Month: March 2023

Once again, NTU BioBlitz 2023 commences as part of a continued efforts to  expose the masses to a multitude of diversity hidden in our midst.​​ This event was highly successful in 2022 and was awarded the Mr & Mrs Kwok Chin Yan Award in recognition of the students’ initiative at a community level. The primary objective of this event is to promote awareness and appreciation for the diverse range of flora and fauna found on the Nanyang Technological University campus. Since NTU is located at the edge of the Western Catchment, there exists an abundance of wildlife that can be observed on  the busy campus, leading to a potential conflict between humans and wildlife. Hence, Earthlink makes a concerted effort to educate the community about wildlife  while working towards demonstrating how we can better coexist with wildlife.

Fig 1. One of the groups walking along NIE forest edge, home to a diverse array of animals in NTU.

NTU BioBlitz 2023 is a one-week biodiversity survey conducted on  NTU campus grounds. A total of 129 unique species were sighted across the event week, including 12 transects, including 59 bird species, 27 butterfly and moth species and 15 dragonfly and damselfly species. Notable sightings include migratory bird species such as the Ashy Minivet and Asian Brown Flycatcher, as well as nesting birds such as  the Sunbird and White-bellied Sea-Eagle, were spotted on our campus.

Fig 2. The CRIMSON DROPWING was one of the dragonflies that were spotted drifting around many transects. The water bodies around NTU make it an ideal habitat for these creatures!

Photo by Zachary Chong

Fig 3. The SUNDA PYGMY WOODPECKER is the smallest and most common woodpecker in Singapore. This cavity-nesting bird is a common sight (or sound) across campus, as it vocalises with its distinct high-pitched call while in flight.

Photo by Zachary Chong

Compared to the 125 unique species found in Bioblitz 2022, there is a rise in the number of sighted species this year  as we utilised similar methodologies with shorter transects, no afternoon surveys, and only 1 week of surveying. Through this exciting and highly anticipated event, our organisers aim to impart participants with its rich local biodiversity. Singapore is surprisingly home to a plethora of species, and NTU is a centre of high activity due to its geographical location at the border of the Western Water Catchment area (forest to the north of NTU).

Furthermore, interested participants were cordially invited to partake in survey sessions and training programmes, which included the identification of common species such as common birds, butterflies, and other fauna species existing in our midst. The event ended with key takeaways which the organisers hope to impart, and that is the significance of proper education on the appropriate methods used to coexist with wildlife.

Fig 1. Gathering of the communities

The Singapore Green Plan charts Singapore’s path towards becoming a City in Nature. An important part of this plan is the OneMillion Trees (OMT) movement helmed by the National Parks Board (NParks), which aims to plant one million trees nationwide by 2030. At NTreeU, we proposed that NTU contribute to the national environment strategy by becoming part of this movement.

At this event, we introduced the NTU community to the OMT movement in an effort to provide accessible environmental education, and spark long-term collaborations to preserve the university’s rich natural heritage. Together, we garnered 100 attendees who planted 100 trees within two hours, including 40 employees of Advantest Corporation. Advantest’s CEO, Ricky Sim, responded with a hopeful message, “As we plant these trees, we are not only beautifying our surroundings but also taking a significant step towards mitigating the effects of climate change. We are creating a greener and more sustainable future for ourselves and for the generations to come”.

Fig 2. Prominent leaders and students at the event

Prominent leaders such as the Acting President and Provost Prof Ling San, were invited to kick-off our campus greening journey. Additionally, NParks CEO Mr Kenneth Er was invited as a Guest of Honour to enliven the long-awaited event. Another key Guest of Honour attended the event with much enthusiasm and that was none other than our Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, Ms Grace Fu. She visited our booth during the second part of the tree-planting event, where she was shown photos of the planted saplings and interacted with the NTreeU team as part of the Service Week Launch Event by the University Advancement Office (UAO).

Earthlink’s NTree U Co-Chair, Elijah Goh, was filled with energy and excitement for this tree-planting event. He quipped, “Today, this project is not only about planting trees for the benefit of wildlife, but also about building a better environment for our future NTU community, and cultivating a sense of environmental stewardship in our volunteers”. Acting NTU President Prof Ling San responded with a proud and optimistic sentiment, “NTU recognises the importance of preserving habitats on campus, and we have been working together with student clubs like Earthlink to raise awareness of our wild neighbours, and the roles they play in our ecosystem. Campus greening is a key strategy of our conservation efforts”.

With a huge number of attendees and distinguished guests invited, NTree U has done it again in making it a successful and impactful event this year!