10 Jul (Fri): Talk on "The Wonders of Singapore's Mangroves Insect Fauna"

In this talk, Dr Patrick Grootaert shares with us some of his findings from the Singapore Mangrove Insect Project (SMIP) and also the new fly species found.

The Singapore Mangrove Insect Project (SMIP) is a collaboration between NParks and NUS. Eleven mangrove sites in Singapore were studied during a one-month sampling campaign in May 2009. In the preliminary analysis, long-legged flies and dance flies were used as indicator species to assess the quality of each site. From this analysis, the original mangrove patch at Pulau Semakau showed the highest diversity and quality of species. Other sites that have good diversity are Chek Jawa Wetlands, Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Sungei Cina and Belayar Creek. Changi Creek and Lim Chu Kang had the poorest diversity.

The insect fauna of Singapore is surprisingly rich and one of the best known in the world. During the one-month sampling, at least 10 new fly species for science were found. In this Public Seminar, Dr Grootaert will

Dr. Patrick Grootaert was born in Belgium in 1952. He graduated at Ghent University in 1973 and obtained a PhD on ultrastructure of nematodes in 1978. During his one-year sabbatical stay here in Singapore he found 150 new species for science showing that even in a small densely populated country like Singapore, treasures can be found.

All are welcome. Please RSVP LIM_Wei_Ling@nparks.gov.sg by 9 Jul (Thu) 5pm.

Light Refreshments will be provided after the seminar.

Time: 11am - 12pm
Venue: Function Hall, Botany Centre, Singapore Botanic Gardens
Contact: LIM_Wei_Ling@nparks.gov.sg

29 Jun - 5 Jul: Highlights of the week ahead

For kids

• MAD lessons on insects with Cicada Tree Eco Place
• Our Kitchen Garden tour at Pasir Ris Park

Special Event

• "The Ecology of Tropical East Asia" Book Launch, with a presentation followed by a walk.

Walks in wild places

• Mangrove walk at Sungei Buloh on Saturday and Sunday.
• Nature walk at Lower Peirce Boardwalk.
• Our Kitchen Garden tour at Pasir Ris Park.
• Edible and medicinal plants tour at the Botanic Gardens

For nature guides

• Pulau Ubin Stories: History and Geography Workshop

Registration now open

• 26 Jul (Sun): Chek Jawa walk with Cicada Tree Eco Place
• 25 Jul (Sat): Pasir Panjang Heritage Trail with the Toddycats!
• 18 Jul (Sat): Rainforest walk with Cicada Tree Eco Place
• 12 Jul (Sun): Sungei Buloh walk with Cicada Tree Eco Place
• until 12 Jul: Sungei Buloh's first photo competition.
• 15 Jul (Wed) and 19 Jul (Sun): MAD lessons on insects with Cicada Tree Eco Place

Visit the wildsingapore happenings blog for a full listing of upcoming events for the next three weeks and to search for events by your area of interest.

Photo of the Week There was a flurry of low tide shore trips last week and among the many interesting encounters is this colourful flatworm shared by James on his flickr and his Singapore Nature blog. It was taken on Beting Bemban Besar, a submerged reef off Pulau Semakau.

5 Jul (Sun): Mangrove walk at Sungei Buloh

Free guided nature walk along the Mangrove boardwalk under shady mangrove trees. Spot mudskippers, crabs and other marine life, learn about our mangroves, enjoy views of the Johor straits.

Suitable for young children.

Registration is not required for small walk-in groups. But each walk is limited to 15 persons per guide and is on a first-come -first-served basis. The walks are weather permitting and may merge with other activities at the Reserve. Those coming with large groups are advised to pre-register.

More about the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on the wildsingapore website and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve website. This walk is conducted by the volunteer guides of NParks' Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and is held every Sunday morning, subject to availability of guides.

Time: 9.30 am (subject to availability of guides) for walk in guests, register at the Visitor Centre.
Tour duration: One to one-and-a-half hours. Suitable for young children.
Entry charges: While the walk is free, admission fees to the Reserve apply: $1 per adult, 50cents per child/student/senior citizen.
Website: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Contact: info@sbwr.org.sg or call 6794 1401

4 Jul (Sat): "The Ecology of Tropical East Asia" Book Launch

The first book to describe the terrestrial ecology of the entire East Asian tropics and subtropics, from southern China to western Indonesia. It deals with plants, animals, and the ecosystems they inhabit, as well as the diverse threats to their survival and the options for conservation.

This book provides the background knowledge of the region’s ecology needed by both specialists and non-specialists to put their own work into a broader context.

Nature’s Niche, Richard Corlett & Oxford Fajar Sdn. Bhd invites all to the launch of the book with a presentation by Dr. Richard Corlett followed by a nature walk at Mount Imbiah.

More about the book on the Nature's Niche website and The Biodiversity Crew@NUS blog.

