'Death by a thousand cuts': Bukit Batok forest faces imminent axe despite wildlife warnings and public outcry
SINGAPORE: A young forest tucked behind the HomeTeamNS Adventure Centre in Bukit Batok is set to be mostly cleared for housing development, despite warnings from environmentalists and a recently released Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) urging caution.
The forest, which grew naturally on cleared land since the 1960s, has become a key habitat and corridor for endangered species, including the critically endangered straw-headed bulbul—one of the rarest songbirds in the world. Singapore is its last global stronghold, and the Bukit Batok plot is one of its few remaining footholds in the west. A patch too small?
Only 0.48 hectares of the forest—less than 10 per cent of the existing vegetation—will be retained as a 'stepping stone' for wildlife movement between the western green spaces and the Central Nature Reserves.
The rest of the 5.5-hectare forest will be cleared to make way for a 14.5-hectare housing estate at the junction of Bukit Batok Road and Bukit Batok West Avenue 5. The plot includes the current Bukit Batok Driving Centre and nearby scrubland. See also Why did HDB hire US based lawyers when it is in deficit?
To compensate, the report proposes greening the new estate with native flora and creating a forest-like vertical structure to support flying fauna. For ground-based wildlife, NParks is exploring the possibility of dedicated crossings.
But the measures haven't gone far enough for conservationists.
'This is a very small patch with decent butterfly diversity, which suggests it's well connected to surrounding forests,' said ecologist Dr Anuj Jain, who has studied the area. 'It's like death by a thousand cuts'
Youth nature group, Singapore Youth Voices for Biodiversity (SYVB), called for more decisive action.
Outreach head Jayden Kang raised concerns over the limited forest retention in Bukit Batok. He noted that developments like Tengah had already affected the western ecological network, and suggested that further clearing could worsen the impact.
He likened the current pattern of fragmented development to 'death by a thousand cuts.'
The ecological implications go beyond Bukit Batok. Experts warn that Singapore's wildlife relies on forest corridors to move, breed, and maintain genetic diversity. If these green links are severed, it could lead to population crashes among already fragile species. See also "Superman" spotted in Singapore!
Reports about this development acknowledged that construction will likely cause 'noticeable stress' on flora and flying fauna, even with mitigation in place. Backlash on World Environment Day
On June 5—World Environment Day—the Instagram account of Woodlands Botanical Gardens published a scathing response.
'It is incredibly disgusting how they try to cheat the people by saying they will retain a tiny bit of forest,' the post read. 'There is not enough buffer zone to minimise impact. Even when the EIA says it's not a good idea, you still go ahead. So what then is the use of an EIA?'
The post also questioned the sincerity of the public consultation process, accusing agencies of offering feedback opportunities only to 'show face'—not to meaningfully engage.
'Stop trying to placate the people with cheap tactics,' the group added. 'Walk the talk you falsely showcase to the world.'
In a pointed remark, the group proposed an alternative: demolish underutilised Good Class Bungalows (GCBs) instead of natural forests if the aim is truly to house more people. See also Singapore Catholic churches offer shelter to homeless people
'GCBs house four or five. HDBs house hundreds. If housing is a basic need, then prioritise it where it matters.' What happens next?
While there is no official timeline yet, signs point to redevelopment beginning in the next decade. The Bukit Batok Driving Centre's lease has been extended till the end of 2028, and a new clubhouse replacing HomeTeamNS' facilities is expected by 2031.
Public feedback on the EIA is open until June 15 at 6 p.m. on the HDB website. But many in the nature community are already sceptical of whether public sentiment will sway planning outcomes.
