Hi all, thank you for supporting the petition, and thank you to those of you who have provided your feedback to HDB on the recent Environmental Impact Study (EIS) reports for Tengah North and South.

As mentioned in our petition, more than 30% (210 ha) of the 700-ha forest has already been removed in the first phase of housing development.

According to HDB's response to the public feedback on their EIS reports, out of 166 ha of Tengah North forest, the authorities planned to conserve 29.5% (48.9 ha). That means 117.1 ha of forest will be cleared in this area. 

Out of 60 ha of Tengah South forest, they planned to conserve 5.35% (3.22 ha). That means 56.78 ha of forest will be cleared in this area. 

That means in a few years' time, Tengah forest will have lost about 385.48 ha (or 55%) of its original size. 

So we will probably end up with the last 45% (or less than half) of the original Tengah forest after the second phase of development. 

That means in order to conserve at least 30% (210 ha) of the original Tengah forest as proposed by our petition, the authorities must not further develop more than 15% (or 105 ha) of the original 700-ha area in their third/final phase of development.

Although 140 ha of Tengah forest has been set aside for green spaces, as mentioned in the Straits Times article dated 3 March 2022, it is uncertain if this area of green spaces refers to dense forests or open wooded parks, and it constitutes only 20% of the total area.

We are concerned that 140 ha of green spaces may not be enough, in view of the long and narrow designated 50 ha of Tengah Nature Way with insufficient buffer space, and the remaining 90 ha may turn out to be simply open spaces with mainly sparse trees growing among buildings, footpaths, playgrounds, and community farms and gardens (as shown in HDB's artist's impressions of the greenery), which will not be really safe and conducive for forest-dependent wildlife, such as snakes, pangolins, macaques, palm civets and wild boars, to live, forage and move around without getting into potential human-wildlife conflicts (which are a result of habitat loss and fragmentation due to deforestation and urban encroachment).

Let's continue to share the petition and champion for at least 210 ha of Tengah forest to be conserved, so as to enhance ecological connectivity and healthy genetic exchange of native wildlife moving between Western water catchment and Central catchment nature reserve, as well as boost our immune system and mental health through having access to clean and cool air and forest therapy, especially in view of climate change, biodiversity loss and mental health crisis. 

"Research shows us biodiverse nature has particular positive benefit for mental well-being. Multi-sensory elements such as bird or frog sounds or wildflower smells have well-documented beneficial effects on mental restoration, calm and creativity." (Biodiversity and our brains: how ecology and mental health go together in our cities)

We believe that as long as the developers haven't started clearing trees in the next phase of development, there is still hope. 

"For biodiversity, some land, water and coastlines are more important than others. How much land and water do we need to protect biodiversity? Truth is, we don’t really know. But very basic rules are true: More is better, bigger is better, more connected is better, and more geographically and climatologically diverse is better." (The win-wins of climate and biodiversity solutions)