wetlands
a publication of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
Vol 10 No 3
VIP Guests
Community Involvement Programme by Jurong West Secondary School

Photographing Nature Workshop forCommonwealth Secondary School

Experiencing Life in the Mangroves with the Canadian International School (Singapore)

Doing what they do best for a good cause: Hillgrove Secondary School

Volunteers Conduct Heron Counts at Sungei Buloh

13th International Coastal Cleanup

Wild Boar Sightings

An ASEAN Experience: Conference on ASEAN Heritage Parks

Volunteer Outing to Pulau Kukup and Yong Peng Heronry

Young Hearts for Nature: Young Naturalist Passport Camp 		 
13th International Coastal Cleanup 2004
at Sungei Buloh
Ramakrishnan Kolandavelu
assistant conservation officer

It was time again for another annual ‘spring cleaning’ of the mangroves and beaches on this earth! Here in Sungei Buloh, we held our cleanup on 18th September 2004.
At the Annual International Coastal Cleanup, people in 70 countries across the globe rolled up their collective sleeves and clean up debris from mangroves and beaches. In the process, they help to collect important data which are then used to educate the public on the issue of marine debris, to create a positive change to reduce trash in the world’s waterways and to improve the environment.

As with previous years, the energetic team from the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research (RMBR) of the National University of Singapore took the lead to rope in volunteers from schools and organisation to help with the cleanup of Singapore’s coastline. The partners for this year comprised Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Anderson Secondary School, Beatty Secondary School, Commonwealth Secondary School, National University of Singapore, Raffles Museum Toddycat, Saint Andrew’s Junior College, Singapore American Middle and High School, Tao Nan Scouts, Victoria Junior College, Yusoff Ishak Alumni.

The focus for the cleanup was the mangroves at Kranji Nature Trail. This year, some 460 volunteers cleaned up a total area of 450 square metres of coast.

After a briefing by RMBR staff for the student leaders of the various schools a week before the cleanup session, it was time for action. Excitement was in the air as the participants made their way into Sungei Buloh and gathered at their assigned area. Everyone began their task of picking up litter in earnest. They separated the trash into different categories and recorded the data. All these were done with much enthusiasm. The leaders then collated and submitted all data cards to the operations room for updating on the web page by the data manager. The litter collected on the land was removed, by means of using wheelbarrows and trollies. The trash and litter collected from the sea were removed using canoes. Everyone did their part well. The whole cleanup operation was a success and a great deal of important data was collected on this tiring but meaningful day of cleaning up our mangroves…

Summary
Total number of Volunteers 460
Total number of trash bags filled 334
Total number of items collected 22,164
Total weight of trash collected 3,167 kg
Total area cleaned 450 Sq.m

Sources of Debris
Shoreline & Recreational Activities 17,999 (81.2%)
Debris of Local Concern 1,787 (8.1%)
Ocean / Waterway Activities 1,7331 (7.8%)
Smoking-Related Activities 320 (1.4%)
Dumping Activties 259 (1.2%)
Medical / Personal Hygiene 68 (0.3%)
   
© Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve