Titles and abstracts

Ref: C3

Conservation of Urban Trees in Singapore
Mr. Simon Longman
Arboriculture Division, National Parks Board

Abstract
The Heritage Trees Scheme was launched on 23 Sep 2002 by Minister of State for National Development, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan. Majestic mature trees are the natural heritage of Singapore and serve as graceful green landmarks of our tropical Garden City, lending a sense of permanence and identity. The Heritage Trees Panel has endorsed an initial list of 36 such trees in Singapore that are worthy of conservation. Some of these trees range between 80-100 years old, and many are located in parks and roadsides. A nomination scheme allows the public to nominate suitable trees to the Heritage Trees Panel for evaluation as Heritage Trees. Through such channels, a greater sense of community ownership for the scheme is developed. By engaging the community in the growing of the scheme, this initiative has received enthusiastic response from the public, with more than 270 nominations island-wide being received.

A list of 55 Heritage Roads has also been designated. These are roads lined with mature trees and greenery, which give a special “greenery ambience” to the Heritage Road. For category “A” Heritage roads such as Mount Pleasant Road and South Buona Vista Road, legislative measures are being proposed to facilitate the conservation of green buffers of natural vegetation along the roads.