Map of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve

Bukit Timah National Heritage and History

Bukit Timah Nature Reserve was one of the first forest reserves established in Singapore. When the government of the Straits Settlements commissioned a report on the state of the forests, it was recommended that several reserves be created. Thus, in 1883, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve was established. In 1951, it received more protection under the Nature Reserves Ordinance which was enacted under the National Parks Act.


The 163-hectare reserve retains one of the largest tracts of primary rainforest left in Singapore.


The forest has been a botanical collecting ground for more than a century, where the first known specimens of many species of Malayan plants were obtained. Dr David Bellamy, a renowned conservationist, once pointed out that the number of plant species growing in the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is more than that in the whole of North America!


Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is also home to Singapore's highest hill at 163.63 m. Composed mainly of granite, Bukit Timah Hill was once an active quarrying site in the mid-1900s. One abandoned quarry has been developed as a park - Hindhede Nature Park. It is now a popular spot with visitors who come to enjoy the quarry's scenic beauty and have some fun with the more challenging play equipment.

Description

Step into the nature reserves and journey back in time to the days before Sir Stamford Raffles arrived, when much of the island was covered with lowland, tropical forest. Though much of Singapore's original vegetation had been cleared for logging and cultivation, the forest at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve has remained relatively undisturbed. Likewise, patches of primary rainforest can be seen around the MacRitchie area and Nee Soon Swamp at the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.
These nature reserves bounded 4 reservoirs - namely MacRitchie Reservoir, Lower Peirce Reservoir, Upper Peirce Reservoir and Upper Seletar Reservoir. The nature reserves act as water catchment for the reservoirs, in addition, the nature reserves also ensure the quality of water in the reservoirs.


Other than being storehouses of water, today, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Central Catchment Nature Reserve are homes to more than 840 flowering plants and over 500 species of animals (including butterflies). With such an astonishing variety of plants, animals and insect life, the nature reserves are indeed treasure houses of Singapore's biodiversity.


Covering an area of approximately 3,043 hectares, both the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Central Catchment Nature Reserve are managed by the Central Nature Reserve Branch of the National Parks Board.

Ethymology(History)

The name Bukit Timah is borrowed from the tallest hill found in the area of the same name, which is also the tallest geographical location in all of Singapore. Bukit means hill in the Malay language, while Timah means tin, although tin deposits are not found in the area. The hill served as a granite quarry for many years, but since the mid-1900s, all operations of which has since been abandoned and converted into recreational areas and even filming locations.
In 1951, further protection of the reserves were provided by the enactment of a Nature Reserves Ordinance and the establishment of a Nature Reserves Board for the administration of the reserves, now designated as nature reserves, which total some 28 square kilometres in area.
Today, the nature reserves are set aside for the propagation, protection and preservation of the indigenous flora and fauna of Singapore under the National Parks Act and are managed by the National Parks Board.

To let students know the importance of conserving

It Is Important To Conserve Because:

• Our resources are limited
• The Earth is very fragile and may break any time
• It is our duty to protect the environment as there is only one earth
• Preserve the environment
• Wasting resources is wasting money
• Conserving helps to save resources for future generation
• Using to much resources may lead to pollution
• Learn to use lesser so the environment can be cleaner
• Do not have to worry about utility bills and become sick or work till sick
• Resources such as oil is non-renewable
• 
  History of Singapore's nature reserves and why we should conserve:
  

  Step into the nature reserves and journey back in time to the days before Sir Stamford Raffles arrived, when much of the island was covered with lowland, tropical forest. Though much of Singapore's original vegetation had been cleared for logging and cultivation, the forest at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve has remained relatively undisturbed. Likewise, patches of primary rainforest can be seen around the MacRitchie area and Nee Soon Swamp at the Central Catchment Nature Reserve. These nature reserves bounded 4 reservoirs - namely MacRitchie Reservoir, Lower Peirce Reservoir, Upper Peirce Reservoir and Upper Seletar Reservoir. The nature reserves act as water catchment for the reservoirs, in addition, the nature reserves also ensure the quality of water in the reservoirs. Other than being storehouses of water, today, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Central Catchment Nature Reserve are homes to more than 840 flowering plants and over 500 species of animals (including butterflies). With such an astonishing variety of plants, animals and insect life, the nature reserves are indeed treasure houses of Singapore's biodiversity. Covering an area of approximately 3,043 hectares, both the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Central Catchment Nature Reserve are managed by the Central Nature Reserve Branch of the National Parks Board.

To let Students know the Benefits of Forests

Benefits of having forest:

 

Carbon cycle



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  Help protect the quality of our air

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  Act as a habitat and shelter for animals

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  Forest trees may be food for animals
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  Forest are important for life processes to take place(Respiration)
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  Help to hold soil together prevent landslides/Disasters(Soil Erosion)
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  Trees help to ensure clean water supply
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  Soil fertility would be good
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  Help to maintain the carbon cycle
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  To ensure a continual supply of food 
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  Special trees may have medicinal properties
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  May act as water cachement areas when trees block water from escaping
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  Help to prevent greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide.The carbon dioxide traps heat and melts glaciers and cause floods, it also destroys the ozone layer
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  Nature lovers can study the different species of trees and animals
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  Tourist attraction 
  
  
  
  
  

  Recreation Activities:

• The primary activities at Bukit Timah are strolling, running and hiking. There are also smaller groups of people who rock-climb and abseil at the Dairy Farm quarry as well as mountain biking. There are specially-allocated mountain-bike trails. The Reserve is popular among athletes training for mountain-climbing.Naturalists also treasure Bukit Timah for its variety of plants and animals. Some of the common plants there are the rattan, figs, andmacaranga. Common animals include millipedes, carpenter bees, and many different types of birds and insects.