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5 new things to look forward to at Pulau Ubin

This article is more than 12 months old

What exciting new things can you expect to see at Pulau Ubin at the end of the year?

Bat houses, nesting boxes for birds, floating wetlands, a living lab and more mangrove forests.

These initiatives are part of The Ubin Project launched in March last year by the Ministry of National Development (MND).

The aim of the project is to preserve and enhance the island so that the island "remains an enjoyable rustic destination for all", stated an MND press release on Saturday (June 13). 

Find out more about the initiatives below.

There will be permanent bat houses set up at Jalan Noordin (mangrove habitat) and Bukit Belukar (forest habitat).

These houses will serve as roosting sites.

This will help conserve various bat species on the island, and hopefully attract new bat species to colonise.


The Ashley Roundleaf Bat (left) can be found only on Pulau Ubin. The Lesser False Vampire Bat (right) can be found only on Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong.

There will be a focus on setting up nesting areas for the three uncommon bird species: the Red-wattled Lapwing, the Baya Weaver and the Blue-throated Bee-eater.

These species have specific habitat requirements.

The Red-wattled Lapwing requires bare areas with stones and short grass for nesting.

The Baya Weaver requires grassland patches. Specific plants will be planted for its nesting.

For the Blue-throated Bee-eater, sand mounds will be created and an artificial nesting box to simulate a burrow will be set up at Ketam Quarry.

Pekan Quarry is a habitat for herons. To enhance this further, floating wetlands will be installed.

These 20 sq m wetlands will provide nesting and roosting sites for them as well as other animals like crakes, rails, kingfishers and frogs.

There will be lookout points and boardwalks so that visitors can "observe and enjoy surrounding biodiversity".


Some of the plants that will be on the floating wetlands.

The Ubin Living Lab is a facility for field studies, education and research, and community outreach.

It will include a laboratory, seminar rooms, accommodation amenities and an outdoor campsite.

Most of these will be available by the end of the year.

NParks will conduct outreach programmes for students at the centre from early next year.

We're getting more mangroves!

A former aquaculture farm at the south-eastern part of Pulau Ubin has been selected for a pilot restoration project.

The project will involve the Restore Ubin Mangroves (RUM) group.

RUM was founded with the aim of restoring the mangrove forests through science-informed methods and outreach efforts to the community. 


New map of the island.

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Singapore IslandsnatureUncategorisedanimalsbatsLiving LabislandecologyMinistry of National Development