature Corridor,” said Lee, with community members who partnered with NParks to plant trees in the corridor as part of the One Million Trees movement.
