MOS Alvin Tan, Chairman of the Friends of Ubin Network,
Ms Valerie Lee, Grassroots Adviser of Pasir Ris-Changi GRC
Ms Hwang Yu-Ning, CEO, NParks,
Members of the Friends of Ubin Network,
Partners and volunteers,
Friends
Introduction
1. Good morning! I'm glad to join you for the 14th Ubin Day, where we celebrate everything that makes this island special:
- Its rustic charm, its lush greenery, its rich heritage.
- And our tight-knit community of villagers, volunteers, and stakeholders.
2. It was this sense of community that led to the formation of the Friends of Ubin Network, or FUN, back in 2014, 11 years ago, to try to preserve Ubin's culture, heritage, and biodiversity.
3. I had the privilege of hosting Ubin Day every year since 2014 as the Chairman of the Friends of Ubin Network, and today, I come as a guest.
4. I still recall the excitement of the FUN members and other stakeholders when our former PM Lee Hsien Loong launched Ubin Day at this very place back in 2014. We shared our vision to keep Ubin rustic and natural, so that future generations would also enjoy the island as a getaway from the fast-paced city.
5. I am happy to share with you that my colleague, MOS Alvin Tan, will take over as the new Chairman of FUN. As I pass the baton to Alvin, it is a good opportunity for us to share the progress that we have made, as we look ahead to the next bound of the journey.
Good Progress for the next bound of the Ubin Project
6. Over the years, we have worked together on many initiatives, such as Pesta Ubin and the Ubin Project.
7. This year, Pesta Ubin drew nearly 1000 participants across more than 40 events. During the two-week long festival, we could take part in a range of outdoor activities, including cycling tours, mangrove kayaking, nature photography, and much more. I would like to thank this year's organisers, Yong Liang, his son Jonathan, and Hang Chong, as well as past Pesta Ubin organisers for allowing Singaporeans to enjoy the island in various ways.
8. The island is the sum total of the efforts of the islanders, the community, and the stakeholders, and I also want to take this opportunity to remember former Friends of the Ubin Network who have left FUN. They made a lot of effort, not just to make Ubin more vibrant and rich, but also to support the city nature project. Let us remember those who have contributed to this island as well.
9. The Ubin Project marked its 10th anniversary last year, and saw the completion of over 30 initiatives, which have enhanced the island's rustic charm across five key pillars:
- Biodiversity Conservation;
- Community, Heritage, and History, in that order; because we don't want the island to be first about history, but first about community, then heritage, then history;
- Education and Research;
- Sustainable Design and Practices; and
- Nature-based Recreation.
10. To ensure that Ubin's natural and cultural heritage continues to be protected, we launched the next bound of The Ubin Project, which charts our long-term efforts for this island.
11. In the past year, we have made good headway across the various pillars of The Ubin Project. Let me outline them briefly.
Successes in biodiversity conservation
12. First, Ubin continues to be a refugia of rich biodiversity, with diverse habitats supporting vulnerable species, including those under NParks' Species Recovery Programme.
13. I am particularly excited to announce an update on our species recovery efforts for the native Cinnamon Bush Frog. This species is deemed 'vulnerable' in the Singapore Red Data Book.
- Last June, we successfully introduced the first batch of the Cinnamon Bush Frog tadpoles to Pulau Ubin. They have now matured into adult frogs and adapted well to their new home.
- This is noteworthy as the Cinnamon Bush Frog is typically only found on mainland Singapore, in the Bukit Timah and Central Catchment Nature Reserves, and their surrounding nature parks.
- These early observations are encouraging and represent hope for the species' conservation beyond mainland Singapore.
14. Our commitment to environmental preservation extends beyond wildlife. Through NParks' Nature Conservation Masterplan, we've planted over 20,000 trees here on Pulau Ubin since 2020, contributing to the One Million Trees movement.
- Today, we'll be continuing this important work by planting trees with the community. I am also glad that on the last weekend of the school holidays, our teachers and students will be joining us.
FUN workgroup will be established to roll out Kampung House Restoration programme
15. Second, we are preserving Ubin's cultural heritage through the restoration of kampung houses, which are integral to the island's character. Ubin is not just an emerald island; it is also a living community, and it has many cultural elements to it.
