The rainforest here creates rain and catches rainfall, storing it in its ecosystem, and drop by drop form streams slowly winding through the forest into the reservoirs. So in Singapore, we are also drinking water that has been made and filtered by rainforests!
Singapore World Water Day falls on 21st March 2015, with water-themed activities organised by the Public Utilities Board (PUB) and its partners to create awareness about the importance of water and how we all can conserve, value and enjoy it with care. To commemorate this event and help promote its aims, we visit Lower Peirce Reservoir to walk its canopied forest trails, along its reservoir banks and forest stream.
The Lower and Upper Peirce reservoirs are actually the headwater site of the Kalang River. The forest streams here are this river’s origins, to flow and join with the Geylang and Singapore Rivers before they together meet the sea (but now the Marina Barrage).
The CCNR is still home to many native wildlife, most already gone extinct in other parts of de-forested, highly developed Singapore where they once lived. Here live pangolin, mousedeer, colugo and wild pig. Also Gold-ringed Catsnake, Black-bearded Flying Dragon, Banded Woodpecker and Greater Racket-tailed Drongo. At water’s edge, jewel-like dragon and damsel flies flit about. White-bellied Fish-eagles hunt over the reservoir. The orange Four-ridged Toad calls at the forest stream and we may spot the well-camouflaged Copper-cheeked Frog on a leaf. Both depending on an unpolluted source of water for their tadpoles. Yes, we still have so much wild nature so close to the city.
Please note:
- Bring refillable water bottle, poncho/raincoat/umbrella, hat, snacks, herbal mosquito repellent.
- Wear full-length long pants, socks and fully-covered shoes. Long-sleeved shirt is recommended, otherwise teeshirt will do.
To register please email Celine Low at contact@cicadatree.org.sg with names of participants, kids' ages & your mobile no.
Time: 10.00am to 12.00pm
Cost: $13 per participant. Participants' kids/siblings aged 5 yrs and below come along free.
Venue: Lower Peirce Reservoir Park
Meeting Point: We meet at 9.30am at the main entrance of Lower Peirce Reservoir Park at Old Upper Thomson Road, outside the toilet building. End Point: This walk ends at another entry point to the boardwalk at Old Upper Thomson Road which is nearer to the Casuarina Road junction. Participants may want to exit here to have lunch at the Casuarina Road shops. For those who want to walk back to the starting point and car park, we will do so by back-tracking.
Website: http://www.cicadatree.org.sg/