Located in the center of Singapore lies one of the largest patches of rainforest left in the region, around which the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve was created. This 400-acre reserve is home to an impressive array of biodiversity, with more than 500 species of fauna and more than 800 species of flowering plants. Established as a reserve in 1883, the forest of this area was mercifully excluded from the ravages of development that many of Singapore’s forest reserves suffered. Since then, Bukit Timah has remained a center for the conservation and propagation of the area’s natural resources, inviting visitors to explore, learn about, and partake in the preservation of this wonderful paradise.
However, Bukit Timah has suffered in a different way: the overabundance of interest in the reserve has led to rapid erosion of the land and eradication of some species due to the introduction of non-native animals. The consequences of human carelessness are therefore important lessons to study as we strive to improve nature conservation worldwide.
Image via coolinsights
