MacRitchie Reservoir UNESCO World Heritage Site

Group Members Group Leader: Josh Ryan Chan (2i2) Photographer 1: Lim Jian Ling (2i3) Photographer 2: Daryl Ong (3i2) Note-taker: Liew Ray Kai (4S4)

Map

Description  Singapore’s oldest reservoir  Completed in 1868 by impounding water from an earth embankment, known as Impounding Reservoir/Thomson Reservoir  Declared a Historic Site by National Heritage Board in 2002

Advantages of MacRitchie 1. Facilitate the studying of the canopy layer of the forest. 2. Acts as a form of recreation for nature lovers 3. Provides people with a closer view to the canopy layer km and 4.8 km trails used as cross- country running routes for inter-school competitions 5. Reservoir used for water sports such as canoeing and kayaking

Forest  More than 1km2 of primary forest in Central Catchment Nature Reserve  Boardwalks around edge of MacRitchie Reservoir and walking trails through forest, range from 3km to 11km  Interpretive signboards along boardwalk for self-guided tours  Boardwalks bring visitors through secondary forest

Reservoir  Holding capacity of 2,110,000 m3  18,000m3 of water a day  Provides drinking water for Singaporeans  Naturally filtered and pure

The HSBC Treetop Walk  250 m aerial free standing suspension bridge  Between Bukit Peirce and Bukit Kalang (2 highest points in MacRitchie)  Completed in July 2004, officially launched on 5 November 2004

Flora Fig Tree  One tree can support many  communities, and one tree alone can house  hundreds of organisms.  Pollinated by specific wasps

Flora Cheng Tng Tree  Fruit has boat like wings to be dispersed by wind  Main part of fruit is the date at the centre  Used to make the brown jelly in the dessert

Flora Tonkat Ali  Traditionally used as a medical plant  Used for its antimalarial, aphrodisiac,anti- diabetic,antimicrobial and antipyretic properties  Increases sperm count

Flora Slender Pitcher Plant  Feeds on insects that fall into the pitcher  Underside of the lid has uneven wax crystals

Flora Banyan Tree  a fig that starts its life as an epiphyte (a plant growing on another plant) when its seeds germinate in the cracks and crevices on a host tree (or on structures like buildings and bridges).  Often called Strangling Fig

Flora  Cordylines  Rattan  Heliconia  Fishtail Palm  Lianas  Lichen  Bracket Fungi  Simpoh Air  Mahang Plant  Pulai  Rusty Oil Fruit  Oil Palm  Torch Ginger Flower

Fauna Monkeys  Monkeys are often observed in Macritchie Reservoir  They are popular among photograph hobbyists

Fauna  Clouded Moniter Lizard  Common Sun Skink  Plantain Squirrel  Long-tailed Macaque  Greater Racket-tailed Drongo  Striped Tit-Babbler  Crimson Sunbird  Malayan Colugo  Pangolin  Giant Forest Ants  Olive-winged Bulbul

Why should we preserve it? 1. Tropical rainforests take at least a century to mature 2. Vast biodiversity, thus a favourite for wildlife enthusiasts 3. Part of our natural heritage, and one of the only places where Singaporeans can relax in nature.

Bibliography    ption=com_visitorsguide&task=naturereserves&id= 49&Itemid=379 ption=com_visitorsguide&task=naturereserves&id= 49&Itemid=379  eeTop_Walk_eguide_LRes.pdf eeTop_Walk_eguide_LRes.pdf  /06/13/pitcher-plant-uses-falling-rain-to-trap- insects/ /06/13/pitcher-plant-uses-falling-rain-to-trap- insects/  