What is the magic of Pang Sua Woodland? What drove a volunteer group of conservationists and environmental activists to advocate for its preservation? What is the fate of this tiny yet significant sanctuary along the Green Rail Corridor? Hear from the book editorial team as they share their experiences of trying to keep this little patch of greenery intact for wildlife and people.
Join us at the launch of Pang Sua Woodland: Sanctuary Unveiled Along the Rail Corridor (Second Edition) with Poetry Reading & Panel Chat with Book Editorial Team (Teresa Teo Guttensohn, Dr Ho Hua Chew, Leong Kwok Peng)
Event details:
Sat 18 May 2024, 7pm to 8pm Book Bar 57 Duxton Road, S089521 Free of charge. Limited seats. Coffee, Tea & Vegan Snacks will be served.
Organised by: Cicada Tree Eco-Place and Nature Society Singapore In partnership with: Book Bar Book printing sponsored by: Bollywood Farms Pte. Ltd.
Guest Speaker Teresa Teo Guttensohn, Co-founder of Cicada Tree Eco-Place, and Dr Michael Alexander Kruesi, Associate Professor of the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), with student cohort from the Sustainability Hospitality Operations module. Teresa presented the Pang Sua Woodland and Alexandra Woodland books (jointly published by Cicada Tree Eco-Place and NSS) to Dr. Kruesi for the university library.
Singapore’s UV index hit ‘extreme’ level 12 on the afternoon of 27 March 2024. As the island grapples with soaring temperatures and negative impact on the tourism industry, eco-artist and environmental activist Teresa Teo Guttensohn highlighted the triple crises that the planet is facing, and urged the hospitality students of SIT to heed the urgent call to take individual responsibility to combat climate change and biodiversity loss.
At the sustainability talk, guest speaker Teresa shared on the focus and aim of Cicada Tree Eco-Place to promote biodiversity conservation and to help protect our precious natural heritage for future generations. To fight extinction, the organisation advocates for the protection of critically endangered native wildlife as well as threatened wildlife habitats.
All wildlife are interdependent. Conserving local biodiversity and maintaining intact eco-systems is the best way to sustain genetic diversity that is critical for the long-term survival of all species on Earth.
Campaigns initiated include Save the Pangolin (2010), Chained to Our Roots (22 June 2013) and Love Our MacRitchie Forest (2013) movement to appeal for the realignment of the Cross Island Line (CRL), Save the Malayan Tiger (2014), and Save our Last Wilderness (2019) which saw the joint publication of local conservation books – Pang Sua Woodland: Sanctuary Unveiled Along the Rail Corridor (2021) and Alexandra Woodland: Haven Along the Rail Corridor (2022).
At the end of the passionate presentation, Teresa challenged each student to take eco-action. Several SIT students responded with personal pledges:
“I enjoyed the session as I learnt about how many wildlife species are becoming extinct as we face mass extinction caused by human activities. As I am interested in animals and their history, I would do my part to reduce my carbon footprint by taking public transport.” – Emily, 22yrs
“I think that the session was insightful. I learnt how people’s activities can really destroy biodiversity and the importance of sustainability with every small action. I will do my best to avoid disposal bottles and use more reusable water bottles whenever possible so as to ensure that I’m doing my part.” – Rin, 21yrs
“I learnt that in order to implement change, sometimes drastic action needs to be taken. I would be more conscious of my actions and follow the 3Rs!” – Fiq, 24yrs
“Thank you for the emotional talk! It’s sad to see that Malayan Tigers are on the brink of extinction and we need to save them. One eco-action I would take would be to always bring a recycling bag around.” – Nicole, 22yrs
“I have learnt about biodiversity loss and the amount of endangered species, and how human activities potentially have a negative impact on the environment. An eco-action I would take is to reduce the use of plastic bottles and don’t takeaway food as it is quite achievable for me to do.” – Bryan, 25yrs
Falling on 22 April, Earth Day marks the occasion to highlight the pressing environmental issues that we’re facing and the need to protect our planet. Join Cicada Tree Eco-Place for a guided walk in MacRitchie forest, part of the largest nature reserve and green lung in Singapore, and home to rich biodiversity. We will be exploring Windsor Nature Park and Venus Loop for this walk led by our volunteer guides. Get to spot mammals like the Malayan Colugo, birds like the Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, and cool insects such as dragonflies and beetles. Learn why secondary forests like MacRitchie is crucial to us and how you can do your part for the environment.
