Vol
10 No 5
New
Outdoor Classroom
Reforestation and Reach Out Programome:
Part 2 - The Project Launch
Marine Fish Programme
Archers of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
Bird ringing in Kenya, East Africa
Tranquility |
|
| New
Outdoor Classroom |
Jeanne
Tan
senior outreach officer
|
| Did
you know that the old Outdoor Classroom which sits quietly at the
junction of“Route One” and “Route Two” at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve
has now been refurbished for a brighter and friendlier look? |
An inviting freshwater pond where an interesting
array
of flora and fauna await your visit! |
From 1 May 2005, teachers
can bring their students there to learn about the different habitats surrounding
the Outdoor Classroom, through field studies as well as through using the
educational materials and facilities housed there. (Please contact 67941401
or e-mail sbwr@pacific.net.sg to make a booking).
There
are four interesting habitats – Secondary forest, mangroves, back
mangroves and freshwater pond, and one exciting spice garden that
will keep your senses occupied as you explore these places!
Do remember to check out the educational worksheets online as well
as a board game that lets you have fun understanding more about the
Mangrove Boardwalk! I will not say more, just come and explore! |
Students learning
about the mangroves through a boardgame! |
The
habitats around the Outdoor Classroom:
MANGROVES Mangroves are a unique
kind of forest community found at the interface between land and sea.
Salt is harmful to most plants, yet in many intertidal areas inundated
by seawater, mangroves thrive. Mangrove plants comprise trees, shrubs,
palms, and climbers. Mangroves can form stands that are many square
kilometers in area, and line the banks of many tropical rivers for
miles on end.
BACK MANGROVES Back mangrove species
are not subject to the same degree of tidal inundations as experienced
by “true mangrove” species, growing near mangrove stands towards the
landward side. Though able to withstand the high salinity and low-nutrient
soils associated with coastal areas, these plants generally are not
found in the intertidal areas colonised by true mangrove plants. Examples
of back mangroves include the mangrove trumpet tree ( Dolichandrone
spathacea), with its large creamy white flowers and large seed pods. |
Visitors are
captivated by
what they see through
these microscopes. |
FRESHWATER POND Freshwater ponds are
another kind of habitat encountered at Sungei Buloh. Home to a completely
different plant community compared to that found in the nearby mangroves,
these ponds also harbour a fascinating (and yes, different) kind of fauna
as well. These ponds reward close observation – can you see some of our
native freshwater fish species, dragonflies and damselflies, aquatic ferns
and flowering plants? Though the freshwater ponds at Sungei Buloh may in
part be an artifact of past human land use here, the presence of rich flora
and fauna demonstrate the resilience of nature and the amazing colonising
ability of plants and animals.
SECONDARY FOREST Where trees in a relatively
undisturbed forest fall, a group of trees tolerant of the higher sunlight,
hotter temperatures, and lower humidity of exposed patches take over. Their
subsequent maturation leads to the formation of a forest composed primarily
of fast-growing, high light-tolerant plants. We often refer to such areas
as “secondary forests”.
SPICE GARDENS Spices – people have used
them since the earliest times! Wars were fought and lands have been conquered
because of these plants. T oday, we continue to depend on them for various
uses. Bees, butterflies and other animals depend on a selection of these
plants for their survival too. Some of the species here can encourage animal
diversity in the garden because their flowers and fragrances attract insects.
We would like to acknowledge Toyota Motor Corporation and our partner schools
for their support and collaboration with us in this project. |
wetlands