Time: 2-5pm
Venue: Sentosa Nature Shop @ Sentosa Nature Discovery
(at Imbiah behind Butterfly Park)
21 Siloso Road #02-01
Singapore 098968
Website and contact: http://www.naturesniche.com/

4 Jul (Sat): MAD lessons on insects with Cicada Tree Eco Place

In this hands-on lesson, kids will learn about the fascinating insects that live in Singapore’s gardens, parks and forests. Kids also get to colour and make their own insect toy. This MAD lesson will include information about how kids can be part of the solution to protect our environment and wild habitats.

For kids aged 5-10 years.
Registration required: email Celine Low contact@cicadatree.org.sg

Dates
4 Jul (Sat): 2.30-4.30pm
15 Jul (Wed): 2.30-4.30pm
19 Jul (Sun): 2.30 to 4.30pm

Venue: Jacob Ballas Children’s Garden.
Cost: $15 per child which includes a badge and nature magazine.
Website: http://www.cicadatree.org.sg/
Contact: Celine Low contact@cicadatree.org.sg

4 Jul (Sat): Our Kitchen Garden tour at Pasir Ris Park

Excite your senses with our Kitchen Garden Tour. Find out how vegetables are grown before it gets onto your plate! You will also learn about some natural remedies that our grandmothers might have planted in their own backyard.

Suitable for children from K1-P6 levels.

To register, please contact Wei Teng at 64653305 or email chong_wei_teng@nparks.gov.sg

This walk is conducted every first Saturday of the month

Time: 9am - 10am
Venue: Pasir Ris Park, Pasir Ris Green (Carpark C)
Cost: $4 per person
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/
Contact: chong_wei_teng@nparks.gov.sg

4 Jul (Sat): Mangrove walk at Sungei Buloh

Free guided nature walk along the Mangrove boardwalk under shady mangrove trees. Spot mudskippers, crabs and other marine life, learn about our mangroves, enjoy views of the Johor straits.

Suitable for young children.

Registration is not required for small walk-in groups. But each walk is limited to 15 persons per guide and is on a first-come -first-served basis. The walks are weather permitting and may merge with other activities at the Reserve. Those coming with large groups are advised to pre-register.

More about the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on the wildsingapore website and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve website. This walk is conducted by the volunteer guides of NParks' Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and is held every Saturday.

Time: 9.30am and 3.30pm for walk in guests, register at the Visitor Centre.
Tour duration: One to one-and-a-half hours. Suitable for young children.
Entry charges: While the walk is free, admission fees to the Reserve apply: $1 per adult, 50cents per child/student/senior citizen.
Website: http://www.sbwr.org.sg/
Contact: info@sbwr.org.sg or call 6794 1401

4 Jul (Sat): Edible and medicinal plants tour at the Botanic Gardens

Join this free tour by our volunteer guides and spice up your knowledge of Edible and Medicinal Plants.

This tour is conducted every first Saturday. Registration is on a first-come-first-served basis at the Visitor Centre, 15 minutes before the tour starts.

More information on the Singapore Botanic Gardens website.

Time: 9am and 10am, register 15 minutes before the tour at Singapore Botanic Gardens Visitor Centre
Website: http://www.sbg.org.sg/
Contact: Visitor Services (6471 7361)

4 Jul (Sat): Nature walk at Lower Peirce Boardwalk

Up Close and Personal at Lower Peirce. Free guided nature walk along boardwalks through cool, shady forests and by the Lower Peirce Reservoir. Learn about our forests, spot forest and aquatic wildlife, enjoy panaromic views of waters surrounded by luxuriant forest.

Suitable for young children.

More about the Lower Peirce Trail on the wildsingapore website and NParks website. This walk is conducted by the volunteer guides of NParks Central Nature Reserve and is held every first Saturday of the month.

Please register at least three days before the walk at 65545127 or email woon_ling_ling@nparks.gov.sg

Time: 9.30am. Meet at Casuarina Entrance of the trail along Old Upper Thomson Road, which is a 2-minute walk from Casuarina Road.
Tour duration: One-and-a-half hours. Suitable for young children
Website: http://www.nparks.gov.sg/
Contact: woon_ling_ling@nparks.gov.sg or call 6554 5127.

3 Jul (Fri): Pulau Ubin Stories: History and Geography Workshop

What is the workshop about?
This workshop provides an introduction to the history and geography of Pulau Ubin through the sharing of stories.

About the speaker
November Tan is a graduate student in the Department of Geography at NUS as well as an active nature guide on Pulau Ubin amongst others. 3 generations of her family traces their roots back to Pulau Ubin and she traces hers on Pulau Ubin Stories, a blog which archives the stories old and new on Pulau Ubin. She did her undergraduate honors thesis on "Saving Chek Jawa: Social Capital and Networks in Nature Conservation". She has also authored several heritage trails publications for the National Heritage Board. She currently coordinate workshops for nature guides at The Leafmonkey Workshop and writes at the Midnight Monkey Monitor.

More details of the event on the Leafmonkey Workshop

Time: 7 - 9.30pm
Venue: Civil Service College, 31 North Buona Vista Road [Map]
Website: http://leafmonkeyworkshop.blogspot.com/
Contact: leafmonkey@gmail.com