Run for your life

I love MacRitchie. It has been a part of me since childhood in the 70’s. I am not sure if I run it because I love it or it is because I run it, that I love it.

MacRitchie forests, according the Nature Society Singapore houses part of the remaining 2 square kilometres of Primary Dipterocarp in Singapore. This is primeval rain forest. Starting with 410 square kilometres of primary dipterocarp forest in the 19th century, we are now left with only 2 square kilometres, 0.5% of the original. 

In this two-part article I am addressing 2 issues facing our Nature Reserves. Earlier last week, I had written about the de-naturing of nature. Today I discuss the far-reaching and irreversible issue of the encroachment of transport infra structure into our pristine Nature Reserves ,which to begin with, we have very little of. The proposed building of a section of the Cross Island Line (CRL) under our rain forest threatens MacRitchie as we know it.

The CRL is a proposed new 50km MRT service that will connect Tampines with Jurong passing through the CCNR near Macritchie Reservoir. The alignment proposed by the LTA will pass through: (a) some of the oldest regrowth forest, (b) two patches of primary forest and (c) four of the most pristine stream systems on the Island. 

The LTA, due to the variability of the below surface geology, will undertake soil investigations that involve drilling of core bore samples along the proposed alignment. The LTA has conducted a Environmental Impact Assessment for this site investigation and have found  that SI work may begin with mitigation measures in place. But as the NSS contends, “mitigation does not equal no impact” This SI work is expected to begin soon but I believe it may have already started as I had spied equipment being mobilised close to Venus Drive car park.  I will need to corroborate. On my next run there, this Christmas weekend, I shall look out for evidence.

Link to the EIA.

The NSS’s position is clear and I concur with it. The NSS opposes the alignment through the CCNR as “it will have a detrimental impact on natural habitats and biodiversity for which the Nature Reserves are meant to protect. We also believe that a viable alternative route to the south  is available that does not transit lands gazetted as Nature Reserves”

Link to NSS Discussion and Position Paper – Cross Island Line.

With the proposed CRL alignment as it is, we stand to lose much of our natural heritage but gain little.

What little do we gain?

The CRL is expected to cut short travel time between Tampines and Jurong. The alternative route suggested by the NSS will add only 2km and 4 minutes of travel time. There are 2 questions to ask ourselves here.

1. Do the higher cost to build the extra 2km, mostly represented by acquisition of residential properties, equate to the cost of ecosystem and ecosystem services lost due to damage to our CCNR? The NSS thinks that due to our limited land and the technical difficulty in duplicating the unique ecosystems that are found within the CCNR, the cost of the acquisition will be much lower. Not much to gain here.
2. How much productivity will we lose in 4 minutes? In 4 minutes: A commercial assistant can generate one sales invoice. A cashier at the supermarket can checkout 2 customers with a reasonably full trolley, one if that customer is difficult. An accounts assistant can post one transaction. A sales executive may not be able to complete a quotation in that time. Enrico can certainly run 1 km in 4 minutes. But how much real productivity will we lose in 4 minutes, compared to what we stand to lose by potentially damaging our natural heritage? Not much to gain here.

One of the point of building a transport infrastructure is the expected revenues. And revenue is a big  thing in Singapore, in any  business plan. Building up to 4km of rail line underneath the CCNR where there are no ridership catchment will mean no revenues to be gained. 4km where there are no stops to take in paying passengers seem to be a counterpoint. Unlike in built up area where it is potentially viable to add a station to the line to increase ridership, for example between the Khatib and Yio Chu Kang stations of the North/South line, there is no such possibility in the CCNR nor motivation. Unless somebody has the diabolical plan to build HDB flats within the CCNR. God forbid.

“By going through a tract of primary and secondary forests, the Land Transport Authority would not only do irreparable damage to a pristine habitat nestling around our reservoirs, but it will also be rendering up to 4km of the 50km rail project void of patronage and revenue”. Christopher Tan, The Straits Times feb 16 2016.

Not much gain here. No revenues

What will we lose? 

These are the residents of the CCNR: 44 mammals species,  72 reptiles species, 25 amphibians species, 34 native fresh water fishes species. These are just the animals.

The Malayan Pangolin which is an internationally threatened species is a resident, so too is the Leopard Cat who has in recent years been seen again after being absent for some considerable time. I myself have not come across either of these two threatened species but I have seen among others the Flying Squirrel, primate species I cannot name and even an albino python.

To potentially lose the Malayan Pangolin and once again see the disappearance of a mammalian carnivore for a transport infrastructure with viable alternatives is too costly. Much to lose.

Within this tract that will be intended for the CRL there are pockets of the less than 0.5% of the original primary forest, the primeval dipterocarps. While many countries are trying to save their primary forests, we are looking to potentially harm our remaining 2 square kilometres of natural heritage. Very much to lose. 

 

NSS Discussion and Position Paper – Cross Island Line catalogs the flora and fauna in the CCNR. The paper also describes how the ecosystem that exists within works and how the CRL will effect our natural heritage. For a better understanding, I encourage you to download the paper and read it.

With very little to gain but much to lose, I strongly feel that we must love Macritchie and lend our voices so that it may be saved from the encroaching transport infrastructure. With the alternatives available, should there even be a need to discuss, consider and embark on the SI even.

I think not.

My friends at Love MacRitchie has a written a letter to the LTA.  Sign the letter to LTA here.