Heritage, environmental assessments could help in preserving Pulau Ubin

SINGAPORE — Conduct studies on Pulau Ubin life and establish best practices for these studies as part of efforts to protect and preserve the island, goes one suggestion from the community in response to the Government’s call for ideas on preserving the rustic charm and heritage of the island.

The call came from Minister of State for National Development Desmond Lee in the Committee of Supply budget debate in Parliament on Monday, who said he was looking for ideas on nature conservation and thoughts about how the island could be used for education and nature-based recreation.

Visitors to Pulau Ubin are hoping that various aspects of island-life can be preserved. Many are also intrigued by life on the island, and have signed up for tours to find out more.

For instance, the National Parks Board has been conducting the Sensory Trail Tour since 2001. Participants get to see vegetables, fruits and spices that one would normally see in villages, and find out more about the mangroves at Pulau Ubin.

Dr Chua Ai Lin, president of the Singapore Heritage Society, said: “It also plays a very important role in the modern Singapore psyche, because the greater diversity of places that we have, the richer and fuller our lives are.

“We’re not just trapped within an urban jungle, but we have all these spaces that we can turn to — not just for access to nature and greenery, but also as a reminder of what the community of Singapore used to be like in the past.”

To preserve such aspects, the Singapore Heritage Society is calling for heritage and environment-impact assessments to be done. These studies would look into areas such as buildings and structures; and the social and community life that revolves around them.

Dr Chua added: “In Singapore, we don’t have a strong tradition of conducting these impact assessments, But they’re very important in finding out and analysing what are the best things that need to be done. Ubin will be a good chance for us to set into place best practices.

“In terms of heritage impact assessments, we’re not just looking out for the physical structures that are there, we also want to know about the communities and social life that go along with those structures.

“For example, there are kampong residents, there’s also a Chinese temple — what are the community life around these places and how can they best be supported.”

How wildlife could be affected by projects is another aspect that could be looked into.

Dr Lai Chee Kien, an architectural and urban historian, said: “Much needs to be done to document the different habitats. So for example, you have birds, you have seasonal birds, but you also have coastal habitats, and occasional migratory animals, including mouse-deers. Historically, there was also an elephant that swam across.

“So all these have to be taken into consideration so that there is a slightly more authentic environment in the future for our future generations.”

Establishing a conservation process that includes studies and documentation will help to determine the best way Pulau Ubin can be preserved for its charm and heritage. CHANNEL NEWSASIA