- Since the launch of the Kampung House Restoration Programme last year, a dedicated FUN workgroup will be established to oversee this initiative. It will begin with the restoration of five vacant kampung houses, which will be repurposed for community and commercial use.
- We welcome heritage groups and individuals to contribute your ideas for the restoration and management of these houses, and to shape how future generations will experience kampung life here on Pulau Ubin.
Improved facilities and ongoing works
16. Third, let me share updates on the infrastructure improvements that have been implemented across Ubin.
17. Over the past year, we have completed several key projects, including improving the earth tracks leading to Puaka Hill and to Chek Jawa Wetlands from Jalan Durian, improving our roads and bridges in partnership with LTA, and - importantly - addressing flooding concerns.
- A new drain has been installed at the Main Village and the drain beside the Wayang Stage has been widened, which I am glad to hear from villagers has significantly reduced water entering their homes during high tide. But we will keep improving the island.
18. We are also undertaking shoreline and mangrove restoration works along Ubin's northern coastline, implementing nature-based solutions to combat coastal erosion and to protect our valuable habitats.
Ubin as a living classroom
19. Our work to conserve Ubin's biodiversity and cultural heritage through the Ubin Project also holds very strong learning value for our students and our younger generation. Taking on the education lens, Pulau Ubin, like many of our outdoor areas in Singapore, is a remarkable and precious living classroom that can transform the way our students learn and grow.
20. We launched the Ubin School Initiative last year to provide our students with hands-on opportunities to make learning come alive. This is outdoor education in its most authentic form.
21. Let me share some stories:
- Students from Commonwealth Secondary School, led by their teacher Mr. Jacob Tan, have been learning about sustainable living by observing the daily routines of Ubin villagers and their mindful use of electricity. This real-world demonstration of energy conservation brings their science curriculum to life in ways that a textbook cannot.
- The impact goes deeper still. At North Vista Secondary School, students under the guidance of their teacher Ms Debbie Wong have immersed themselves in Ubin's heritage by engaging directly with villagers, learning about traditional medicinal herbs, and even drawing water from wells - experiences that connect them intimately with Ubin's past, which is also Ubin's present and future. I'm very proud that these students and their teacher will be sharing their insights through guided walks during today's Ubin Day festivities.
22. The Ubin School Initiative ties in well with the outdoor and sustainability education of our students.
- It complements MOE's Outdoor Education Framework where our students not only gain knowledge, but also develop a genuine appreciation of and care for our natural heritage and biodiversity.
- Pulau Ubin also provides many opportunities for our students to carry out citizen science initiatives and habitat enhancement projects as part of responsible stewardship.
- We want to nurture generations of young environmental stewards who understand the delicate balance between development and conservation.
23. Finally, in these living classrooms of Ubin, our students will learn not just about nature, but from nature itself – discovering resilience from trees that weather storms, and cooperation and adaptability from mangrove organisms that thrive together in a healthy ecosystem. These lessons from Mother Nature shape not just their understanding of our heritage, but their character as future stewards of Singapore, and our environment.
24. The partnership between NParks and our MOE educators has been instrumental all these years. We will continue to strengthen these collaborations to enrich our students' learning experiences. And of course, to develop a love for our natural, living heritage.
Conclusion
25. As I conclude my term as Chairman of FUN, I am grateful and proud of all that we have accomplished together. It was a lot of hard work, but I think you all agree with me; it was also a lot of fun work! We started out as a diverse group, but united by a single heart and single mission.
26. To our dedicated FUN members, Pesta Ubin organisers and volunteers past and present – thank you for your passion and commitment, which have been the driving force behind Ubin's vibrant community spirit along with our villagers.
27. As part of our FUN tradition, I will be presenting Alvin, the incoming chairman, with a Pomatocalpa diffusum, a native orchid and a critically endangered species under NParks' Species Recovery Program. We will be introducing it to the island, and Alvin will take care of it and grow it for generations to come.
28. Under the leadership of MOS Alvin, and with the continued partnership of our stakeholders and community, we are confident that The Ubin Project will grow and flourish.
29. Together, we will continue to preserve Ubin's unique character – its rustic charm, its rich biodiversity, and its precious heritage – for future generations to cherish.
30. Thank you and have a wonderful Ubin Day!