Endangered species found in Sembawang & Woodlands forests earmarked for housing, HDB seeking public feedback

Sembawang & Woodlands forests set to be cleared for new housing projects

Endangered wildlife has been found in two swathes of forests that have been earmarked for new residential developments.

HDB is thus seeking public feedback on the forested areas in Sembawang and Woodlands, which are set to be cleared in the near future.

New housing in Sembawang & Woodlands announced in Oct

In October, HDB announced that two new housing areas would be developed at Sembawang North and Woodlands North Coast.

Sembawang North, which is about 53 hectares (ha) in size, will have close to 10,000 housing units – 8,000 Build-To-Order (BTO) flats and 2,000 private housing units.

Woodlands North Coast will contain about 4,000 new homes across 21ha.

The first BTO project will be launched in Woodlands in February 2025, with the rest of the projects progressively launched in the coming years.

Wildlife in Sembawang & Woodlands forests face habitat loss: Reports

Before the launch, HDB appointed infrastructure consulting firm Aecom to conduct environmental impact assessments of the two sites.

These studies assessed the expected impact of development on the natural and built environment.

The reports, published on HDB’s website, found that construction work at both sites will result in habitat loss and may also have a major impact on the wildlife there.

‘Major’ loss of habitats in Sembawang site

In the Sembawang site, two forested areas known as N4 and N5 were studied.

The study area is “one of a few remaining large and continuous vegetated patches in the urban matrix of Sembawang region”, the report said.

More than 240 species of plants were found in N4 and N5, with 22 of conservation significance. 140 large plant specimens were also recorded, including albizia trees, Malayan banyan and a cluster of golden bamboo.

The field assessment also recorded a total of 212 species of wildlife, with 13 species of conservation significance identified, all of which are birds and mammals.

In N4, there will be “inevitable loss of habitats and plant species” and the impact due to the loss of habitats was assessed as “major”. The plant mortality impacts were assessed as “moderate to major”.

The report noted that only the forest in N4 will be cleared, as it’s within the project site, while only a small portion of the N5 forest will be affected by the development.

Among the mitigation measures advised were the establishment of Tree Protection Zones around trees or plant specimens that are to be retained, and an inspection by an ecologist who can identify wildlife before vegetation clearance.

14 species of conservation significance in Woodlands site

Over in Woodlands, a 7.27ha site bounded by three roads, known as N1, was studied.

195 species of plants were recorded, of which 10 were of conservation significance. 28 large plant specimens were also uncovered.

As for wildlife, 95 species were recorded, mainly birds and butterflies, with four species of conservation significance including the Swinhoe’s white-eye (bird), cave nectar bat (mammal) and Jamides caeruleus caeruleus (sky-blue butterly).

The impact significance of construction on the biodiversity of the site was listed as “negligible to major”.

Report recommends conserving an area at Woodlands site

The report proposed that an Area of High Ecological Value (AHEV) be marked out on the site, where development will not be carried out.

However, it conceded that only about 90% of the AHEV that contained native-dominated secondary forest would be conserved.

Other mitigation measures suggested included shepherding wildlife to other forested areas and “road calming measures” along roads next to the worksite when the site is being cleared.

This will “minimise impact for accidental injury or mortality and human-wildlife conflict”, it said.

HDB seeking public feedback over forests in Sembawang & Woodlands

Based on the findings, HDB will “carefully review” the plans for the Sembawang site, it said.

It will also “take appropriate mitigation measures as necessary as we develop the site sensitively”.

For the AHEV in the Woodlands site, HDB and its partner agencies are “studying the possibility of conserving this area as additional natural green spaces, above what has been safeguarded in the Master Plan”.

Public feedback is also being sought, which can be entered in online feedback forms for the Sembawang N4 site and the Woodlands N1 site from 13 Nov to 10 Dec.

HDB welcomes the feedback to help it “achieve the best balance of land uses for all Singaporeans”, it said.

Also read: Dover Forest East Now Cleared Of Greenery, Nature Lovers Sad Over Loss Of Trees

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Featured image adapted from HDB and HDB.