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Singapore's National Parks Board launches new mangrove arboretum

Xinhua, October 5, 2015 Adjust font size:

Singapore's National Parks Board (NParks) launched a new mangrove arboretum at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Coastal Trail on Monday.

The new mangrove arboretum is expected to have about 35 native "true" mangrove species, including the globally critically endangered "the Eye of the Crocodile." As mangrove forests are home to diverse species of fauna such as fish, crabs, shrimps, molluscs and birds, the objective of the arboretum is to ensure that Singapore is able to conserve such species in a Nature Reserve.

Singapore's Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan launched the arboretum by planting a locally endangered mangrove tree with Ambassador of Japan to Singapore Haruhisa Takeuchi, and Yuzaburo Mogi, honorary CEO and chairman of the board of directors of Kikkoman Corporation.

Kikkoman Singapore, the local manufacturing facility of Japan- based soy sauce manufacturer Kikkoman Corporation, announced a 0.5 million Singapore dollars (0.35 million U.S. dollars) donation on Monday to sponsor the mangrove arboretum.

Khaw said that it's important to launch the arboretum as it will help to speed up scientific works. He also hoped the arboretum would be "a focal point" for Singaporeans, especially for city folks who may not fully appreciate and relate to "the importance of mangrove swamps and how they "impact the quality of people's life."

"The nature of our products makes us especially sensitive to the need to protect places where there's lots of water," said Yuzaburo Mogi.

"Kikkoman shares the government's commitment to working in harmony with the environment, and sustainability and biodiversity are watchwords of the company. Thus we marked Kikkoman Singapore's 30th anniversary with the donation."

According to NParks, 2,000 mangrove trees will be planted along a 500-meter stretch at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve Coastal Trail over two years starting from Monday. Students, volunteers and community partners will be invited to participate in the nurturing, planting and monitoring these seedlings, which were collected from various mangrove forests in Singapore.

NParks will also introduce a series of new interpretive signs and outreach programs at the mangrove arboretum to increase awareness about mangrove conservation among visitors and foster greater appreciation of mangrove plant species. Endi