Sand Wars

In order to house 6.9 million people on this island, an additional 5,600 hectares of land would be needed by 2030. Besides using some reserve land, Singapore’s government also has plan for more land reclamation. Although land reclamation has helped Singapore to expand its land area, it has also brought several criticisms for the environmental damage caused. Let us first take a look at the video below to understand why land reclamation is not that ideal.

Credit: Youtube (Nina Sang)

Environmental Impacts of Land Reclamation

Loss of Costal Ecosystems
To expand seawards, we would have to sacrifice our coastal ecosystems. Singapore has lost more than 90% of its original mangrove forests since 1800s! This posed a number of problems such as loss of biodiversity and sedimentation. Reclamation works at Pulau Tekong had just completed earlier this year.

Pasir Ris Mangrove Forest Credit: Max Anderson

Pasir Ris Mangrove Forest
Credit: Max Anderson

Conservationists are worried that Chek Jawa would not be sparred in the future. Located on Pulau Ubin, Chek Jawa is one of the richest ecosystem in Singapore which consists of six major habitats. Chek Jawa was part of the reclamation plan in 1992 but the public fought hard and successfully appealed to leave Chek Jawa untouched. In 2001, the government announced that reclamation work is deferred for as long as development in Pulau Ubin is not required. Thus, there is still a possibility that Chek Jawa will be reclaimed with the need for space continues to increase.

Credit: NParks

Chek Jawa Credit: NParks

If we want this valuable land to be conserved for future generations, we need to show the government that value this land by doing educational walks or volunteering. A better way could be to put a value on Chek Jawa to show its worth and how much the government would lose if they were to develop this place.

Sedimentation
Land reclamation has caused sedimentation which was the most significant reason for reef degradation in Singapore. It was also reported that sedimentation has affected the marine life in Malaysia.

Damaged Coral Credit: Reef Ecology Lab, NUS

Damaged Coral
Credit: Reef Ecology Lab, NUS

 The Ban on Sand Exports
Singapore import most of its sand for land reclamation from neighbouring countries such as Indonesia, Myanmar, and Cambodia. However, Indonesia has banned the exporting of sand in 2007. This is because land reclamation has caused severe environmental degradation such as river bank erosion. According to a report by United Nations Environment Programme, sand exportation to Singapore has caused the disappearance of some Indonesian sand islands. A Myanmar’s news outlet has also accused Singapore’s sand import for causing the landslides and river erosion in the Tanintharyi Region. 

Tanintharyi Region, Myanmar Credit: WWF

Tanintharyi Region, Myanmar
Credit: WWF

 

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