For now, the future of the Bukit Batok forest—and the wildlife that calls it home—remains hanging in the balance. What is clear is that trust in the system has been shaken. And once the trees fall, there may be no going back.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Independent Singapore
6 hours ago
- Independent Singapore
Fire breaks out on oil tanker in Singapore waters, no injuries reported
Photo: SCDF FB SINGAPORE: A fire broke out aboard an oil tanker anchored in the eastern waters of Singapore on Friday morning (20 June), prompting an emergency response from the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF). In a Facebook post, the SCDF said it received a report of the incident at around 8:10am. Approximately 40 marine firefighters from the Brani and West Coast Marine Fire Stations were immediately deployed, along with three marine rescue vessels. Upon arrival, responders observed thick black smoke billowing from a storage room within the tanker. Firefighting teams launched a coordinated effort, with maritime units using water cannons from rescue boats to cool the ship's hull and prevent the fire from spreading due to the vessel's high temperatures. Simultaneously, a separate firefighting team boarded the tanker to locate and suppress the blaze directly at its source. Armed with water jets, the firefighters successfully extinguished the fire from within the vessel. The SCDF confirmed that all crew members on board the tanker were accounted for and safe. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
CNA
18 hours ago
- CNA
Yishun resident taken to hospital after spalling concrete falls in HDB flat
SINGAPORE: A 65-year-old man was taken to hospital after spalling concrete fell in the bathroom of his flat in Yishun on Thursday (Jun 19). In response to queries from CNA on Friday, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) said its officers were alerted to the accident at Block 127 Yishun Street 11. "The incident resulted in injuries to a 65-year-old resident. Upon being notified, our officers conducted an immediate investigation on the same afternoon and found loose spalling concrete on the floor of the master bedroom bathroom," it said. HDB also inspected the whole flat and found "slight bulging of concrete" in the ceiling of the kitchen bathroom. "While there is no sign of the imminent spalling of concrete at the ceiling of the kitchen bathroom, for the residents' peace of mind and safety, HDB has arranged for our contractor to remove the bulging concrete next Monday," it added. HDB is assisting the flat owners with repairs under the Goodwill Repair Assistance (GRA) scheme and is coordinating with the local grassroots to render financial assistance for the cost of the repair works. Minister for Home Affairs, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Member of Parliament for Nee Soon GRC, K Shanmugam visited the affected flat. In a Facebook post on Friday, Mr Shanmugam said the owner of the flat is in hospital receiving treatment. He added that he spoke with the man's wife and informed her that assistance would be given, including on payment for the repair works. "My volunteers are linking with HDB and Town Council on the matter," he wrote. HDB added it will continue to render assistance and support to the affected resident and his family. COMMON ISSUE FOR OLDER BUILDINGS Spalling concrete is a common issue for older buildings, especially in areas with damp conditions such as kitchens and toilets, according to HDB's website. The issue is largely caused by carbonation, a natural deterioration process that causes steel reinforcement bars in the ceiling to corrode and the concrete to crack. The affected Yishun unit was completed 41 years ago and was upgraded under the Home Improvement Programme in 2018, HDB said in its statement on Friday. As part of the toilet upgrading, which the resident opted for, new tiles and fittings were installed in the toilets and the ceilings were repainted, it said. "No repair works for spalling concrete were conducted as there were no signs of spalling concrete in the unit then." HDB also provided advice on preventing spalling concrete. Visible signs of cracks or holes should be promptly sealed, and residents can also paint their ceilings regularly to prevent moisture and carbon dioxide from entering the concrete. Proper ventilation is also encouraged as humid environments will speed up carbonation. Residents can do so by opening the windows, vents or doors when these areas are not in use. "If there is spalling concrete, you can repair it yourself if the area is small. If the affected area is large, you should engage a contractor to repair the ceiling promptly before more concrete dislodges and causes injury.
Independent Singapore
a day ago
- Independent Singapore
'Do Singaporeans think that giving money to the poor makes them lazy?' Redditor asks
Photo: Reddit screengrab/u/michuang74 SINGAPORE: When a local Reddit user asked if Singaporeans disapprove of giving money to the poor as it sends the wrong message, it sparked a lively discussion, with many commenters bringing up important points for and against such a scheme. In a post on r/askSingapore on Thursday (June 19), u/AjaxCooperwater wrote, ' Generally, do Singaporeans think it is a bad idea to give money to the poor because it encourages laziness and de-incentivises job hunting?' They added that they personally do not believe that giving money to the poor 'encourages any form of stereotype behaviour,' but genuinely wanted to know the reason behind such perspectives, asking also if anyone has personally seen such a case occurring. The post was somewhat similar to another one from u/AjaxCooperwater earlier this week, when they asked how Singaporeans feel about Universal Basic Income . 'If you see a very old lady or an old man who is handicapped with one leg or one arm, do you think that even if they try hard looking for a job, any boss would want them? So, try to give them some money whenever you come across them. Sometimes, due to dignity, they refuse to accept your money without you taking something from them, such as a packet of tissues or a lottery ticket. Just take it, and say thank you,' one wrote. 'Just help if you want and in a position of being able to afford to.. most importantly, from the heart. Even one word of kindness is a type of charity,' commented another. A Reddit user outlined the reasons why a person may be hesitant to give money to the poor, which have nothing to do with being encouraged to be lazy. People are afraid of getting scammed, or are concerned that the money they give will end up in the pockets of crime syndicates. Another reason is that people from neighbouring countries might end up coming to Singapore to beg. This is why they prefer for social workers to reach out to people in need instead. 'Meritocracy can drive us to be unkind and elitist. When we work hard and land a good education and job, we believe it's our hard work that led us to be successful, and those who are poor are poor because they did not work as hard as us. But reality is never as simple as that. Success requires connections, hard work, and luck. If you're born well off, it's easier to focus on your studies, easier to build good connections,' another observed. /TISG Read also: 'JB businesses will be happy' — Singaporeans debate pros and cons of Universal Basic Income