This walk is free of charge and suitable for kids 5 years old and above.
Please note that your seat is confirmed after you register for the tickets. We will send all confirmed participants an email with more details of the walk, including meeting location, one week prior to the event. Those who joined the waitlist will be informed via email if there are available slots.
Wildlife-watching guided walk at Rifle Range Nature Park by Cicada Tree Eco-Place to celebrate World Wildlife Day.
Date and time:
SATURDAY 4th March 2023.
9.00am to 11.30am.
Venue:
Rifle Range Nature Park
Description:
The 3rd of March is World Wildlife Day. It is a United Nations international day to celebrate our world’s amazing wild animals and plants, and their importance to our lives and to our planet. The theme for this year is ‘Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation’. We Human Beings rely on wildlife and biodiversity-based resources – Nature – for all our needs, from food to medicines and fuel. A sustainable partnership between Man and Nature is crucial.
Singapore may be a tiny island but it still has an amazing diversity of wildlife found living in its remnant rainforest, mangrove, marshland, and in the surrounding sea. Globally endangered wildlife living here include the Sunda Pangolin, Straw-headed Bulbul, Dugong, and the Hawksbill Sea Turtle.
To celebrate our wildlife and wild places, we visit the newly opened Rifle Range Nature Park to look for wildlife both big and small. Here, pathways wind though forested hills, stream and marshland which provide protected homes for wildlife. This guided walk will involve some easy climbing up a hill to a look-out point.
Please note:
This walk is free of charge but participants will be requested to give a donation of any amount to the local animal welfare charity ACRES (Animal Concerns Research and Education Society).
To register, please email names of adult/kid participant/s to Andrew at: andrewtay.sg@gmail.com
Details and instructions will be provided upon registration.
Love MacRitchie Forest nature-guided walk by Cicada Tree Eco-Place in celebration of Singapore World Water Day 2023
Date and time:
SUNDAY 12th March 2023
9.00am to 11.30am
Venue: MacRitchie Forest
Description
Our priceless Central Catchment Nature Reserve (CCNR) consists of the reservoirs of MacRitchie, Lower & Upper Peirce, Lower & Upper Seletar, and the crucial, remnant rainforests that surround them. The rainforest here creates rain and catches rainfall, storing it in its ecosystem, and drop by drop form streams slowly winding through the forest and into our reservoirs. So, in Singapore, we are also drinking water that has been made and filtered by its rainforests! We explore via the earth track through the rainforest, and onto the boardwalk along the reservoir’s edge, by-passing lush swamp-forest habitat home to unique native freshwater critters, such as the Treehugger, Dwarf Snakehead and Forest Softshell, their survival depending on a source of unpolluted freshwater. Cicada trees, monkey cups and lianas are some of the amazing flora that still thrive in these cool forests, helping to balance our climate and filter the very air we breathe.
Cost: S$13 per participant. Kids age 8 years and below of participants tag along for free.
To register, please email names of adult/child participant/s to Andrew at: andrewtay.sg@gmail.com
Details and instructions will be provided upon registration.
Urban organic food-gardening workshop with vegan lunch at Kampung Senang holistic health centre, by Cicada Tree Eco-Place.
Date and time:
SATURDAY 18th March 2023
9.30am to 1.00pm
Venue:
Kampung Senang’s centre in Tampines
Description:
This workshop includes:
guided tour of an urban organic farm and high-rise gardening
how to organically grow tropical veg, herbs and spices
learn about soil mixtures, organic fertilisers and composting
plant propagation methods
vegan set lunch with salad and soup
veg seeds and herb cuttings for participants to adopt
Cost: S$40 per adult. S$20 per child.
To register, please email names of adult/child participant/s to Andrew at: andrewtay.sg@gmail.com
Details and instructions will be provided upon registration.
Kampung Senang Charity and Education Foundation is an eco-conscious charity providing holistic, compassion-focused care programmes and activities to promote well-being, good health and happiness – www.kampungsenang.org
