Cicada Tree Eco-Place – Page 22 – Nature, culture

Farewell, Subaraj

On 22/10/2019

Subaraj Rajathurai together with marine conservationist Ria Tan at Chek Jawa wetlands. PHOTO: NICHOLAS YEO

Subaraj Rajathurai
1963 – 2019

I was in college on my first journey into nature at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve. And even though this was a strange environment that I wasn’t particularly used to, it felt like coming home. I never turned back since.
A lot of people do give up their dreams, but are they happy? Do they look back in regret? I don’t. I’m a firm believer that if you have a passion, a dream, make it work. Because that’s who you are supposed to be.
Subaraj Rajathurai

Singapore has lost an amazing son, superb naturalist, master nature educator and passionate conservationist.

Subaraj Rajathurai was a walking encyclopedia and fountain of knowledge on biodiversity. He cared deeply for nature, fought for Mother Earth and gave unselfishly to us all.

A pioneer in nature conservation, Subaraj spoke fearlessly to protect our last wilderness — even when it was unpopular to do so. He continued being a voice for the voiceless, even during the last days of his life.

Subaraj observes birds from atop a sandbar. PHOTO: NICHOLAS YEO

Subaraj inspired generations of students and budding conservationists. All will never forget the lessons he taught about the importance and beauty of the amazing natural world we live in.

All of us at Cicada Tree Eco-Place are devastated by the loss of a wise, caring and courageous friend. We will always miss his hearty laughter and huge personality.

Subaraj, your demise is a huge loss that can never be replaced. We owe you a debt of gratitude and will always strive to carry on your torch and legacy.

May you rest in peace with the songs of birds in the eternal jungle.

Read about Subaraj’s lifetime of contributions to nature conservation, as reported in The Straits Times, The New Paper and TODAY newspapers. Watch this poignant Singapore Tourism Board Passion Made Possible feature celebrating his life:

https://www.facebook.com/STBsingapore/videos/2845501742128965/

Love Our MacRitchie Forest Walk, 28 Oct 2019

By CTEP Admin

On 20/10/2019

In Events, LOMF Walks

Monday, 28 October 2019
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM SST
Venus Loop, Venus Drive

Walk along the pristine stream to spot the many amazing creatures which call this rainforest home.

Hidden within the stream are many animals like soft-shell turtles, freshwater crabs, terrapins, fishing spiders and amphibians that depend on clear, unpolluted freshwater streams for survival.

You might also spot long-tailed macaques, clouded monitor lizards, gliding lizards, treeshrews, emerald doves, racket-tailed drongos and many other birds, butterflies and insects.

Various plants and trees that are home and food for our forest fauna can also be seen on this walk. These include huge terentang trees, fig trees, and tall bamboo groves.

The wild rainforest is an open science museum and a living house of biodiversity. Come with us, and learn more about this rainforest.

International Coastal Cleanup Singapore, 21 Sep 2019 @ St John’s and Lazarus Island

By CTEP Admin

On 26/09/2019

In Events

Amid hazy skies, a team of nine volunteers from Cicada Tree Eco-Place boarded a boat for St John’s and Lazarus Islands to help clean up our beautiful islets 6.5 kilometres south of mainland Singapore.

St John’s island was a medical quarantine station from the 1900s until the mid-20th century. Today, it is a rustic getaway spot for tourists and locals alike and home to the St. John’s Island National Marine Laboratory.

St John’s, together with Sisters’ Islands and Pulau Tekukor, is a known turtle hatching site and has been designated as Singapore’s first marine park. Sadly, it is no stranger to marine litter, especially plastic waste which may trap, injure animals or be mistaken for food and ingested.

Check out the video for highlights of what took place!

WATCH: International Coastal Cleanup Singapore, 21 September 2019 @ St John’s & Lazarus Islands VIDEO: NICHOLAS YEO

Love Our MacRitchie Forest Walk, 22 Sep 2019

By CTEP Admin

On 12/09/2019

In Events, LOMF Walks

Sunday, 22 September 2019
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM SST
Venus Loop, Venus Drive

FREE walk through Venus Loop. Come see the abundance of flora and fauna in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve (CCNR).

The LTA has released its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report on two possible alignments for the Cross Island Line (CRL). Alignment 1 will see two worksites just outside the CCNR and a 2 km tunnel under the CCNR.

Alignment 2 will see 3 worksites on the fringes of the CCNR and a 4 km tunnel skirting the CCNR. Both alignments are expected to have significant impact on the flora and fauna within the CCNR. The impact on the stream system within Windsor Nature Park is assessed to be Critical.

The CCNR is the largest remaining contiguous patch of forest in Singapore and is home to several rare species such as the Sunda Pangolin, Straw-headed Bulbul and Greater Slow Loris, which are listed as vulnerable or endangered in the entire world.

Singapore only has less than 1% of its original forest cover left. With the emergency of climate change hanging over our heads, we need to preserve whatever is left as forests are the best carbon sinks known to us. Destroying mature forests, and therefore also their existing biodiversity, and then replanting trees to try and regenerate forests, is a colossal waste.

It is true that several birds, animals and plants have made a comeback in Singapore after their habitat was destroyed. But, many have not and will never come back. We should not let the resurgence of some species mislead us to ignore the loss of many others.

On this walk, come see for yourself the rich variety of flora and fauna found in this part of the Central Catchment Nature Area and understand why protecting the CCNR is so important for Singapore.

We've planted 469 trees for nature together with friends and volunteers!
Pesta Ubin (110 trees)
Jurong Lake Gardens (3 trees)
MacRitchie Reservoir (15 trees)
Pulau Ubin (246 trees)
Minden State Land (30 trees)
Alexandra Road (65 trees)