Developing eco-tourism?
There have been news of the Singapore government wanting to the develop the Mandai forest area into a "nature-themed attraction".
According to a Strait Times report, "The Government will, in the middle of next year, release a 30ha site - roughly three times the size of VivoCity mall - for developing such an attraction. The site can house a back-to-nature resort, a wildlife-themed restaurant, or anything with a nature theme that a developer can dream up."
There have been some concerns raised by the public, notably the Nature Society Of Singapore, who argued that any development to the the Mandai will destroy the area greenery. "Any new development, therefore, will only further upset the fragile eco-balance of the nature reserve . . . "
The Mandai forest area is not exactly undisturbed as it has a major expressway going through it. And it is bordered by the Upper Seletar Reservoir. I myself have actually travelled throough the area in a taxi before. It seems a nice, untouched area of forest, with dense foliage. It would be a pity if any developments done to the area destroyed the ecology in nature reserve. Personally I feel the area should be left untouched and steps taken to maintain the area.
If because of the sake of economic growth, to attract more tourists to boost the tourism sector, we end up destroying our natural greenery it will be a pity man.
Anyway I think our "nature-themed attraction" will be peanuts to what our other neighbouring countries can offer, where their forest is so much bigger than our natural reserves.
les
Links to the reports, click here.
According to a Strait Times report, "The Government will, in the middle of next year, release a 30ha site - roughly three times the size of VivoCity mall - for developing such an attraction. The site can house a back-to-nature resort, a wildlife-themed restaurant, or anything with a nature theme that a developer can dream up."
There have been some concerns raised by the public, notably the Nature Society Of Singapore, who argued that any development to the the Mandai will destroy the area greenery. "Any new development, therefore, will only further upset the fragile eco-balance of the nature reserve . . . "
The Mandai forest area is not exactly undisturbed as it has a major expressway going through it. And it is bordered by the Upper Seletar Reservoir. I myself have actually travelled throough the area in a taxi before. It seems a nice, untouched area of forest, with dense foliage. It would be a pity if any developments done to the area destroyed the ecology in nature reserve. Personally I feel the area should be left untouched and steps taken to maintain the area.
If because of the sake of economic growth, to attract more tourists to boost the tourism sector, we end up destroying our natural greenery it will be a pity man.
Anyway I think our "nature-themed attraction" will be peanuts to what our other neighbouring countries can offer, where their forest is so much bigger than our natural reserves.
les
Links to the reports, click here.
posted by yaogui at
10:20 PM
