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Rail Corridor Walk on Earth Day 2021

In commemoration of Earth Day 2021, on 25th of April, Cicada Tree Eco-Place brought participants on a guided walk along the Rail Corridor. It was a first time for some of our participants to witness a significant remnant of Singapore’s history while others were curious what biodiversity could be uncovered there.

We were thankful for lovely weather after days of rain before. Traversing the stretch between Hindhede bridge and Hillview bridge, we were accompanied by the flutey calls of the critically endangered Straw-headed Bulbul (Pycnonotus zeylanicus) and fruit trees such as the pea eggplant and starfruit. As the sun came out, so did the butterflies and dragonflies. It was joy seeing the Common Bluebottle butterfly (Graphium sarpedon) licking salts off the ground to supplement its diet. We also got to witness numerous male Common Parasol dragonflies (Neurothemis fluctuans) fighting for territory along a stream.

Along the way we made a short detour to witness the scenic view of the Singapore Quarry. There, we were welcomed by the presence of the Banded Woodpecker (Chrysophlegma miniaceum), an uncommon resident bird, as well as the Greater Racket-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus paradiseus), a smart bird known for mimicking other bird calls.

It was an enjoyable walk that brought Singapore’s biodiversity and history closer to us. We encourage you to start exploring the nature spaces around you too!

World Wildlife Day 2021

World Wildlife Day is the most important global annual event dedicated to wildlife.

On 20 December 2013, at its 68th session, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed 3 March – the day of signature of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1973 – as UN World Wildlife Day to celebrate and raise awareness of the world’s wild animals and plants.

World Wildlife Day 2021 is themed “Forests and Livelihoods: Sustaining People and Planet”. It highlights the central role of forests, forest species and ecosystem services in sustaining the livelihoods of hundreds of millions globally.

Between 200 and 350 million people live within or adjacent to forested areas around the world, relying on the various ecosystem services provided by forest and forest species for their livelihoods and to cover their most basic needs, including food, shelter, energy and medicines.

Forests, forests species and the livelihoods that depend on them currently find themselves at the crossroads of the multiple planetary crises we currently face, from climate change, to biodiversity loss and the health, social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Learn more about World Wildlife Day at the United Nations official site.

Exploring our Kranji Marshes

In commemoration of World Wetlands Day 2021, we conducted our first guided walk at Kranji Marshes, one of the largest marshland habitats in Singapore. It was Cicada Tree Eco-Place’s first walk since the opening of Phase 3 and everyone was very excited. We were joined by new faces and familiar faces, all eager to learn about the biodiversity at Kranji Marshes.

Some of the fauna we spotted along our walk included:

  • Green Crested Lizard (Bronchocela cristatella)
  • Changeable Lizard (Calotes versicolor)
  • White-bellied Sea Eagles (Haliaeetus leucogaster) – pair
  • Blue-tailed Bee-eater (Merops philippinus)
  • Yellow-vented Bulbuls (Pycnonotus goiavier) in their nest
  • Stork-billed Kingfisher (Pelargopsis capensis) diving for fish
  • Red-wattled Lapwing (Vanellus indicus)
  • Yellow-Barred Flutterer (Rhyothernis phyllis) – swarm
  • Brown Shrike (Lanius cristatus)
  • Pied Triller (Lalage nigra)
  • Jacintha Eggfly (Hypolimnas bolina)

“It was an enjoyable walk at Kranji Marshes. Our guide Shao Hua has extensive knowledge on the biodiversity there. He was very patient and answered our enquiries to the best of his knowledge. I saw many creatures including the White-throated Kingfisher (Halcyon smyrnensis), butterflies, Green Crested Lizard (Bronchocela cristatella) etc. I also learnt that the Fishtail Palm has leaves with jagged edges, which make it look like it has been eaten. Its purpose is actually to prevent other creatures from eating the leaves.”

Elsie lim

Check out some photos of the walk below! The walk was led by volunteers Li Fang & Shao Hua.


Tree Planting at Pulau Ubin

Volunteers and friends of Cicada Tree-Eco Place continued our safely distanced greening work at Pulau Ubin on 27 and 28 November 2020.

A total of 64 volunteers helped to plant 246 trees at Pulau Ubin in support of NParks’ One Million Trees Movement. Organised by Cicada Tree Eco-Place, it is the third tree planting event after Pesta Ubin and Macritchie Reservoir earlier in 2020.

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