 wetlandsa publication of Sungei Buloh Nature Park |
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8 No 3 Dec 2001 chek jawa's wet wonderland aqua-tion for life roles of water in life where water meets the lands fishes of the Park dispersal by h2o seeds dispersed by water some interesting notes on the pacific golden plover 10th international coastal cleanup 2001 and 5th mangrove cleanup young ecologists@ sungei buloh nature park an ode to a turtle |
 International
Coastal Cleanup (ICC) is an annual event coordinated by the US Base Center
for Marine Conservation (a non-profit organization) which involves over
90 countries. It aims to remove and collect data on the debris from the
shorelines, waterways, and beaches ot the world's lakes, rivers, and oceans.
This information serves to educate the public on marine debris issues and
to encourage positive changes by submission to governmental and international
organizations that will reduce debris in waterways and enhance aquatic environments.
 In
SingaporeThe Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research (RMBR) at the National University of Singapore spearheaded and coordinated the clean-up of the mangrove section of the International Coastal Clean-up Singapore (ICCS) 2001 with assistance from Sungei Buloh Nature Park, Nature Society Singapore and Singapore Amateur Radio Transmitting Society. This year's event saw more than 250 students from Catholic High, Commonwealth Secondary School's Girl Guides, St. Andrew's Junior College, Tao Nan Marlin Sea Scouts, Singapore Arnerican School, Middle School and SAVE, Temasek Junior College, Victoria Junior College, Woodlands Ring Secondary School and Yusof Ishak Secondary School participating in the 5th mangrove clean-up. A briefing session was conducted at NUS for all participants to explain the rationale of ICCS and the value of Singapore's biodiversity. To better explain the depth and beauty of our mangrove ecosystems, an introduction to the mangroves was conducted for participants at the Sungei Buloh Nature Park. Action The 10th International Coastal Cleanup 2001 event on 8th September heightened the climax of the morning with all enthusiastic participants assembled in teams and proceeding to the demarcation points at the Buloh-Kranji mangrove to kick-start the event. 32 students from Commonwealth Secondary were put under the charge of Sungei Buloh staff to concentrate on the work at the bund and the swamp area mudflat. Each team had 4 data recorders and twelve pickers. The students were a committed bunch and with one purpose in mind—to pick up as much litter within the one hour. In that hour, more than 20 trash bags were collected and the items noted were mainly plastic bags, glass bottles, plastic containers, plastic sheets, styrofoam food containers and empty cans. It was a good morning and everyone did their part well. The area targeted for cleanup was almost "swept clean" by these focused girl guides. The trash bags were carried out of the site, weighed and recorded into the data sheet to be submitted to the data manager for updating the web page. With that the climax for the event fizzled out gradually with jubilation of laughter and jokes and even pizzas to go around to sum up the day. What is left back at the swamp area mudflat were shoe prints and memories. Once again, the swamp area mudflat reclined back into echoing silence. |
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